"Director of Payroll"

Director of Payroll

Company: Dartmouth College

Category: Human Resources

Type: Full-Time

Posting date: 01/20/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Position Number: 1012144

Hiring Range: Minimum $117,500 Maximum $146,900

Union Type: Not a Union Position

SEIU Level: Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Category: Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year: 12

Scheduled Hours per Week: 40

Schedule: M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM Hybrid-preferred, with remote work optional. There is a strong preference for this position to be in-person or hybrid, although remote may be considered for the exceptional candidate. Travel to campus would be required as needed, and an in-office presence, which will be driven by project needs, is expected at least once per quarter, at a minimum.

Location of Position: Hybrid-preferred, with remote work optional. There is a strong preference for this position to be in-person or hybrid, although remote may be considered for the exceptional candidate. Travel to campus would be required as needed, and an in-office presence, which will be driven by project needs, is expected at least once per quarter, at a minimum.

Remote Work Eligibility?: Hybrid

Is this a term position?: No

Is this a grant funded position?: No

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Controller, the Director of Payroll is responsible for directing the daily operations and activities of the Dartmouth Payroll Office and providing oversight and coordination for payroll related activities performed within Dartmouth College's finance centers and departments. The Director of Payroll leads change management and process improvement for all tasks necessary to accomplish the Dartmouth payroll processing objectives. The Director of Payroll maintains and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and tax reporting and is responsible for relationships with internal and external auditors and state and federal agencies.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Bachelors plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance or related field required.
• 5+ years of relevant leadership experience in payroll operations and compensation accounting management, preferably in a higher education environment.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience of a payroll team of at least 3 individuals.
• Strong background and demonstrated success in process improvement, system maximization, internal control, and customer service.
• Strong experience with federal and state payroll, labor, and IRS regulations.
• Proven experience working in an environment with multiple unions.
• Experience performing accounting, reconciliation, and internal control.
• Experience with complex human resource and payroll management information systems, particularly Oracle HRMS.
• Excellence in interpersonal and communication skills with human resources, financial, information systems, and academic personnel.
• Ability to plan work, set priorities and manage multiple priorities, and changes in schedules and priorities.
• Strong negotiation, customer service, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to affect change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to attract, supervise, train, coach, mentor, and motivate employees.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and ability to work independently or with a group.
• Commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse community.
• Collaborative, respectful style of communication and leadership.
• Flexible, strategic team player with uncompromising integrity and ethical standards.
• Highly organized and possesses a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to establish credibility and be decisive; make decisions that recognize and support the organization's preferences and priorities.
• One who can make decisions, exercise judgment, and interface effectively with all levels of staff, clients, and vendors.
• Mind-set for continuous improvement accompanied by problem sensitivity and critical thinking skills

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

Jen Renaud
Phone: 646-3001

Special Instructions to Applicants

The recruiting and selection process for this position is being managed through the search firm Robert Half. Any applications collected by Dartmouth will be passed along to Robert Half.

Payroll Operations and Service Delivery (30%)

• Direct and ensure the timely and accurate processing of all payroll activities for Dartmouth's multi-state operations, including planning, organizing, prioritizing, and delegating payroll assignments to meet deadlines and objectives.
• Lead the strategic planning, daily operations, and long-term goal setting for the Payroll Office.
• Lead change management initiatives to enhance payroll processes, drive efficiency, and improve service delivery.
• Participates in the continued development and maintenance of institutional policies and procedures governing payroll operations and control.
• Represent Payroll and the Controller's Office in cross-functional collaboration with campus partners (e.g., Human Resources, Office of Labor Relations, Budget, Sponsored Projects, Administrative Computing, Finance Centers, and schools) to advance institutional objectives.
• Partner with department and division administrators to resolve pay, labor distribution, tax reporting, and compliance questions.
• Participates in programs to educate Non-Resident Aliens (NRAs) on the application for tax treaty benefits.
• Coordinates and monitors payroll services provided by third party vendors including ADP (state and federal tax reporting), Equifax (payroll verification), and Sprintax Calculus (NRA taxes).

Compliance, Controls, Audit and Reporting (30%)

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including IRS, labor laws, federal award compliance, and union agreements.
• Design, implement, and monitor a robust internal control framework to ensure the security, integrity, and confidentiality of all payroll data.
• Ensure appropriate procedures are in place to accurately report imputed income and deferred compensation, process abandoned property and overpayments, and maintain I9 records.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative developments affecting payroll. Interprets and implements change related to applicable regulations.
• Ensure accurate reconciliation of payroll information from HRMS to financial reporting systems.
• Serve as the primary liaison for all internal and external payroll audits, and proactively address and resolve any findings.
• Develop and deliver ad hoc reporting to support compliance, audit, and business needs.

People Leadership & Operations Management (20%)

• Lead day-to-day activities and long-term planning of the Payroll Department and the management of payroll and compensation accounting records.
• Establish priorities, oversees workflow, and reports on progress and goal attainment.
• Direct and supervise the hiring, evaluation, supervision, and training of (5) staff in the Payroll Department.
• Monitor and adhere to the Payroll Department budget.
• Foster a positive team-oriented working environment through effective communication.

Systems and Projects (20%)

• Partner with the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) team on payroll system projects, including testing and implementation of new functionality within Oracle HRMS or future systems.
• Ensure payroll functional requirements, user acceptance testing, and downstream impacts to reporting/reconciliations are addressed for system updates and process changes.

• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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