Payroll Specialist

Location(s): Encinitas / San Diego
Practice/Department: Finance
Internal Title: Payroll Specialist
Work Environment: Hybrid
Compensation: $36-$38 hourly*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.
Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been , and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.
Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.
Learn more about our award-winning culture , the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.

Who You Are

As an employee-owner , you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.
Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented , with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation .

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is seeking a detail-oriented and organized Payroll Specialist to support accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across multiple states. This role is ideal for someone who brings strong payroll knowledge and a hands-on understanding of day-to-day processes, including weighted average overtime calculations, wait time rules, payment workflows, and check life cycles.

You’ll work closely with our accounting, benefits, and HR teams to ensure seamless payroll operations and excellent service to our employees. We’re looking for someone who sees payroll as a long-term career path and takes pride in getting the details right while contributing to a collaborative, people-focused team.

This is a hybrid position based out of our Encinitas headquarters office.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Payroll Processing: Oversee and execute end-to-end payroll processing for 900+ employees accurately and on time. Review and verify payroll data for completeness and accuracy. Ensure timecards are submitted prior to payroll processing. Process payroll adjustments, including salary changes, bonuses, commissions, and deductions. Handle complex payroll issues and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Payroll Compliance: Responsible for reviewing and ensuring accurate and timely W2 issuance and filings. Review’s stale dated payroll checks, as needed. Reconcile payroll-related accounts.
• Taxation and Reporting: Understanding and review of payroll taxes, garnishments, and other withholdings for accuracy, and government compliance then prepares and remits for payment. Responsible for payroll tax-related activities, including accurate calculation and submission of payroll taxes, and reconciliation of tax discrepancies.
• Audit and Documentation: Prepare for and assist with payroll, audits, ensuring all necessary documentation and records are readily available and accurate. Maintains thorough documentation of all support for all filings.
• Communication: Work closely with the HR department to ensure accurate employee data. Address employee payroll inquiries and resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Continuous Improvement: Oversee and updating Dayforce Ceridian payroll module Stay current with payroll and benefit regulations, industry best practices, technological advancements to recommend and implement process improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in payroll processing,
• Knowledge of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information.
• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the professional services industry.
• Experience with Deltek VantagePoint and Dayforce and/or similar timekeeping, accounting & payroll software
• Payroll certification.
• Experience working in a remote environment.

Compensation: $36-$38 hourly*

• *Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions
Environment

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment, and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.
• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination.
Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.
Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.