Assistant Director of Payroll Services

Assistant Director of Payroll Services

The Assistant Director of Payroll Services position serves as a strategic partner in leading all payroll operations for the university. This role provides hands-on oversight of payroll processing, compliance, and system administration while supporting the Director of Payroll in developing policies, implementing improvements, and ensuring exceptional service delivery. The Assistant Director manages day-to-day operations, supervises payroll staff, and serves as a subject matter expert on complex payroll matters affecting faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and student employees.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. Minimum 5 years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity. Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state payroll tax laws, FLSA regulations, and wage and hour compliance. Demonstrated proficiency with payroll systems. Experience with general ledger reconciliation and accounting principles. Strong supervisory skills with the ability to train, mentor, and evaluate staff.

Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and database reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC). Higher education payroll experience with understanding of academic appointment types and faculty compensation structures. Experience with state retirement systems, TRS, TIAA, or pension plan reporting. Knowledge of grant and auxiliary fund accounting in a university environment. Experience with Colleague, Banner, People Soft, Workday, or similar enterprise systems. Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis.