"Director of Payroll"

Director of Payroll

Company: AMDA

Job Location: New York City

Category: Business and Financial Services

Type: Full-Time

AMDA is seeking a detail-oriented, strategic, and experienced Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations across our New York and Los Angeles campuses, as well as for remote employees nationwide. Based in New York City, this hands-on leadership role is responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy, multi-state compliance, and streamlined processes that align with institutional goals and regulations.

AMDA College of the Performing Arts, with campuses in New York City and Hollywood, is one of the foremost post-secondary performing arts colleges in the country. AMDA offers various pathways for students to receive unparalleled performing arts education taught by world-class industry professionals, including Professional Conservatory Certificates as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Occupational Studies, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts).

AMDA is seeking a detail-oriented, strategic, and experienced Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations across our New York and Los Angeles campuses, as well as for remote employees nationwide. Based in New York City, this hands-on leadership role is responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy, multi-state compliance, and streamlined processes that align with institutional goals and regulations. This position will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and collaborate closely with the Senior Vice President of Human Resources (SVPHR), with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the SVPHR on HR-related payroll matters.

The Director will directly process payroll for the New York campus and oversee the California-based Payroll Administrator. This role will collaborate cross-functionally with Human Resources and Finance, maintaining a high standard of service and compliance across all payroll activities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Payroll Leadership (National Scope)

• Lead all aspects of AMDA’s payroll operations for New York, California, and remote U.S. employees.
• Supervise and support the Payroll Administrator in California to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll execution.
• Audit and approve payroll company-wide prior to submission.
• Act as the institutional subject matter expert on payroll laws, policies, systems, and procedures in collaboration with HR.
• Maintain consistent payroll processes across all locations and employee classifications.
• Ensure multi-state tax compliance, particularly for remote workers, in collaboration with HR and Finance.
• Partner with HR and Finance to manage state registrations and system updates as necessary.

New York Payroll Operations (Hands-On)

• Process bi-weekly, full-cycle payroll for all employees based at the New York campus, including faculty, staff, and student workers.
• Ensure compliance with federal, New York State, and New York City wage and hour laws.
• Maintain accurate payroll records in ADP Workforce Now (including new hires, separations, salary changes, and benefit deductions).
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries with professionalism and clarity.

California and Remote Oversight

• Provide oversight and guidance to the Payroll Administrator in California; serve as backup in their absence to process full-cycle payroll for the Los Angeles campus.
• Ensure compliance with California payroll laws and regulations.
• Oversee processing of garnishments, deductions, and tax withholding across jurisdictions.

Compliance, Reporting, and Optimization

• Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings, W-2s, and other federal/state reporting requirements.
• Conduct internal audits to verify payroll accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR to optimize payroll systems, resolve system issues, and implement improvements.
• Generate and analyze payroll reports to support financial reporting, audits, and budgeting.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Deep experience with multi-state payroll, especially New York and California.
• Expertise in ADP Workforce Now or a comparable HRIS/payroll platform.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations, wage/hour laws, and benefits deductions.
• Exceptional accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage remote workflows and cross-functional partnerships.
• Preferred: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or related certification.

Position Information:

• The regular schedule for this role is Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm ET.
• The pay range for this position is $100,000 - $115,000 annually.
• This position is subject to a background check upon a conditional offer of employment and a reference check.
• This is a fully in-person role located on AMDA’s New York City campus.

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