Director of Payroll Services

Northwest Missouri State University • Maryville, MO

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll Director is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and oversight of the University’s payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely bi-weekly payroll processing for faculty, staff, student employees, and temporary personnel. This position ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll regulations and serves as the functional lead for payroll operations within the University’s newly implemented Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) and Payroll system. The Payroll Director collaborates closely with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and external auditors to maintain operational excellence, system integrity, compliance, and continuous process improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible payroll experience, preferably in higher education or a complex multi-department organization.
• Minimum of 1–3 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, wage and hour compliance, and payroll accounting.
• Experience processing payrolls with multiple employee classifications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across departments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Advanced understanding of payroll systems, payroll accounting, and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) platforms.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and apply them operationally.
• Strong project management and organizational leadership capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Actively perform and coordinate all payroll operations for the University, including bi-weekly payroll processing for all employee groups.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, benefits, and leave accruals.
• Lead payroll reconciliation processes, payroll accounting entries, and year-end reporting activities including W-2 preparation.
• Develop, implement, enhance and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.
• Monitor payroll workflows and deadlines to ensure uninterrupted payroll services.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws related to payroll administration, including: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), IRS regulations, State wage and hour laws, Retirement and benefits reporting requirements.
• Manage payroll tax filings and coordinate audits with internal and external auditors.
• Maintain confidentiality and security of employee payroll records and sensitive information.
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll operations and recommend necessary policy or system updates.
• Serve as the functional owner and subject matter expert for Workday Payroll and related Human Capital Management (HCM) modules.
• Lead ongoing optimization, configuration review, testing, upgrades, and troubleshooting within the newly implemented Workday environment.
• Partner with Human Resources, Information Technology, and Finance teams to improve system functionality and automate payroll processes.
• Develop and maintain payroll reporting and analytics using Workday reporting and other tools, including Microsoft Excel.
• Coordinate and complete system testing for patches, upgrades, and regulatory updates.
• Supervise and mentor payroll staff, fostering a culture of accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate with campus departments to resolve payroll-related issues and provide training on payroll processes and Workday functionality.
• Evaluate payroll operations and recommend enhancements to improve accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Participate in strategic initiatives related to Finance, Human Resources, and enterprise systems.
• Develop metrics and reporting tools to monitor payroll performance and compliance risks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director