Manager, Payroll Operations

Join our community and experience Emerson College!

The Manager, Payroll Operations serves as a strategic partner to the Director of Payroll and plays a crucial role in managing the payroll functions at the College. This position is responsible for overseeing payroll processing, ensuring compliance with tax laws, and acting as the principal point of contact in the absence of the Director. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader who is meticulous and dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the payroll department, while also enhancing operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Oversee the preparation and processing of both the semimonthly and weekly payrolls, ensuring accurate calculation of payments, deductions, and record maintenance. 
• Serve as backup to the Director of Payroll, providing continuity and leadership in payroll operations. 
• Manage payroll tax compliance across all levels of government and for foreign entities, ensuring timely and accurate filings and reconciliations; utilize ADP for tax services.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll tax regulations and ensure compliance with these laws. 
• Coordinate internal, external, and compliance audit processes, ensuring readiness and accuracy in all payroll-related reporting. 
• Maintain detailed payroll records, manage the filing of all tax and deduction reports, and process involuntary deductions like levies and garnishments. 
• Prepare accounting transactions and financial documents to support payroll operations and ensure procedural compliance. 
• Document and regularly update payroll procedures to boost efficiency and adhere to regulatory standards. 
• Ensure the accuracy of payroll data through meticulous reconciliation and verification processes, including balancing payroll entries with the general ledger. 
• Develop and implement tax management strategies for international employees to comply with applicable laws. 
• Lead the adoption and optimization of payroll systems, such as Workday, including system upgrades and staff training on new features and processes. 
• Act as the primary contact for the Student Employment Office to address and streamline student payroll processes. 
• Collaborate with the Payroll and Human Resources teams to address and resolve any issues or discrepancies in payroll processing.
• Prepare special reports for senior management that provide critical insights and recommendations on payroll operations. 
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform the job.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of in-depth experience in payroll operations, with progressive responsibility in payroll management. Experience specifically within higher education or a similarly structured organization is advantageous.
• Extensive experience with major payroll systems, especially Workday. Proficiency in using ADP for payroll tax services is required.
• CPP certification is advantageous.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job. 

• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and regulations. This includes an understanding of compliance requirements for both domestic and international employees.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to manage complex payroll issues, ensure accuracy, and streamline operations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with all levels of management and cross-functional teams.
• Proactive and independent with a strong ability to drive processes and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy and problem-solving capabilities.
• Operate both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires long periods of mental concentration.
• Requires constant coordination of Mental and Visual Attention.
• Requires ability to stand and/or sit for long periods of time.
• Requires ability to lift and move objects that are under 10 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associa