Vice President, Payroll Operations

Overview Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives - and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It's also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change. The Vice President, Payroll Operations oversees the end-to-end management and processing of employee payroll and related systems to ensure accurate, timely reporting of wage and tax data in compliance with federal and state regulations for over 45,000 team members across the Hackensack Meridian Health network.

Serve as a subject matter expert in payroll operations, demonstrating deep technical knowledge of payroll systems, processes, and regulatory requirements to support organizational compliance and strategic initiatives. Leads payroll system configuration, and designs and implements process and technology solutions to improve efficiency and support operational needs. Responsibilities A day in the life of a Vice President of Payroll Operations at Hackensack Meridian Health includes: *

Direct all aspects of payroll administration, including timekeeping, scheduling systems, taxes, and garnishments, in a multi-state environment supporting 45,000+ employees across 25+ entities.
* Partner with Human Resources and Employee Relations to develop and support work rules for 13+ union contracts, ensuring compliance with both union and non-union requirements.
* Lead, mentor, and manage a distributed payroll team of 20+ professionals, establishing performance standards and development plans.
* Plan, coordinate, and oversee payroll cycles, including adjustments, interfaces, deductions, tax reporting, and funding activities to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
* Manage departmental budgets and expenses in alignment with organizational goals.
* Oversee payroll system upgrades, ensuring data integrity through audits, testing, and implementation of tax updates and system enhancements.
* Oversee the configuration of People Soft Time and Labor and North American Payroll systems to ensure accuracy and data integrity
* Drive customer service excellence within payroll operations to enhance employee and management satisfaction.
* Partner with business units to identify training needs and operational improvements; translate requirements into system and process solutions.
* Plan and coordinate payroll resources, including departmental communications, forms, and training materials.
* Implement proactive audit processes to identify and resolve data discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
* Ensure all payroll transactions comply with federal wage and hour laws and organizational policies.
* Collaborate with HR and IT to streamline cross-functional processes and resolve system issues.
* Manage third-party vendor relationships and integrations, including ADP, Smart Square, KABA, and benefits providers.
* Develop reporting solutions, templates, and functional specifications to support operational efficiency and system enhancements.
* Oversee physician time study reporting and ensure compliance with Medicare requirements in collaboration with Legal, Finance, and Medical Staff offices.
* Partner with Accounting on payroll funding, reconciliations, audits, and general ledger interface processes.
* Support HRIS, Benefits, and Employee Relations initiatives, including investigations and system-related projects.
* Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of payroll staff.
* Collaborate with Compensation to implement pay practices and configure payroll systems accordingly.
* Maintain documentation and ensure readiness for federal and state labor audits.
* Meet physical and organizational requirements, including light lifting and adherence to HMH managerial competencies and behavioral standards.
* Lifts a minimum of 5 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 5 lbs. and stands a minimum of 2 hours a day.
* Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
* Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior. Qualifications Education,

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

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• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Management or other relevant area of study.
  * Fifteen or more years of leadership experience spanning recruitment, performance management, and budget oversight, including work in multi-state environments with deep functional expertise in payroll processing across multiple entities and complex pay structures.
  * Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state regulations to ensure accurate wage and tax reporting.
  * Advanced proficiency in Workday, with the ability to configure systems, drive enhancements, and effectively test and implement system upgrades, patches, and tax updates.
  * Excellent written and verbal…