Assistant Payroll Director

The Assistant Payroll Director serves as a trusted partner to the Payroll Director, helping lead payroll operations for one of the state's largest and most complex employers. This position provides leadership across payroll administration, tax compliance, financial oversight, systems management, and staff development, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with evolving regulations. In this role you will play a critical part in supporting business continuity, guiding strategic payroll initiatives, and delivering reliable payroll services to the university community.

Key Responsibilities fall within the following four functional areas.

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Supervise the Payroll Tax Manager, Foreign National Tax Manager, and broader payroll staff, including training, performance management, and professional development.
• Serve as a delegate for the Payroll Director, providing leadership for payroll operations, strategic planning, and business continuity efforts.
• Serve as the primary contact for internal, external, and state auditors.

Financial Oversight & Compliance

• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll-related financial transactions, including payments to tax agencies, retirement systems, and benefit providers, year-end reconciliation activities, payroll and benefit expense distribution, and review of salary encumbrances.
• Review payroll tax documentation, resolve complex tax-related issues, and support responses to W-2 inquiries.
• Maintain internal controls, separation of duties, and documentation standards for payroll transactions and adjustments.

Operational Strategy, Systems & Reporting

• Lead payroll-related system upgrades, testing, documentation, and implementation activities while partnering with technical teams to support payroll resiliency, disaster recovery, and business continuity initiatives.
• Participate in governance and planning activities related to HR and payroll systems.
• Compile, analyze, and report payroll performance metrics and key performance indicators.

Problem Resolution & Communication

• Investigate payroll discrepancies, coordinate corrective actions, and manage repayment and collection processes when necessary.
• Advise university departments on payroll regulations, tax requirements, and implementation of legislative or policy changes.
• Coordinate payroll-related communications through websites, listservs, mass communications, and other university channels.

Other Work/Responsibilities: In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there will be occasional opportunities to participate in special projects.

Minimum Experience/Education: Requires post-baccalaureate credentials with 7+ years of relevant experience, including or exceeded by 2+ years of supervisory experience; a bachelor's degree with 5+ years of experience, including or exceeded by 1-2 years of supervisory experience, may be substituted for the advanced qualifications on an exceptional basis.

Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and payroll tax regulations, including Internal Revenue Code requirements. Payroll administration in a large, complex organization with multiple funding sources, employing entities, foreign national payments, and multistate payroll considerations. Customer service experience involving consultation, issue resolution, and professional written communication with diverse stakeholders. Use of PeopleSoft Query, SQL, or similar tools to analyze, interpret, and report payroll, financial, or HR data. Ability to adapt to changing regulations, systems, priorities, and organizational needs while maintaining service quality and compliance. Experience handling confidential employee and financial information while exercising sound judgment and discretion.