Payroll Manager

Who We Are AMPAM Parks Mechanical specializes in multifamily residential construction. The company’s core strength is its design-build model that allows clients to minimize risk, shorten construction schedules, and accelerate building occupancy. The Company’s key asset is it’s skilled, experienced workforce. What We’re Looking For AMPAM is looking for a Payroll Manager to lead payroll as we continue to grow both organically and through acquisitions. This role will build and run a single, centralized payroll function that delivers accurate, timely, and compliant pay for approximately 1,700 hourly, salaried, and field employees across multiple states and regions, in line with federal, state (including California), and local regulations. As AMPAM grows, the Payroll Manager will welcome new companies and their payroll teams, bring them onto common systems and processes, and help build a team culture rooted in accuracy, service, and trust. This role leads the payroll team and partners closely with HR, Accounting, and Operations, playing a critical role in payroll integrity, reporting, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced MEP environment. The role also owns prevailing wage and certified payroll compliance and the accurate, timely payment of incentive and variable pay. What You’ll be Doing: (But not limited to the following) Payroll Unification & Growth

• Lead the move to one centralized AMPAM payroll function, standardizing processes, pay practices, payroll calendars, and controls across all locations.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and Operations as new companies join AMPAM, assessing incoming payroll practices and planning a smooth transition onto AMPAM systems with no disruption to employee pay.
• Build strong working relationships with payroll and administrative teams joining AMPAM, providing onboarding, training, and ongoing support so they feel part of the team from day one.
• Establish consistent policies, SOPs, and service standards so every employee receives the same accurate, reliable payroll experience, regardless of location.
• Help build a connected, collaborative payroll team culture grounded in accuracy, accountability, and service.

Payroll Operations

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing using ADP Workforce Now and Workforce Manager for ~1,500 employees, including hourly, salaried, and field staff in a non-union environment on a bi-weekly basis.
• Ensure compliance with California labor laws, including overtime, meal/rest breaks, and wage reporting.
• Manage timekeeping systems, including ADP Workforce Now and Workforce Manager, ensuring accurate capture of clock-in/out, PTO, and exceptions.
• Prepare and submit federal, state, and local payroll taxes timely and accurately.
• Administer payroll-related deductions, garnishments, and benefits contributions.
• Oversee payroll audits and resolve discrepancies quickly.

Prevailing Wage & Incentive Pay

• Own prevailing wage payroll: correct trade classifications, wage determinations by county, fringe benefits paid in cash or through plans, and apprentice wage rates and ratios.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports accurately and on time, including California public works (DIR registration and electronic certified payroll reporting) and federal Davis-Bacon projects, and apply the rules of each new state as AMPAM grows.
• Partner with Project Controls and Operations to flag prevailing wage jobs at setup, so time and pay are coded correctly from the first day on site.
• Administer incentive and variable pay: incentive plan and bonus payouts, foreman premiums, per diem, truck and tool allowances, and other differentials, calculated, approved, and paid on schedule with a clear audit trail.
• Partner with Finance and HR on incentive plan payouts, including approvals, timing, tax treatment, and inclusion in the regular rate of pay for overtime.
• Respond to prevailing wage audits, agency inquiries, and labor compliance requests, and maintain the records to support them.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payroll specialists/coordinators.
• Assign payroll responsibilities and ensure team compliance with deadlines and accuracy standards.
• Develop and maintain payroll SOPs, training materials, and internal controls.

Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of California and multi-state labor laws, wage orders, and employment regulations.
• Prepare internal and external reporting: payroll summaries, headcount reports, labor cost analysis, and compliance reports.
• Coordinate with auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory agencies as needed.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency, and accuracy in payroll processes.
• Lead implementation of new payroll systems, modules, or integrations with HRIS, timekeeping, or ERP systems.
• Support management with insights on payroll trends, labor cost management, and workforce planning.

Who You Are

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field. CPA, CPP, or other payroll certification is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of payroll experience, including at least 7 years managing payroll for a large, multi-location organization with a significant hourly workforce.
• National payroll management experience, leading multi-state payroll across regions or business units, required.
• Experience in the MEP, construction, or field service industry strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with prevailing wage and certified payroll in construction, including California public works and Davis-Bacon, required.
• Experience processing incentive, bonus, and variable pay for an hourly field workforce, including regular rate of pay overtime calculations.
• Experience leading payroll integration for acquired or merging companies, including data conversion, aligning pay practices, and transitioning employees onto ADP, strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP systems and payroll-to-GL integration preferred.
• Accounting background, including payroll journal entries, GL reconciliation, and labor cost allocation or job costing, preferred.
• Deep understanding of California wage and hour laws and federal payroll regulations.
• Experience:
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
• Strong experience with ADP WFN and WFM HCM, Learning, Talent and other HR modules.
• Experience in configuring, testing, and implementing ADP features and functionality.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Experience managing a large employee population across multiple locations.
• Skills:
• In-depth knowledge of the ADP WFN and WFM system and its configuration capabilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple priorities effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with various teams and stakeholders.
• Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving system issues.

Additional Information

• This is an opportunity to shape how a growing company pays its people. The Payroll Manager will help build the foundation for One AMPAM payroll: one team, one set of standards, and a consistent experience for every employee. The ideal candidate combines deep payroll and ADP expertise with the relationship skills to bring teams together, lead through change, and make payroll a trusted partner to the business.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without future employment sponsorship Recruitment Agencies

To protect the interests of all parties, AMPAM will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to AMPAM, including those sent directly to hiring managers or employees, become the property of AMPAM. AMPAM will not pay placement fees resulting from unsolicited submissions. External recruitment agencies should direct all inquiries exclusively to AMPAM's Talent Acquisition team.