Megan Muller
From her nomination:
Alice supervises two direct reports in the payroll department. She understands how the payroll department functions tie in with the rest of the organization. Alice works very closely with the Human Resources Department to ensure that we catch errors early in the process, as not to disrupt an employee’s pay. There is consistent communication between the department for the benefit of the employees. Alice is extremely collaborative, she follows up to ensure the job is done, and done right. She encourages her direct reports to continue to learn and grow.
Alice McRoberts is the Payroll Manager at Delta Companies Inc., the Colas USA subsidiary that operates throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Alice joined the Colas USA Family in 2007 and has held the titles of Payroll & Benefits Accountant, Payroll Accountant, and Payroll Manager.
Read more about Alice McRoberts through the following spotlight.
Describe your role to someone who is not familiar with the construction industry or Colas USA.
I oversee the processing of Payroll for over 350 union and non-union employees throughout Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois. I process all payroll tax payments and returns and work closely with Human Resources to ensure each employee is setup paid correctly. I also balance general ledger accounts associated with payroll and create reports for accounting and operations use.
What has been your favorite project so far?
I have worked on large projects like the implementation of JD Edwards EnterpriseOne and smaller projects, such as creating a total compensation letter to distribute to employees. I’ve enjoyed working with others to get the job done no matter how big or small.
What drew you to working within the construction industry?
When I moved to Southeast Missouri, I was offered a job at a local construction company. After some time, I was offered an opportunity to advance my career at Delta Companies Inc. I have had more learning opportunities here at Delta than I would have if I had stayed where I was.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work every day?
I enjoy what I do and there is always something new to learn. I also enjoy helping others. Delta has a good work environment and is very family oriented. Our leaders want to see you succeed.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I was fortunate enough to be able to participate by running a 10k in the last Colas Runners Club event in Quebec. The event was hosted by Sintra, one of the subsidiaries in Colas Canada. I also had the opportunity to travel to Paris to run in the first Colas Team Cup event in 2018. I set a personal record in the MOCowbell half marathon that year to help earn the necessary points. My goal was to complete one full marathon before by 50th birthday, and I actually completed my second one earlier in 2021 with a few months to spare.
What is one recommendation you could make to help Colas USA operate better?
Utilize Microsoft Teams more to connect the subsidiaries to share best practices. Also, encourage people to get more comfortable with asking their peers questions and taking the time to respond to those questions. There may be an easier more efficient way to perform a job but if you don’t ask you may never know.