Payroll Director

Build the future, spark innovation and align your career with purpose.

McKinstry is innovating the waste and climate harm out of the built environment and creating lasting impact. Together, we're building a thriving planet.

Buildings are a leading contributor to the climate crisis, generating nearly 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions. We're making a lasting impact on our industry and within our communities by addressing the climate, affordability and equity crises through:

• renewables and energy services
• engineering and design
• construction and facility services

To get where we're going, we need big thinkers, problem solvers and collaborative mindsets. Does that sound like you?

The Opportunity with McKinstry

We are adding a Payroll Director to our growing Fire Protection division in Seattle, WA. This role will lead the Payroll function and ensures accurate and timely payroll processing including accounting, reconciliation, analysis, and payroll compliance. The scope of work includes payroll operations, payroll business processes, compliance, and vendor and stakeholder management. You will oversee and lead high performing Payroll leaders and team members.

Where You'll Spend Your Time:

Department Leadership

• Influence and negotiate priorities with a focus on continuous improvement of operational processes and systems.

• Develop a highly skilled and well-trained staff (provide appropriate training, coaching and career opportunities) to ensure efficient and effective support to the business.

• Lead projects by establishing priorities, building and executing project plans, and delivering on commitments.

• Prepare, communicate and educate internal customers and team on payroll changes in policies and practices.

• Ensure systems and internal controls adequately support national payroll, employment taxes, and all applicable labor laws and regulations.

Strategic Payroll

• Research external best practices and continuously challenge the status quo by championing new, creative ideas.

• Provide well structured, supported, and clearly articulated points of view, balancing risk, reward, and trade-offs.

• Develop and implement payroll department structures and processes to increase the efficiency of the department while establishing/maintaining an effective internal control structure, with self-audit procedures that will ensure the consistent application of payroll policies.

• Work closely with Finance to develop strategic initiatives, goals, and priorities.

• Model a customer-first mindset [internal customers].

• Develop policies/procedures to support the department infrastructure and internal controls.

• Prepare and execute KPI Reporting on compensation activities and forecasts.

What You Need to Succeed at McKinstry

• Demonstrated change/project management skills required.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, detail and results orientation required.

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related business discipline and/or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional certification) required.

• Minimum 10+ years of in-house, full-cycle payroll experience including 5 years of payroll management experience required.

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills - capable of executing through others (influence vs. control) required.

• Multi-state payroll tax experience required.

• High volume payroll processing experience (2,000 employees/paychecks or more) including exempt, non-exempt, and union payroll required.

• Thorough knowledge of state and federal wage and hour laws, payroll tax laws, regulations, principles, methods and techniques required.

• Resilient in a fast-paced, changing environment required.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to problem solve and use technology to improve the efficiency of the team required.

• Excellent Microsoft Office Suite skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.

• Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), familiarity with general ledger systems, and experience reconciling the payroll to the general ledger required.

• Previous payroll experience in the construction industry strongly preferred.

PeopleFirst Benefits

When it comes to the basics, we have you covered:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with employer match and profit-sharing plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision with low or zero deductible options and low out of pocket maximums

People come first at McKinstry, and we go beyond the basic benefits with:

• Family formation benefits, including adoption and IVF assistance
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Transgender inclusive benefits
• Commuter benefits
• Pet insurance
• "Building Good" paid community service time
• Learning and advancement opportunities via McKinstry University
• McKinstry Moves onsite gyms or reimbursement for remote workers

See benefit plan documents for complete details.

If you're driven by our vision to build a thriving planet together, McKinstry is the place to build your career.

The pay range for this position is $140,300 - $211,900 per year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Base pay information is based on market location. A bonus may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered.

The McKinstry group of companies are equal opportunity employers. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, color, creed, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to employment, advancement, assignment, and training. This commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity is made equally as a social responsibility and as an economic and business necessity.

McKinstry is a drug-free workplace. Employment iscontingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test, complying with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act and a Confidentiality Agreement, in addition to successful outcomes of background and reference checks.

Applicants for this role will only be considered if they possess current US Work Authorization, and do not require employer-sponsored VISA support to begin or remain in this role.