Director, Payroll Operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of all daily payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing
• Supervise payroll staff, establish priorities, assign work, and monitor performance
• Supervise the international tax team and oversee all 1042-S international tax reporting
• Ensure payroll processing complies with institutional policies, collective bargaining agreements, federal and state regulations, and tax requirements
• Review and approve payroll transactions, adjustments, off-cycle payrolls, and special payments
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, payroll tax reporting, deductions, garnishments, retirement contributions, and month-end processing
• Oversee quarterly payroll tax filings at both the federal and state levels
• Maintain appropriate internal controls to safeguard payroll data and institutional assets
• Serve as the primary resource for resolving complex payroll issues and escalated employee concerns
• Develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap aligned with Vanderbilt’s mission, growth and operational priorities
• Assess and redesign payroll workflows, procedures, and controls to improve accuracy, consistency, efficiency, and service
• Optimize Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling technologies to automate processes, reduce manual intervention, strengthen data integrity, and improve employee self-service
• Establish a continuous improvement discipline using process mapping, root-cause analysis, performance data, and clear operational measures
• Lead system enhancements, testing, and adoption while maintaining strong internal controls, segregation of duties, documentation, and regulatory compliance
• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, tax regulations, retirement reporting requirements, and higher education-specific payroll regulations
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting payroll operations and implement required updates
• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits and respond to audit requests
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure appropriate segregation of duties throughout payroll processes
• Partner with VUIT Oracle team to optimize payroll system functionality
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting
• Participate in system upgrades, testing, implementations, and process enhancements
• Build strong collaborative relationships across departments to improve service delivery and communication
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance to payroll staff
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and continuous improvement culture
• Identify training needs and support professional development opportunities
• Manage departmental priorities and allocate resources to meet institutional deadlines

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible payroll experience in a large, complex organization of 3,000 or more employees
• Experience with nonresident foreign national taxation, U.S. tax treaties, and international tax compliance systems
• Deep expertise with enterprise HR and payroll platforms, such as Oracle Cloud HCM, Workday, People Soft, or SAP
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll automation, process optimization, or technology-enabled transformation
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop payroll and tax professionals
• Proficiency in payroll analytics and experience applying AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, controls, and decision-making
• Experience with workflow automation or process optimization applied to payroll or HR operations
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and unquestioned integrity.

Demonstrates extensive expertise in payroll operations, compliance, and automation, with a strong focus on optimizing Oracle Cloud HCM and leading payroll teams. Proven ability to implement process improvements and maintain regulatory compliance in a large organizational setting.

• Payroll Operations Leadership
• Oracle Cloud HCM Optimization
• International Tax Compliance
• Payroll Process Automation
• Payroll Analytics Proficiency

• Payroll Processing
• Payroll Reconciliation
• Tax Reporting
• Workflow Automation
• Process Optimization
• Payroll Analytics
• Internal Controls
• Employee Self-Service
• Audit Coordination
• Regulatory Compliance

• Leadership
• Coaching
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Sound Judgment

• Federal Regulations
• State Regulations
• Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Nonresident Foreign National Taxation
• U.S. Tax Treaties
• Higher Education Payroll Regulations

• Oracle Cloud HCM
• Workday
• People Soft
• SAP
• AI-Enabled Tools