Payroll Accountant

Role overview

A modern construction company in the Buffalo, New York area is looking for an experienced Payroll Accountant to take ownership of payroll and expense reimbursement activities. The organization has more than 90 employees and is expanding quickly. This position begins on a hybrid basis after training and offers a starting salary between $65,000 and $75,000, along with a strong benefits package.

Key responsibilities

• Run end-to-end weekly payroll for construction staff, making sure payments are accurate, on time, and aligned with internal policies and deadlines.
• Examine timesheets, certified payroll documentation, and job costing information to confirm accuracy, correct coding, and compliance with prevailing wage rules.
• Handle prevailing wage payroll obligations, including certified payroll submissions and compliance with federal, state, union, client, and project-level requirements.
• Keep payroll records current for deductions, reimbursements, per diem, bonuses, allowances, wage changes, and employee benefit contributions.
• Research and fix payroll errors, timekeeping concerns, and employee questions related to pay, benefits, and prevailing wage status.
• Work closely with Human Resources, Accounting, project managers, and field supervisors to keep payroll accurate and meet labor compliance standards.
• Assist with internal and external audits by gathering supporting documents, reviewing compliance outputs, and making corrections where needed.
• Build payroll reports such as labor distribution, certified payroll, general ledger reconciliations, and other ad hoc analysis to support operational and financial decisions.

Requirements

• Strong attention to detail with a structured, compliance-focused mindset and solid understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, internal controls, and audit preparation.
• At least 3 years of experience in payroll and accounting with direct responsibility for processing payroll, producing reports, completing reconciliations, and resolving issues.
• Hands-on experience with SaaS-based payroll and expense management platforms; experience with Miter payroll software is a plus.
• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related area is strongly preferred; APA certification and experience with prevailing wage payroll are especially valuable.

Benefits

• Paid time off, health insurance, 401(k) with company match, and additional benefits.

Additional information

This is a full-time onsite role that transitions to a hybrid setup after training. The employer is a growing construction business with a workforce of 90+ employees. The posted salary range is $65,000 to $75,000 per year.