Accounting and Payroll Specialist Jobs
Accounting and Payroll Specialist jobs are open across corporate, healthcare, nonprofit, and staffing industries, at every level from entry-level to senior, with specializations in multi-state payroll, accounts payable, and tax compliance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Position Summary
The Accounting Manager of Payroll leads payroll operations and owns the accuracy, completeness, and reconciliation of payroll-generated financial activity across assigned legal entities, pay cycles, and jurisdictions. This role ensures that payroll expenses, liabilities, deductions, employer contributions, accruals, clearing accounts, and related transactions are correctly calculated, coded, posted, supported, and resolved in a timely manner.
The Accounting Manager of Payroll is the primary Payroll Operations partner to Accounting and business unit Controllers for payroll accounting matters. The role owns payroll-side validation, reconciliation, investigation, and preparation or coordination of correcting entries, while Controllers and Accounting retain final general ledger close, financial statement, and accounting policy authority.
The position also leads and develops payroll personnel, establishes clear process ownership and controls, oversees accurate and timely payroll processing, and drives continuous improvement. It collaborates with the Payroll Tax Manager, who separately owns payroll tax compliance, filings, deposits, registrations, and tax-specific reconciliations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Payroll Accounting, Financial Integrity & Reconciliation
- Own payroll-side accuracy and completeness of payroll-generated expense and liability postings for assigned entities, including wages, employer taxes, benefits, deductions, employer contributions, and other payroll-related transactions.
- Review payroll-to-general-ledger interfaces, posting reports, journal entries, account distributions, company allocations, job costing, cost codes, and labor classifications; identify and resolve mapping or posting discrepancies.
- Own timely payroll-side reconciliations of payroll registers and payroll subledgers to general ledger postings, payroll clearing accounts, accrued payroll, benefit and deduction liabilities, garnishments, and other assigned payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
- Monitor aging reconciling items and outstanding payroll liabilities; investigate variances, document root causes, assign corrective actions, and confirm resolution or appropriate escalation.
- Prepare, validate, or coordinate payroll-related correcting entries and reclassifications with Accounting, subject to established approval authority and segregation of duties.
- Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close by providing reconciliations, accrual support, explanations of fluctuations, and supporting schedules within agreed deadlines.
- Establish review standards, supporting documentation, sign-offs, and audit trails for payroll accounting activity; coordinate with Controllers on account ownership and close requirements.
Payroll Operations & Internal Controls
- Direct end-to-end payroll operations across assigned legal entities and pay cycles, ensuring accurate and timely payments, adjustments, deductions, and employer contributions.
- Assign processing responsibilities and maintain calendars, checklists, approvals, backup coverage, and appropriate segregation of duties.
- Oversee pre- and post-payroll validation, exception reporting, funding and disbursement controls, and resolution of complex payroll issues.
- Maintain accurate employee and payroll source data affecting expense allocation, liability recognition, work location, and tax calculations.
People Leadership & Accountability
- Lead, coach, and develop Payroll Administrators, Specialists, and other assigned operations staff; set measurable expectations for accuracy, timeliness, communication, and follow-through.
- Delegate execution and process ownership effectively; monitor outcomes through reporting, controls, and regular review rather than routinely performing staff work.
- Manage workload, performance feedback, cross-training, succession planning, and coverage of critical payroll and reconciliation activities.
- Promote a culture of accountability, constructive problem-solving, collaboration, and sustainable workloads.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.
- Demonstrated experience in payroll accounting, including payroll-to-GL postings, expense and liability accounts, clearing accounts, reconciliations, and correcting entries.
- Progressive payroll operations experience with demonstrated ownership of complex processes, controls, and deadlines; prior supervisory or people-management experience.
- Strong understanding of general ledger concepts, payroll accruals, expense allocation, account reconciliation, and financial close support.
- Advanced analytical and spreadsheet skills; ability to investigate variances, trace transactions, and implement lasting corrective actions.
- Strong communication, organizational, delegation, and coaching skills; ability to partner effectively with Controllers and cross-functional leaders.
- Working knowledge of payroll regulations and controls sufficient to recognize operational and compliance risks; discretion with confidential employee and financial information.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in construction payroll, union payroll, collective bargaining agreements, certified payroll, and prevailing wage requirements.
- Experience with complex multi-state and local payroll processing.
- Experience with CMiC or similar enterprise payroll and accounting systems, payroll-to-GL integrations, HRIS interfaces, and system implementations or automation.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or relevant accounting credential. Experience overseeing payroll across multiple legal entities and business units.
-
This position is based in Sandy, Utah, and is fully in-office. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available.
Benefits : Layton Construction offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, Short-term Disability Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Family Support, Pre-tax Paid Parking/Public Transportation, Paid time off, Time Away Benefits, Paid Holidays, Group Legal, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Identity Theft Protection, Group Legal, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program.
Position Summary
The Accounting Manager of Payroll leads payroll operations and owns the accuracy, completeness, and reconciliation of payroll-generated financial activity across assigned legal entities, pay cycles, and jurisdictions. This role ensures that payroll expenses, liabilities, deductions, employer contributions, accruals, clearing accounts, and related transactions are correctly calculated, coded, posted, supported, and resolved in a timely manner.
The Accounting Manager of Payroll is the primary Payroll Operations partner to Accounting and business unit Controllers for payroll accounting matters. The role owns payroll-side validation, reconciliation, investigation, and preparation or coordination of correcting entries, while Controllers and Accounting retain final general ledger close, financial statement, and accounting policy authority.
The position also leads and develops payroll personnel, establishes clear process ownership and controls, oversees accurate and timely payroll processing, and drives continuous improvement. It collaborates with the Payroll Tax Manager, who separately owns payroll tax compliance, filings, deposits, registrations, and tax-specific reconciliations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Payroll Accounting, Financial Integrity & Reconciliation
- Own payroll-side accuracy and completeness of payroll-generated expense and liability postings for assigned entities, including wages, employer taxes, benefits, deductions, employer contributions, and other payroll-related transactions.
- Review payroll-to-general-ledger interfaces, posting reports, journal entries, account distributions, company allocations, job costing, cost codes, and labor classifications; identify and resolve mapping or posting discrepancies.
- Own timely payroll-side reconciliations of payroll registers and payroll subledgers to general ledger postings, payroll clearing accounts, accrued payroll, benefit and deduction liabilities, garnishments, and other assigned payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
- Monitor aging reconciling items and outstanding payroll liabilities; investigate variances, document root causes, assign corrective actions, and confirm resolution or appropriate escalation.
- Prepare, validate, or coordinate payroll-related correcting entries and reclassifications with Accounting, subject to established approval authority and segregation of duties.
- Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close by providing reconciliations, accrual support, explanations of fluctuations, and supporting schedules within agreed deadlines.
- Establish review standards, supporting documentation, sign-offs, and audit trails for payroll accounting activity; coordinate with Controllers on account ownership and close requirements.
Payroll Operations & Internal Controls
- Direct end-to-end payroll operations across assigned legal entities and pay cycles, ensuring accurate and timely payments, adjustments, deductions, and employer contributions.
- Assign processing responsibilities and maintain calendars, checklists, approvals, backup coverage, and appropriate segregation of duties.
- Oversee pre- and post-payroll validation, exception reporting, funding and disbursement controls, and resolution of complex payroll issues.
- Maintain accurate employee and payroll source data affecting expense allocation, liability recognition, work location, and tax calculations.
People Leadership & Accountability
- Lead, coach, and develop Payroll Administrators, Specialists, and other assigned operations staff; set measurable expectations for accuracy, timeliness, communication, and follow-through.
- Delegate execution and process ownership effectively; monitor outcomes through reporting, controls, and regular review rather than routinely performing staff work.
- Manage workload, performance feedback, cross-training, succession planning, and coverage of critical payroll and reconciliation activities.
- Promote a culture of accountability, constructive problem-solving, collaboration, and sustainable workloads.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.
- Demonstrated experience in payroll accounting, including payroll-to-GL postings, expense and liability accounts, clearing accounts, reconciliations, and correcting entries.
- Progressive payroll operations experience with demonstrated ownership of complex processes, controls, and deadlines; prior supervisory or people-management experience.
- Strong understanding of general ledger concepts, payroll accruals, expense allocation, account reconciliation, and financial close support.
- Advanced analytical and spreadsheet skills; ability to investigate variances, trace transactions, and implement lasting corrective actions.
