Payroll Specialist

Description We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to join our team in Oceanside, California in a contract-to-permanent capacity. This role is ideal for someone who is highly accurate, comfortable working with paper-based time records, and confident managing payroll in a fast-paced construction environment. You will play a key part in verifying time data, resolving discrepancies across multiple job sites, and ensuring employees are paid correctly and on schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Gather paper timesheets from internal contacts and field personnel, then organize and prepare them for payroll entry and review.

• Investigate missing or unclear time details by confirming employee assignments and matching hours to the correct job sites.

• Review payroll information carefully to validate rates, piece-work earnings, and other pay details before processing.

• Process weekly payroll through Paychex for a large workforce, maintaining accuracy across high employee volumes.

• Enter time and pay data from manual records into the payroll system while checking for duplicate names and other identifying inconsistencies.

• Prepare and sort employee checks into the appropriate folders, ensuring earnings tied to multiple jobs are recorded correctly.

• Resolve payroll discrepancies promptly by researching timecards, pay calculations, and supporting documentation.

• Maintain accurate payroll records and follow established procedures for weekly payroll operations in a construction setting. Requirements • Hands-on experience managing full-cycle payroll from time collection through final payment distribution.

• Previous payroll processing experience for large employee populations, including environments approaching or exceeding 500 workers.

• Familiarity with Paychex and confidence using payroll systems for weekly processing.

• Background working with manual timesheets, manual checks, and paper-driven payroll workflows.

• Strong attention to detail, especially when reviewing pay records for employees with similar names or multiple job assignments.

• Experience supporting payroll in the construction industry or another field-based workforce environment.

• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish is preferred for day-to-day coordination with field employees.

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/mobile-app) and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.

All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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