Payroll Specialist

Position Overview

As WM continues accelerating its HR transformation to maintain market leadership, the Senior Prevailing Wage Associate plays a critical role in ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence. This position is responsible for administering, validating, and preparing HR and payroll-impacting data prior to payroll execution, with a strong focus on prevailing wage and certified payroll compliance.

This role supports a more specialized, scalable, and proactive HR service delivery model by strengthening compliance controls, improving payroll data quality, and maintaining audit readiness.

We are seeking a highly professional, poised, and experienced senior-level payroll professional who demonstrates an agile mindset, strong independent judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced corporate environment with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

- Support end-to-end prevailing wage and certified payroll processes

- Collect, review, validate, and reconcile payroll data to ensure compliance with prevailing wage regulations

- Prepare and submit certified payroll reports (WH-347 and state equivalents) accurately and timely

- Ensure employee classifications, wage rates, fringe benefits, and hours worked align with wage determinations

- Partner closely with Payroll to resolve discrepancies prior to payroll close

- Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local prevailing wage laws and regulations

- Maintain audit-ready documentation and compliance records

- Respond to internal and external inquiries related to certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements

- Track regulatory deadlines and ensure timely report submissions

- Identify compliance risks and proactively escalate issues with recommended solutions

- Support payroll process improvements, standardization initiatives, and operational efficiencies

- Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and mentor less experienced team members

Leadership Expectations

- Demonstrate previous leadership or senior-level experience

- Exercise professional judgment without unnecessary escalation

- Operate independently with minimal supervision

- Coach and mentor junior team members

- Drive accountability and quality within the payroll function

Required Qualifications

Education

- Bachelor’s Degree (accredited) in Computer Science, MIS, Business Administration, or related field

OR

- High School Diploma/GED with 4+ years of relevant experience

Experience

- 2–4+ years of experience in certified payroll and/or prevailing wage administration - Prior experience in Oil & Gas, Energy, or Manufacturing industries (10,000+ employee organizations strongly preferred)

- Experience in large, fast-paced corporate environments

Certifications

- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent preferred

Required Skills & Competencies

- Hands-on experience preparing certified payroll reports

- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local prevailing wage regulations

- Experience working with wage determinations and labor classifications

- High attention to detail and strong quality control capabilities

- Ability to manage recurring compliance deadlines

- Strong analytical and validation skills

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Self-starter with an agile and proactive mindset

- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, service-oriented corporate environment

Technical Expertise

Advanced experience in one or more of the following:

- Multi-state prevailing wage populations

- HR Service Center, Payroll Operations, or Shared Services environments

- Payroll and HCM systems (Oracle HCM, UKG Timekeeper, ADP, Workday)

- Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional corporate office setting in Houston, TX. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $35.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Experience:

- Oil & Gas, Energy, or Manufacturing industries : 1 year (Required)

- large, fast-paced corporate environments: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

- Certified Payroll Professional (Preferred)

Work Location: In person