Director of Payroll (In-Person Role)

AMDA•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

AMDA College of the Performing Arts is seeking a Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations for its Los Angeles and New York campuses and remote employees nationwide. This Los Angeles-based role is fully in person. The Director personally processes payroll, audits and approves payrolls across locations, and directly supervises the Payroll Administrator(s) responsible for Los Angeles payroll. The position reports to the Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President of Human Resources, implementing payroll-related directives and approved decisions from both Finance and Human Resources. The Director provides payroll expertise while ensuring operations align with financial controls, employment practices, institutional policies, and legal requirements. The role oversees full-cycle, biweekly payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees; payroll records and timekeeping; tax filings and regulatory reporting; and compliance across multiple jurisdictions. It partners with Finance and Human Resources on payroll funding, reconciliations, accounting, audits, compensation and employment changes, wage-and-hour matters, benefit deductions, and process improvements. The position also maintains confidential records, generates reports and analysis, and supports employees and leadership with payroll questions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least seven years of progressive payroll experience, including at least three years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
Demonstrated experience processing and overseeing complex, full-cycle payroll.
Strong knowledge of California and New York payroll, wage-and-hour, tax, final-pay, and reporting requirements.
Experience administering payroll for employees working in multiple states.
Strong proficiency with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable payroll and HR information system.
Experience supervising, developing, and holding payroll staff accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and service.
Ability to work effectively within a dual-reporting and cross-functional leadership structure.
Ability to communicate concerns clearly, provide informed recommendations, accept direction, and ensure timely follow-through.
Exceptional accuracy, discretion, judgment, organization, and attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage competing deadlines and complete payroll accurately in a deadline-driven environment.
Successful completion of background and reference checks is required.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or an equivalent credential.
Experience in higher education or another organization with multiple employee groups.

Responsibilities

Lead payroll operations for Los Angeles and New York campuses and remote employees throughout the United States.
Directly supervise Payroll Administrator(s), setting priorities, providing guidance, monitoring performance, and ensuring accurate and timely processing.
Personally process full-cycle, biweekly payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees.
Audit and approve payrolls across all locations before final submission and serve as backup when Payroll Administrator(s) are unavailable.
Maintain consistent payroll procedures, controls, documentation, and service standards across locations and employee groups.
Respond promptly and accurately to payroll questions from employees and leadership.
Implement authorized compensation, employment status, benefit deduction, leave, and other employment-related payroll changes.
Escalate payroll discrepancies, compliance concerns, and operational issues to the CFO and SVPHR as appropriate; communicate deadlines, risks, discrepancies, and required actions to Finance and Human Resources.
Maintain payroll records in ADP Workforce Now, including authorized employee information and changes.
Review timekeeping and payroll information for accuracy and resolve discrepancies before submission.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and city payroll, wage-and-hour, tax, final-pay, and reporting requirements, including requirements for remote employees working in multiple states.
Oversee garnishments, levies, deductions, tax withholding, and other payroll obligations across jurisdictions.
Monitor changes in payroll requirements and coordinate operational updates with Finance and Human Resources.
Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings, quarterly and year-end reporting, W-2 processing, and other regulatory requirements.
Conduct regular payroll audits, investigate and resolve discrepancies, and maintain documentation and internal controls for institutional and external audits.
Generate payroll reports and analysis for budgeting, audits, compliance reviews, and executive decision-making.
Identify and implement improvements to payroll systems, workflows, documentation, and controls in collaboration with Finance and Human Resources.
Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee payroll and personal information.