Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Job Title: Payroll & Accounting SpecialistJob Description

The Payroll & Accounting Specialist manages end-to-end payroll processing and supports key accounting functions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations. This role combines hands-on biweekly payroll administration with accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end close activities, while contributing to process improvements and maintaining strict confidentiality. It offers the opportunity to grow with an expanding organization and play a central role in its financial and operational success.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process accurate, timely biweekly payroll for employees across multiple contracts and departments.
• Review and reconcile employee timesheets, labor charges, leave balances, overtime, and payroll adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Verify payroll information for new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, and other employee transactions.
• Identify, research, and resolve payroll discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Ensure accurate allocation of labor costs to appropriate contracts, projects, and indirect charge categories.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure employee information, benefit deductions, and payroll changes are accurately reflected in payroll records.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Support payroll-related audits, reconciliations, and year-end reporting activities.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and internal controls to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Serve as a key point of coordination for day-to-day accounting and financial administrative activities.
• Support monthly accounting close activities by preparing, reviewing, and reconciling financial information and supporting documentation.
• Assist with accounts receivable activities, including invoice preparation, supporting documentation, payment tracking, and reconciliation.
• Coordinate with contracts and program management teams to validate labor and other costs supporting customer invoices.
• Support accounts payable activities, including vendor invoice review, expense processing, and payment coordination.
• Review and reconcile employee expense reports, travel reimbursements, and corporate credit card transactions.
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies in coordination with internal stakeholders and external accounting partners.
• Maintain accurate financial records, trackers, and supporting documentation.
• Assist with financial reporting, audits, and other accounting-related activities as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and consistency of payroll and financial administrative processes.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, checklists, and quality-control measures for payroll and accounting workflows.
• Support compliance with applicable payroll regulations, federal government contracting requirements, and company policies.
• Ensure sensitive payroll, employee, and financial information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Collaborate across departments to streamline workflows, improve communication, and resolve operational issues.

Essential Skills

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in payroll administration, accounting support, or a closely related field, including substantial hands-on payroll processing.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing payroll processes with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, wage and hour requirements, payroll deductions, and labor reporting.
• Experience reviewing timesheets, reconciling payroll records, and resolving payroll discrepancies.
• Proficiency with payroll, timekeeping, and accounting software.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze, reconcile, and validate data.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Experience with accounting and payroll in a multi-state payroll environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting payroll and accounting functions within a federal government contracting environment.
• Familiarity with DCAA timekeeping requirements and government contract labor charging practices.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or similar government contracting accounting systems.
• Knowledge of direct and indirect labor costs, contract billing, and financial reporting in a government contracting context.
• Experience supporting accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end accounting activities.
• Interest in contributing to process improvement initiatives and standard operating procedure development.
• Motivation to grow professionally within a rapidly expanding organization with significant long-term opportunities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hybrid work environment, with remote work until January and then two days onsite each week, typically Tuesday and Thursday. The position supports a growing organization that plans to expand its business and employee base significantly over the next five years, offering substantial opportunities for career growth and involvement in building scalable payroll and accounting processes. You will work with payroll, timekeeping, and accounting software, as well as Microsoft Excel, in a collaborative setting that values accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement. The environment emphasizes cross-departmental collaboration, clear communication, and adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements, while maintaining a professional atmosphere and strict confidentiality around payroll and financial data.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bethesda, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.05 - $43.26/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bethesda, MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 29, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Bethesda,MD.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.