Director, Payroll Operations

Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The role requires a service-centered mindset and the ability to radically collaborate across People, Culture and Belonging, Finance, VUIT, and institutional business units to achieve shared goals. The Director will develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap that advances payroll from a largely transactional function to a technology-enabled, data-informed, and scalable operation.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible payroll experience in a large, complex organization of 3,000 or more employees, including multi-state payroll tax compliance.
• Experience with nonresident foreign national taxation, U.S. tax treaties, and international tax compliance systems.
• Deep expertise with enterprise HR and payroll platforms, such as Oracle Cloud HCM, Workday, PeopleSoft, or SAP.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll automation, process optimization, or technology-enabled transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop payroll and tax professionals.
• Proficiency in payroll analytics and experience applying AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, controls, and decision-making.
• Experience with workflow automation or process optimization applied to payroll or HR operations.
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and unquestioned integrity.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MBA or Master's degree esp. in a related field) is preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of all daily payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing
• Supervise payroll staff, establish priorities, assign work, and monitor performance
• Supervise the international tax team and oversee all 1042-S international tax reporting
• Ensure payroll processing complies with institutional policies, collective bargaining agreements, federal and state regulations, and tax requirements
• Review and approve payroll transactions, adjustments, off-cycle payrolls, and special payments
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, payroll tax reporting, deductions, garnishments, retirement contributions, and month-end processing
• Oversee quarterly payroll tax filings at both the federal and state levels
• Maintain appropriate internal controls to safeguard payroll data and institutional assets
• Serve as the primary resource for resolving complex payroll issues and escalated employee concerns
• Develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap aligned with Vanderbilt’s mission, growth and operational priorities.
• Assess and redesign payroll workflows, procedures, and controls to improve accuracy, consistency, efficiency, and service.
• Optimize Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling technologies to automate processes, reduce manual intervention, strengthen data integrity, and improve employee self-service.
• Establish a continuous improvement discipline using process mapping, root-cause analysis, performance data, and clear operational measures.
• Lead system enhancements, testing, and adoption while maintaining strong internal controls, segregation of duties, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, tax regulations, retirement reporting requirements, and higher education-specific payroll regulations.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting payroll operations and implement required updates.
• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits and respond to audit requests.
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure appropriate segregation of duties throughout payroll processes.
• Partner with VUIT Oracle team to optimize payroll system functionality
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting
• Participate in system upgrades, testing, implementations, and process enhancements
• Build strong collaborative relationships across departments to improve service delivery and communication
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance to payroll staff
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and continuous improvement culture
• Identify training needs and support professional development opportunities
• Manage departmental priorities and allocate resources to meet institutional deadlines

What This Job Offers

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