Prevailing Wage Specialist

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient climate solutions for buildings, homes and transportation, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King,  sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business.  Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities?  Do you want to contribute to making a better future?  If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world.

Learn about our benefits designed for you to Thrive at work and at home. 

We boldly go.

Where is the work:

Monday to Thursday, work onsite with your colleagues. Fridays, choose your work location, balancing what your work requires.

 

 

The Certified Payroll / Prevailing Wage Specialist is responsible for ensuring full compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act, state prevailing wage laws, and project-specific reporting requirements. This role oversees the preparation, audit, and submission of certified payroll reports across multiple states for both union and non-union workforces. The Specialist serves as a subject matter expert to internal teams, ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.

In addition, this role requires strong analytical and technical capability to manage, mine, interpret, and audit large payroll and compliance-related data sets, primarily in Excel. The ideal candidate will bring advanced spreadsheet skills, experience with macros and VBA modules, and a process improvement mindset that helps strengthen team capability and operational efficiency.

What you will do:

• Prepare, review, and submit weekly Certified Payroll Reports (CPRs) for multiple states in compliance with federal, state, and local prevailing wage requirements.
• Perform detailed audits of CPRs, including Statements of Compliance, Wage and Hour Records, Deduction Records, and Fringe Benefit Records, to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Verify that all required information, including dates, signatures, job classifications, and project details, is complete and compliant with applicable regulations.
• Ensure employees are paid accurately in accordance with wage determinations, job classifications, fringe benefit requirements, and locality-specific wage schedules.
• Audit payroll calculations for accuracy, including project gross wages, weekly gross wages, approved deductions, and net pay.
• Investigate and resolve issues such as missing payrolls, discrepancies identified through interviews or field observations, and requests for proof of payment or employee verification.
• Utilize electronic certified payroll reporting systems, including but not limited to LCP tracker, eMars, and other state-specific platforms.
• Analyze and audit large volumes of payroll, labor, and compliance data to identify discrepancies, trends, root causes, and areas of risk.
• Use advanced Excel functions, formulas, pivot tables, lookups, data validation, and reporting tools to support payroll analysis and compliance review.
• Run, maintain, and troubleshoot Excel macros and demonstrate a working understanding of VBA modules to support reporting, auditing, and workflow efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, and automation within payroll and compliance operations.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to improve reporting accuracy, streamline workflows, and enhance team effectiveness.
• Serve as a problem solver for complex payroll and compliance issues, using strong judgment and analytical thinking to recommend effective solutions.
• Support additional payroll and compliance-related administrative duties as assigned.

What you will bring:

• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to interpret complex wage determinations and compliance requirements.
• Advanced ability to work with large data sets, including extracting, organizing, reconciling, and auditing information for accuracy and compliance.
• Strong Excel proficiency, including formulas, pivot tables, lookups, conditional logic, and spreadsheet-based audit techniques.
• Working knowledge of Excel macros and VBA modules, including the ability to run, review, and support macro-enabled processes.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues, investigate root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Demonstrated process improvement capability, with the ability to recommend and support enhancements that improve accuracy, efficiency, and team performance.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of employee compensation, personnel records, and proprietary project information.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Flexibility to perform additional responsibilities as needed in support of payroll operations and compliance functions.
• Ability to contribute positively to team development by sharing knowledge, improving tools, and enhancing overall team capability.

Education & Experience

• Proven hands-on experience with Certified Payroll reporting, including Davis-Bacon requirements, state prevailing wage laws, and electronic CPR systems.
• High school diploma or GED required; a minimum of two (2) years of administrative experience required.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret wage determinations, project specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with managers, employees, subcontractors, and compliance agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to meet strict weekly deadlines and manage time-sensitive compliance responsibilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex requirements clearly and professionally.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, including experience working with large data sets and spreadsheet-driven analysis.
• Experience using macros and familiarity with VBA modules strongly preferred.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements in payroll, reporting, or compliance workflows preferred.

Annual Base Salary Range or Hourly Base Pay Range:

$49,400.00 - $87,639.99

Compensation Type:

Exception Hourly

Incentive Eligible:

No

Sales Commission Eligible:

No

Disclaimer: We strive to provide competitive compensation for this position, tailored to a variety of factors. The actual compensation will depend on elements such as seniority, merit, geographic location, education, experience,  travel requirements, and union designation.   Our compensation range is generally based on the national average for the country.  Additionally, benefits may vary depending on the region, business alignment, union involvement, and employee status.

Thrive at work and at home:

• Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives – WE DARE TO CARE!
• Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• Paid time off includes  up to 15 vacation days, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional options to support volunteer and parental leave. 
• 401K match up, educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.    

Disclaimer:  Benefit offerings may vary by site as well as Collective Bargaining Agreements and local/state regulations

Safety Sensitive Role:

No

The company designates certain roles as Safety Sensitive. Safety Sensitive roles may require that you pass additional drug screening.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.