Payroll Specialist (Certified & Union Payroll)

Payroll Specialist (Certified & Union Payroll)

Location: Oakland, CA

Job Type: Contract-to-Hire

Schedule: Full-Time, Onsite

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a growing organization in Oakland seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist with a strong background in certified and union payroll. This is a contract-to-hire opportunity offering the chance to join a collaborative team and play a critical role in ensuring accurate, compliant payroll processing for a unionized workforce.

This position is fully onsite and ideal for a payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, values accuracy, and has experience navigating prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Process weekly and biweekly payroll for union and non-union employees.

• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports in compliance with prevailing wage regulations.

• Ensure payroll accuracy, including wages, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and tax withholdings.

• Maintain compliance with collective bargaining agreements and union reporting requirements.

• Perform payroll audits, reconciliations, and resolve payroll discrepancies.

• Track employee hours, job allocations, and prevailing wage classifications.

• Prepare union benefit reports and coordinate related payments.

• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

• Assist with month-end reporting and payroll-related accounting functions.

• Support payroll process improvements and special projects as needed.

• 3+ years of payroll processing experience.

• Demonstrated experience with certified payroll and union payroll administration.

• Strong understanding of prevailing wage requirements and labor compliance reporting.

• Knowledge of union contracts, benefit contributions, and payroll reporting obligations.

• Proficiency with payroll systems and Microsoft Excel.

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a high-volume environment.

• CPP certification is a plus.

• Preferred Experience

• Construction, engineering, manufacturing, or other unionized workforce environments.

• Experience preparing certified payroll reports for public works projects.

• Familiarity with payroll tax regulations and labor compliance requirements.

• Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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• All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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