Payroll Analyst

Payroll Analyst

Location: Houston, TX (Hybrid/On-site preferred)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: Finance / Operations

Company Overview

ESP Enterprises, Inc. is a nationally recognized services and workforce solutions company supporting transit systems, infrastructure projects, and professional staffing engagements across the United States and Canada. Our Workforce Solutions practice supports clients across transit, energy, manufacturing, fintech, and technology, delivering skilled technical and professional talent nationwide.

Position Summary

ESP Enterprises is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Analyst to manage end-to-end payroll operations for approximately 150 employees across the U.S. and Canada. This role supports both ESP’s core services teams and its Workforce Solutions practice, which operates across multiple industries and jurisdictions.

The Payroll Analyst is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely weekly payroll processing for a diverse, distributed workforce including field technicians, project-based staff, and professional placements. Experience with prevailing wage environments, multi-state payroll, and high-volume weekly cycles is strongly valued.

Key Responsibilities

• Process weekly payroll for salaried and hourly employees across the U.S. and Canada

• Support payroll operations for ESP’s Workforce Solutions practice, serving clients in transit, energy, manufacturing, fintech, and technology sectors

• Administer payroll using systems such as ADP, QuickBooks Payroll, and related platforms

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll regulations

• Support prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements where applicable

• Reconcile payroll reports, deductions, taxes, benefits, and garnishments

• Coordinate with HR, Finance, Recruiting, and Operations on new hires, terminations, pay changes, and timekeeping

• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with audit and compliance standards

• Assist with payroll reporting, labor cost allocations, and project-based payroll analysis

• Respond to employee payroll inquiries with professionalism and discretion

• Support year-end payroll processes including W-2s, T4s, and audits

Required Qualifications

• 2–4 years of payroll experience, preferably in services, staffing, or multi-industry environments

• Proven experience processing weekly payroll

• Working knowledge of QuickBooks, ADP, or comparable payroll systems

• Strong understanding of payroll taxes, deductions, and wage compliance

• High attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management skills

• Ability to manage sensitive information with confidentiality

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting workforce solutions or staffing organizations

• Exposure to prevailing wage or certified payroll projects

• Experience with multi-state and cross-border payroll (U.S. & Canada)

• Bilingual (English/Spanish a plus

• Familiarity with job costing, labor allocations, or project-based payroll