- Strong communication, organizational, delegation, and coaching skills; ability to partner effectively with Controllers and cross-functional leaders.
- Working knowledge of payroll regulations and controls sufficient to recognize operational and compliance risks; discretion with confidential employee and financial information.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in construction payroll, union payroll, collective bargaining agreements, certified payroll, and prevailing wage requirements.
- Experience with complex multi-state and local payroll processing.
- Experience with CMiC or similar enterprise payroll and accounting systems, payroll-to-GL integrations, HRIS interfaces, and system implementations or automation.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or relevant accounting credential. Experience overseeing payroll across multiple legal entities and business units.
-
This position is based in Sandy, Utah, and is fully in-office. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available.
Benefits : Layton Construction offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, Short-term Disability Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Family Support, Pre-tax Paid Parking/Public Transportation, Paid time off, Time Away Benefits, Paid Holidays, Group Legal, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Identity Theft Protection, Group Legal, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program.
Accounting and Payroll Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsAccounting and Payroll Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in accounting and payroll specialist jobs.
- Proficiency in payroll software such as ADP, Paychex, or Workday
- Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
- Experience processing end-to-end payroll for a defined employee population
- Knowledge of federal and state payroll tax regulations and filing deadlines
- Familiarity with general ledger reconciliation and accounts payable processes
- Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional credential preferred
Tips for Your Accounting and Payroll Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to payroll systems
Name the specific payroll platforms you have used, such as ADP, Paychex, or Workday, and pair each with a concrete result, like payroll cycle accuracy or headcount processed. Generic phrases like 'payroll experience' do not stand out in applicant tracking systems.
Highlight multi-state compliance knowledge
Employers across industries prioritize candidates who understand state-specific payroll tax rules, wage garnishment laws, and year-end W-2 reconciliation. If you have handled payroll across multiple states, make that visible near the top of your resume.
Get clear on your certification status
The Fundamental Payroll Certification and Certified Payroll Professional credentials carry real weight in job listings. If you are working toward either, note it as 'in progress' with your expected completion date so hiring managers know where you stand.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists accounting and payroll specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for a technical screening round
Many interviews include a short scenario test covering journal entries, payroll calculations, or reconciliation steps. Practice walking through a payroll close process out loud so you can explain your reasoning clearly, not just produce the right answer.
Negotiate using total compensation data
When an offer arrives, ask for the full benefits breakdown, including 401(k) match, bonus structure, and remote flexibility, before responding. Bureau of Labor Statistics compensation data for accounting and bookkeeping roles gives you a credible reference point in that conversation.
Accounting and Payroll Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most accounting and payroll specialists?
The most active employers for accounting and payroll specialists right now are Rosendin Electric, Haga Kommer, and Halliburton, and the most openings are in California, Texas, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems, staffing firms, and large retail organizations tend to hire for this role continuously due to high headcount and complex payroll schedules.
How many accounting and payroll specialist jobs are remote?
About 35% of accounting and payroll specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader adoption of cloud-based payroll platforms. Fully remote arrangements are most common in multi-state payroll processing and accounts payable roles, where the core work is software-driven and does not require on-site access to physical documents.
How do you become an accounting and payroll specialist?
Start by earning an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, then build hands-on experience with payroll software through entry-level accounting or bookkeeping roles. Pursuing the Fundamental Payroll Certification adds credibility early in your career. From there, gaining exposure to multi-state payroll, tax filings, and general ledger reconciliation positions you for specialist-level roles.
Can you get an accounting and payroll specialist job with little experience?
Yes, entry-level accounting and payroll specialist roles do exist, particularly at staffing agencies, small businesses, and companies willing to train candidates with strong foundational skills. Demonstrating proficiency in spreadsheet tools, completing a payroll certification course, and highlighting any bookkeeping or data-entry experience, even from internships, makes a material difference when competing without direct payroll history.
What does the accounting and payroll specialist interview process look like?
Most processes include an initial phone screen with a recruiter, followed by a technical interview where you may be asked to walk through a payroll calculation, explain a reconciliation discrepancy, or describe how you handle tax filing deadlines. A final round typically involves a hiring manager interview focused on your experience with specific payroll systems and your approach to compliance under time pressure.
Where can I find and apply to accounting and payroll specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to accounting and payroll specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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