Payroll Accounting Manager

Title: Payroll Accounting Manager
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Sterling, Virginia
FLSA: Exempt

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
We're looking for a hands-on Payroll Accounting Manager to own end-to-end payroll operations and build the processes that scale with us. The Payroll Accounting Manager is responsible for the accurate and compliant processing of payroll across multiple legal entities and states. This role sits at the intersection of payroll operations, cost accounting, and government contract compliance, requiring deep familiarity with DCAA audit standards, FAR cost principles, and multi-jurisdictional payroll regulations. The manager will own payroll ledger integrity, labor distribution, and related internal controls while serving as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries from program managers, HR, and government auditors.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Own the full payroll cycle (semi-monthly) for a growing workforce in a multi-company, multi-state environment, ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery
• Ensure payroll processes comply with DCAA audit standards, including timekeeping controls, labor floor checks, and floor check readiness.
• Maintain and enforce a DCAA-compliant timekeeping policy; coordinate with employees and supervisors to resolve timesheet discrepancies.
• Maintain payroll accounting records and reconcile payroll accounts to the general ledger each period
• Ensure compliance with payroll tax obligations across all active state and local jurisdictions, including withholding, SUI, SDI, and local taxes.
• Manage state registrations for new hiring jurisdictions; coordinate with in-house counsel or payroll provider as needed.
• Oversee workers’ compensation reporting and reconciliation across all entities and states.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations; manage filings, deposits, and year-end W-2/1099 processing
• Coordinate with the Controller on payroll-related audit support, including workers’ comp audits, 401(k) audits, and year-end W-2 reconciliation.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities in payroll systems
• Develop and document payroll policies, controls, and SOPs as the company scales
• Support month-end and year-end close with payroll-related journal entries and accruals

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• 6+ years of payroll and payroll accounting experience, including 1–2+ years in a lead or supervisory role
• Strong understanding of US payroll regulations, multi-state compliance, and payroll tax (international experience a plus)
• Proficiency with payroll software; comfort learning new systems quickly
• Solid grasp of accounting fundamentals — journal entries, reconciliations, and GL
• CPA or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation a plus, not required
• Meticulous attention to detail with a track record of process ownership in a fast-paced environment
• Clear communicator who can translate payroll complexity for employees and cross-functional partners

Preferred:

• Experience supporting payroll through a period of rapid headcount growth or a system migration
• Familiarity with DCAA’s Incurred Cost Electronically Submission model and indirect rate structures.
• Familiarity with equity compensation and related payroll treatment
• Experience at a venture-backed or high-growth tech company

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods while performing computer-based work.
• Frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and telephone for prolonged periods.
• Ability to review, analyze, and interpret detailed financial, payroll, and compliance-related documents and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, managers, auditors, government representatives, and external service providers via phone, video conference, and in person.
• Ability to occasionally move throughout an office environment to attend meetings, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and access files or equipment.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry files, records, or office materials weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to maintain concentration and accuracy while managing multiple deadlines, reviewing detailed payroll data, and performing reconciliations.
• Ability to work extended hours during payroll processing cycles, month-end close, year-end activities, audits, or other critical business periods as needed.

Benefits Overview:
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.