Payroll Director

Payroll Director

Company:
North Carolina State University

Job Location:

Category:
Human Resources

Type:
Full-Time

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers in North Carolina, offering a large range of career opportunities. Visit us at https://jobs.hr.ncsu.edu/.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:

Reporting to the University Controller, the Payroll Director leads the strategy and operations behind payroll for NC State's workforce of more than 20,000 employees. In this role, you will oversee a high-volume, highly regulated operation responsible for more than $35 million in monthly remittances to tax agencies, retirement systems, and benefit providers. As part of the Controller's senior leadership team, you get to be a part of guiding the policies, systems, and practices that keep the university's payroll operations accurate, compliant, and responsive. Working across campus and with partners throughout the UNC System, your leadership will help ensure payroll services keep pace with the scale and complexity of a large public research university while maintaining a strong commitment to service and operational excellence.

Your Key Responsibilities will fall within the following 4 functional areas:

Financial Stewardship:

• Oversee payroll processing for approximately 20,000 employees across multiple pay cycles, including biweekly, monthly, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Manage high-value remittances to federal, state, and local tax authorities as well as commercial benefit providers.
• Monitor and report key payroll performance metrics for campus leadership and UNC System dashboards.
• Allocate staffing and technological resources to meet high-volume operational demands such as W-2/1042-S production and fiscal year-end close.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of payroll distributions and financial reporting associated with payroll operations.

Strategic and Systems Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction for payroll operations, systems, and compliance programs supporting a large, complex university environment.
• Serve as the functional subject matter expert for the payroll module within PeopleSoft, leading strategy, testing, and implementation of patches, bundles, and system upgrades.
• Participate in institutional governance groups such as the HR System Steering Committee to help guide system roadmaps and documentation standards.
• Lead process and system improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, and improve data integrity.
• Ensure proper configuration and maintenance of payroll tables and processes within the HR system used to support payroll distributions and reporting.

Compliance and Payroll Administration:

• Interpret and implement complex federal, state, and UNC System payroll regulations and financial policies.
• Maintain advanced oversight of W-2 and 1042-S reporting requirements, payroll tax regulations, international tax treaties, and nonresident alien (NRA) compliance.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes to ensure university payroll policies and practices remain compliant.
• Oversee the investigation and resolution of complex payroll issues, including overpayments, payment plans, and collection efforts when necessary.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, training materials, and operational documentation.
• Serve as the primary liaison for payroll during internal and external audits and translate complex payroll processes into clear documentation and reports.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as a senior advisor to university leadership on complex compensation scenarios, payroll policy interpretation, and compliance considerations.
• Partner with campus units, UNC System committees, and external agencies to maintain payroll integrity and alignment with institutional requirements.
• Translate complex tax regulations or policy updates into clear guidance for campus departments and administrators.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with partners across the university, including the Budget Office, Human Resources, Enterprise Applications, and IT Security.
• Provide responsive consultation and service to departments navigating complex payroll and compliance matters.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and develop a payroll team that includes two direct reports and approximately ten indirect reports supporting payroll processing, international compensation and taxation, and payroll tax reporting.
• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate staff while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support professional development and knowledge sharing to ensure the team remains current with evolving payroll regulations and systems.
• Promote operational excellence and innovation within the Controller's Office and across university financial operations.

If you are a strategic payroll leader who thrives in complex environments, values operational excellence, and is motivated to ensure accurate, compliant compensation for a large and varied workforce, we encourage you to apply.

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 a relevant post-Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of three (3) years or greater of related professional experience, or a relevant undergraduate degree and a minimum of five (5) years or greater of relevant experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience overseeing complex payroll operations in a large organization.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading and developing professional staff in a service-oriented operational environment.
• Working knowledge of enterprise payroll/HRIS systems (e.g., PeopleSoft or similar).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting payroll operations within a large university or public sector environment.
• Knowledge of international payroll taxation, including nonresident alien (NRA) compliance and tax treaty application.
• Experience leading enterprise HR/payroll system upgrades, implementations, or major process improvements.
• Experience working with complex multi-fund financial environments (state, sponsored, and discretionary funds).
• Familiarity with UNC System or other state government payroll and financial compliance frameworks

Required License or Certification:

N/A

AA/EEO Statement:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

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