Payroll Data & Reporting Specialist

Overview Location(s): Encinitas / San Diego Practice/Department: Finance Work Environment: On-site* Compensation: $43-$48 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 recognized by leading industry organizations, 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. Position Overview 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 meticulous Payroll Data & Reporting Specialist to enhance payroll operations through data analysis and effective data reporting. This role will focus on maintaining and monitoring data integrity across all current and future payroll data platforms to consistently ensure continuity throughout a multitude of payroll workflows. Essential contributions of this role are to proactively identify inconsistencies in payroll data as it relates to payment, posting, reporting, and compliance. Advance knowledge and application of ongoing disciplines such as multiple state payroll laws, payroll operations, payroll systems, and payroll reporting are key to success in this role. The position partners closely with Payroll Leadership, Internal Dudek Departments, Special Teams, and External Entities to deliver timely and thorough insights and practical solutions that enhance payroll related efficiency, accountability, and scalability. *Work Environment: This role will be on-site for the first 90 days after which eligibility for hybrid work will be evaluated. Duties and Responsibilities Analytics and Reporting: Develop, schedule, maintain, and provide essential payroll reporting and data matrix. Establish validating reports for internal and external use that incorporate payroll labor and earnings details for departmental audits, or a range of reconciliation needs that; identify data flux, anomalies, and discrepancies; and troubleshoot data issues. Systems and Data Integrity: Validate workflows, data integrations, and system exceptions or fallouts to ensure alignment between all payroll operating and payment systems; maintain data consistency across platforms to meet expectations for employee and employer records. Configuration and Testing: Support system configuration updates in payroll systems for departmental export and import files, templates, and business changes with impact to payroll systems; participate in implementations and conduct testing for payroll updates to all related systems prior to ‘go‑live’, benefits enrollments, and other system enhancements. Audit and Compliance: Support year‑round audit readiness, monthly, quarterly, year‑end reporting and accurate tax filings through data validation, reconciliations, and documentation; proactively identify and mitigate risks. Work closely with payroll leadership on supplemental payroll runs, quarterly adjustment runs, and prior quarter adjustment runs to ensure compliance alignment with the accounting calendar and full inclusiveness of all necessary and known adjustments in a timely manner. Payroll Processing Support: Provide pre‑ and post‑payroll audit checks, data validation, and compliance review from ongoing data integrity audits and reporting. Ensure payroll teams are aware of system discrepancies or potential issues for resolution prior to closing periods prematurely. Cross‑train on key payroll operation processes to reduce departmental vulnerabilities, as determined by payroll leadership. Tax and State Compliance Support: Assist with creating and maintaining state tax records, client responsible tax filing, and BLS reporting data. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field preferred 5+ years of experience in payroll, data analysis, or related field Strong analytical and critical thinking skills Experience working with payroll systems Advanced Excel skills Strong diligence and organizational skills Ability to manage confidential information Preferred Qualifications 3 Years Experience with Dayforce Experience with Deltek VantagePoint or similar systems Professional services industry experience Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll experience Experience with systems implementations and special projects CPP or FCP certification. Compensation $43.00-$48.00 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 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. Equal Employment Opportunity 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Dudek