Payroll Manager

At Marymount University, we believe meaningful work happens when talented people come together with shared purpose. We serve not only our students—but one another—creating a culture where teamwork, adaptability, and resilience are part of everyday practice, located in Arlington, Virginia, just minutes from Washington, D.C., Marymount offers a dynamic and forward-looking environment where innovation is encouraged and flexibility is valued. We understand that higher education is evolving, and we embrace change with creativity, responsiveness, and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Our faculty and staff thrive in a community that prioritizes communication, cross-functional collaboration, and service-driven leadership. Whether working directly with students or supporting them behind the scenes, every role contributes to a shared mission: helping students grow, succeed, and lead with purpose and confidence.

We are looking for a results-driven Payroll Manager to be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of the university’s payroll in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. This role oversees all aspects of payroll operations—including payroll processing, tax reporting, auditing, out-of-state worker compliance, benefit auditing, Workday benefit processing and vendor integrations, and employee inquiries—ensuring a high standard of service and confidentiality.

The Payroll Manager leads a Payroll Specialist, implements process improvements, maintains system integrity, and partners closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors. The role requires strong knowledge of payroll systems (
Workday preferred
), tax laws, wage and hour regulations, and timekeeping, and experience managing multi-state payroll. A detail-oriented mindset, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to operational excellence are essential for success in this role.

• Oversees and manages payroll to ensure all department outcomes are achieved effectively. Coordinates payroll activities and ensures compliance with established financial, legal and/or administrative requirements.
• Acts as primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries and errors, engaging internal and external parties (such as city, state, federal agencies, etc.) as applicable, providing appropriate research and communicating outcomes timely and effectively to stakeholders in a manner consistent with excellent customer service.
• Define and implement industry-standard best practices processes and strong financial controls to foster continuous improvement, and to improve workflow, ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and accuracy of general ledger postings and reconciliations.
• Ensures payroll guidelines/policies/procedures are documented, maintained and updated.
• Acts as primary point of contact for external auditors and also audits employee tax documents, payroll balance sheets, YTD earnings, etc. as needed.
• Resolves Workday system/vendor issues/problems by working closely with the IT Services staff and authorizes updates for items impacting payroll. Works with IT Services to correct and test problems with the payroll system due to upgrades and patches.
• Verifies a variety of payroll related data to ensure accurate distribution of funds and payroll; this includes review of prepared timesheets, pay changes and detailed registers (such as taxes, deductions, and rates).
• Oversee the processing of bi-weekly payroll to include all Leave payroll adjustments, transmits Direct Deposit and Positive Pay files, calculates, prepares and transmits federal and state tax deposit and calculates, prepares and transmits retirement files.
• Performs quarterly/year-end functions and processes forms for current and previous employees to include, preparation and entry of taxable adjustments (Auto, group term life etc.); prepares W-2 Tax Statements, reconciles to the general ledger and makes appropriate adjustments; updates entries to tax tables; and administers quarter and annual closings to the payroll system.
• Performs a variety of payroll adjustments and reconciliations to include processing vacation/sick adjustments, preparation of…