Director, Payroll

About the role

The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by July 10, 2026. Applications received after July 10, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations
  • Lead, manage, and develop payroll staff to ensure timely, accurate processing of multi-state payrolls (State and In-House).
  • Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, including validation, calculation, reconciliation, and disbursement.
  • Ensure seamless coordination between Workday Payroll and legacy PeopleSoft systems, including data integrity and payroll balancing.
• Compliance, Taxation & Year-End Processing
  • Ensure compliance with all federal, multi-state, and local payroll tax regulations, union agreements, and institutional policies.
  • Oversee preparation, review, and submission of payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, 1042, W-2, W-2C, and 1099, as applicable.
  • Lead year-end payroll processing, including W-2 production and reconciliation, tax balancing, and audit reporting.
  • Manage taxation complexities related to non-U.S. citizens, multi-state employees, and higher education-specific payroll scenarios.
• Systems, Transformation & Integration
  • Serve as the Payroll Subject Matter Expert for Workday Payroll implementation, configuration, enhancements, and releases.
  • Partner with University Computing Services, Human Resources, Finance, and external consultants to troubleshoot payroll issues, conduct testing, and implement upgrades and enhancements.
  • Conduct fit/gap analyses across Workday and PeopleSoft Payroll and Financial systems to align capabilities with business requirements.
  • Drive automation, reporting, and process improvements leveraging ERP and reporting frameworks.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
  • Serve as the primary payroll liaison to the Controller’s Office, Human Resources, Finance, and the University community.
  • Provide guidance on payroll processing, tax regulations, and compliance matters.
  • Support audits, internal controls, executive reporting, and payroll change management initiatives.
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement
  • Provide strategic leadership to enhance payroll service delivery, accuracy, and operational efficiency.
  • Develop and implement process improvements, standard operating procedures, and best practices aligned with modern payroll operations in higher education.
  • Ensure staff training and development in payroll systems, compliance, and customer service.
  • Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll operations.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 7+ years of progressively responsible payroll leadership experience in a complex organization; higher education experience preferred.
• Required: Demonstrated expertise in multi-state payroll processing and compliance, and year-end payroll processing. Experience with enterprise payroll systems, including Workday, PeopleSoft (legacy or integration exposure). Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations, including nonresident taxation. Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and Microsoft Excel skills. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Proven ability to interpret policies and regulations and translate them into operational processes. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• PREFERRED: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation. Knowledge of union payroll environments and collective bargaining agreements. Experience in public sector or state-operated higher education institutions. Experience supporting Workday implementations, conversions, or post-go-live optimization.