Who We Are

Dudek is a leading environmental, planning, and engineering firm that helps public and private clients achieve compliance, practicality, and innovation through our project work. Founded in 1980, Dudek has grown steadily to more than 800 professionals across the U.S. and received the Top Workplace Award for 2024.

As a 100% employee-owned company, Dudek's culture rewards smart, productive team members with ownership, professional development, and financial benefits. Our work communities are designed to encourage collaboration, sustainability, and connectivity with the surrounding communities.

We invest in our Employees and communities through various initiatives that make Dudek a great place to work! Dudek makes it a priority to DuGood by giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and offer Dudekians the opportunity to take a paid volunteer day each year. Our experts are encouraged to eDUcate school groups about planning, engineering, and preserving the natural and built environments. We promote environmental sustainability through our DuGreen initiative by working to improve our environmental footprint. We also DuWell to educate our associates on their health and wellness. And our Du Something Fun team brings everyone at Dudek together to balance our hard work with exciting activities.

At Dudek, we understand the best problem solving happens when diverse viewpoints and experiences are shared. We recognize that different perspectives, inclusivity, and trust build a stronger culture and add value to our firm. We celebrate our differences and strive to make meaningful progress toward becoming a more diverse company.

About The Job

Dudek is seeking a Sr. Payroll Specialist who will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the payroll process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness. This role will involve not only hands-on payroll processing but also leadership responsibilities, including supervising a junior payroll specialist and collaborating with other departments to address payroll-related matters.

The person in this role should have knowledge of and experience with multi-state payroll, employer taxes, and should be adept at managing multiple processes and systems. The Sr. Payroll Specialist is expected to work collaboratively, be responsive, and detail oriented.

This role oversees, leads, coaches, and develops other employees within the payroll function ensuring cross-training and back-up support in this critical area.

This is a permanent full-time exempt position and will be expected to be in office in our Encinitas location once a week.

you will have the opportunity to shape.

Who You Are

To thrive at Dudek, you should be comfortable with freedom and accountability. We value collaborative, resourceful, and independent thinkers. We look for curious, solution-focused people who are able to adapt quickly to an ever-changing industry. There is no single way to solve a problem, so we support your creative approaches to solve problems.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Payroll Compliance: Responsible for reviewing and ensuring accurate and timely W2 issuance and filings. Reviews stale dated payroll checks and completes the escheatment process, as needed. Reconcile payroll-related accounts.
• Expense Reports: Reviews the corporate department expense reports for proper coding and compliance with government (FAR) overhead allowable versus unallowable expenses.
• Taxation and Reporting: Understanding and review of payroll taxes, garnishments, and other withholdings for accuracy, and government compliance then prepares and remits for payment. Responsible for payroll tax-related activities, including accurate calculation and submission of payroll taxes, and reconciliation of tax discrepancies.
• Audit and Documentation: Prepare for and assist with payroll, audits, ensuring all necessary documentation and records are readily available and accurate. Maintains thorough documentation of all support for all filings.
• Communication: Work closely with the HR department to ensure accurate employee data. Address employee payroll inquiries and resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Continuous Improvement: Oversee and updating Dayforce Ceridian payroll module Stay current with payroll and benefit regulations, industry best practices, and technological advancements to recommend and implement process improvements.
• Leadership and Training: Provide training and support on payroll compliance topics. Supervise junior payroll processor, providing guidance, training, and support. Monitor team member performance and ensure adherence to payroll policies and procedures.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in payroll processing, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities.
• Ability to manage confidential information.
• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must work PST/PDT hours.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment

* As a federal contractor, successful candidates are required to pass the following pre-employment requirements prior to beginning employment: pre - employment drug test and background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry
• Experience with Deltek Vision/VantagePoint and Dayforce and/or similar timekeeping, accounting & payroll software
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification a plus.
• Experience working in a remote environment is preferred.

Physical Requirements

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.
• This job requires occasional project site visits-based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met in order to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• This job requires working on a computer, sitting or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.
• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc. Speaking, hearing and listening are required.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Proposed Salary Range: $79,000-$95,000 annually*

*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.

Perks of Being a Dudekian

Not only will Dudek provide you with a competitive salary, but we also strive to create an environment that promotes growth, career development, and a flexible work-life balance. Dudek offers an array of benefits, from your typical medical, dental, and vision coverage to the opportunity to share in Dudek's success through discretionary bonuses, based on firmwide, divisional, and individual performance. We also offer a yearly merit review, an employee stock ownership program, and dog friendly offices! Since we encourage our colleagues to take time off when needed, Dudek also provides a generous vacation package. If you're tired of an overly structured environment and decision-making process to get your job done, Dudek is a place where your ideas are heard and your initiative is rewarded. Speak with your recruiter to learn more about the great perks of being a Dudekian.

Dudek is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.