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, PeopleSoft, Workday, or similar enterprise systems
- Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis
