University HR Payroll Manager

University HR Payroll Manager

University Payroll (UP) within the University Office of Human Resources (UHR) at The City University of New York (CUNY) is responsible for developing and implementing University Human Resources guidance, standards, rules, and regulations. UHR services approximately 40,000 full‑time and part‑time employees through the University and operates a shared university service which includes benefits, payroll, workers compensation, advisory services, and programmatic leadership.

University Payroll oversees payroll operations for both Senior and Community Colleges, each with distinct policies and practices, and is the liaison and partner to campus payroll teams and external entities such as the New York Office of the State Comptroller, New York City Financial Information Services Agency, and Office of Payroll Administration, fostering strong partnerships. UP manages complex personnel and human resources rules, regulations, and programs, while demonstrating discretion and is also responsible for formulating payroll‑specific policies and actively engaging in the administration of payroll provisions within Collective Bargaining Agreements.

UP is committed to ensuring accurate, timely payments to all employees, delivering exceptional customer service, and strictly adhering to CUNY and regulatory policies and guidelines.

Reporting to the University HR Operations and Services Director, the HR Payroll Manager will manage and lead a team of Payroll Coordinators to successfully achieve the mission of University Payroll. As such, the position will review, distribute, and evaluate workload among staff and make appropriate adjustments to ensure optimal efficiency.

• Oversees, prioritizes, and organizes staff workload to ensure timely transmission and audit of pertinent data from payroll teams across the University.
• Supervises the processing of special and unique transactions in partnership with New York State and New York City, consisting of issuing refund checks, requesting replacement paychecks, and correcting duplicate payments.
• Sets and establishes objective and well‑defined performance metrics to ensure optimal staff performance.
• Identifies and enhances customer service and client interactions within University Payroll by promptly adapting processes to resolve complaints; ensures staff provides high‑quality customer service.
• Supervises the administration of payroll policy and Collective Bargaining Agreements for compliance; reviews and implements Collective Bargaining Agreement and New York State and New York City Payroll Bulletins for the accurate processing of payroll.
• Manages and oversees payroll audits to ensure Collective Bargaining Agreement deadlines are met throughout the multiple payroll Systems.
• Conducts a detailed analysis and audit to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements timely and accurately.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum

Bachelor's Degree and six years' related experience required.

Preferred

• At least three years of demonstrated supervisory experience leading and managing a payroll team.
• Experience providing payroll support in a fast‑paced, large, and complex company or organization.
• Solid knowledge of federal, state and city laws and regulations impacting payroll operations.
• Knowledge of titles, classification systems, and coding structures in either NYC or NYS payroll systems.
• Strong analytical, evaluative, technical, and research skills to work with various information systems to audit payroll and create reports.
• Experience creating and running queries in NYS’ OSC PSQuery systems (People Soft) and/or NYC’s CHRMS query system.
• Computer proficiency using web‑based HRIS, payroll, financial and administrative systems; MS Office Suite (Access and Word) with advanced Excel knowledge;
  SharePoint, Dropbox, plus virtual meeting/conferencing and collaboration tools (MS Teams, Zoom).
• Detail‑oriented, self‑directed, and motivated with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team setting with diverse staff…