Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Police Department’s payroll function. Reporting to the Director of Administration and Operations, the position oversees daily payroll operations, including the accurate and timely processing of payroll, time and attendance administration, payroll corrections, pay differentials, and related records and reporting. The Payroll Manager interprets and applies payroll provisions of collective bargaining agreements and City policies, resolves complex pay issues, supervises assigned payroll staff, and works with the Human Resources Manager, Labor Relations Manager, and Fiscal Manager on matters affecting payroll.

The position identifies process improvements and strengthens payroll practices to support accurate, consistent, and equitable pay administration.

• Supervise union and nonunion Payroll staff, providing day-to-day guidance on payroll, leave administration, compliance, records management, and issue resolution; ensure accurate and confidential handling of personnel files and employment verifications.
• Oversee timekeeping and payroll processing, including wage calculations, overtime, stipends, deductions, pay‑rate changes, step increases, COLAs, retroactive pay, and FLSA adjustments; manage leave administration, resolve discrepancies, and maintain accurate payroll and leave records; prepare salary analyses and retroactive pay calculations to support collective bargaining processes.
• Generate, analyze, and reconcile HRIS and People Soft data to support HR, payroll, fiscal operations, audits, and compliance requirements; prepare workforce and salary data for budget development, retirement calculations, and reporting to the Retirement Board.
• Collaborate with City Human Resources and Payroll on improvements to HR policies, processes, and systems, including payroll, time and attendance. Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers on payroll matters, including pay, time reporting, and deductions. Oversee the accurate and timely completion of weekly payroll, resolve discrepancies, coordinate required documentation and approvals, and implement payroll provisions of union contracts.
  
  Maintain knowledge of the Employee Manual, Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, and City policies; interpret and apply these policies to ensure consistent HR practices.
• Coordinate payroll training for supervisors and employees, including time reporting and payroll procedures. Review overtime expenditures; maintain the time and attendance system; oversee the processing of leave accruals, payroll corrections, and pay differentials; and respond to a high volume of payroll inquiries.
• Support special projects, including emergency or high‑priority initiatives; identify and implement process improvements in HR and administrative procedures; communicate relevant HR and operational changes to departmental employees.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field Five (5) years as a payroll manager in a similarly sized organization with diverse payrolls across multiple employment classifications.
• Proficiency with payroll software, with experience in HRIS or similar ERP systems (e.g., People Soft).
• Experience in a unionized municipal or public-sector environment working with collective bargaining agreements and payroll and timekeeping systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role racial inequity plays in organizational and HR systems and in society.
• Ability to work and interact…