Certified Payroll Specialist

We are seeking a Payroll Specialist to join our Federal Systems team at our Rockville, MD location. This role is a key member of the payroll team who specializes in prevailing wage, SCA/DBA rules and regulations, and compliance administration supporting the weekly/biweekly payroll process for approximately 850 employees from time collection to payment and reconciliation.

At Johnson Controls, we support our nation's most critical facilities, the people who occupy them, and the missions they enable. Johnson Controls Federal Systems (JCFS) is a specialized team serving as a trusted partner to the federal government. We help modernize U.S. military installations, Department of Defense and other federal agency facilities to be smarter, more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and secure.


Pay range: $90,000 - $110,000. Negotiable based on experience.
Location: Rockville, MD office
Shift: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm


Benefits: Eligible for benefits on first day of employment

Vacation: 3 weeks of paid vacation, 5 sick days, 3 floating holidays, and 10 standard holidays per calendar year

As a Payroll Specialist, you will:

• Review, understand and monitor compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to payroll, prevailing wage and certified payroll reporting. Assist the Accounting group in general ledger and account reconciliation. Support the Payroll Manager and the JCFS business in new project implementation and process improvement efforts.
• Key team member in all aspects of JCFS payroll processing, timely accumulations, reviews, and processes employee timesheets in Deltek Time and processes ADP payroll on a weekly basis. Ensures accuracy and timeliness of employee paychecks, state and local tax filing and year-end tax statements.
• Prepares Davis Bacon Act and Service Contract Act benefit calculations and ensure accurate prevailing wage and benefits have been paid to workers. Maintains accurate record-keeping of corrections and restitution payments.
• Ensures that the certified payroll reports are processed accurately, efficiently and in a timely manner, that meets government and agency reporting deadlines consistently. Submit payrolls and supporting payroll documentation to general contractors when applicable.
• Works with subcontractors to explain the prevailing wage requirements and responsibilities and monitor subcontractors' compliance.
• Maintains an efficient certified payroll documentation system. Research, recommend and implement certified payroll software i.e. DIR, LCP Tracker, etc., as needed.
• Maintains employee setups, including new employees, terminations and employee changes.
• Prepares and processes union payments and ensures compliance with the negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Prepare and processes voluntary payroll deductions.
• Reconciles monthly payroll general ledger account and payroll journal entries. Documents, research and resolve discrepancies.
• Performs reconciliation of 401K, gross-to-net, benefit, quarterly and annual taxes, etc.
• Supports Payroll Manager and the business in new project implementation and process improvement efforts.
• Upholds high ethical standards in financial reporting and confidentiality of data.

• Acts as a resource for employees and assists with inquiries and issues. Provides high quality service to employees and other internal & external customers.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll processing. Must have prior experience of independently running a full payroll cycle that includes preparation, balancing, reporting and reconciliation.
• Thorough knowledge of the Department of Labor prevailing rules and regulations.
• Resourceful and detail-oriented with an ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Customer service oriented.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs
• Detail oriented with strong organization skills
• Willing and able to work in a deadline driven environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, a related area, or equivalent experience.
• ADP Workforce Now experience highly preferred
• Deltek Costpoint and/or Dayforce experience
• Knowledge of SCA and DBA rules and regulations
• Prior experience with prevailing wage compliance is desired.

Who We Are

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we are One Team working collaboratively to create purposeful solutions that make a difference in the world. We are a Fortune 500 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide offering the world`s largest portfolio of building technology products, solutions and services. As a member of our Federal Systems team, your work matters. We value and recognize your contributions and want to help you succeed. We invest in our employees, provide opportunities for growth and advancement, and foster a culture of inclusion and respect.

To learn more about who we are and what we do, please check out our Take a Journey video.


Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit

Division: JCFS (Johnson Controls Federal Systems)

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