Director, Payroll Services

Stevenson University•Owings Mills, MD

About The Position

The Director of Payroll Services provides leadership, oversight, and administration of all university payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly and monthly payrolls for faculty, staff, and student employees. This role is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls, ensuring compliance with federal and state payroll regulations, managing payroll reporting and tax filings, and coordinating closely with Human Resources, Finance, and external partners. The Director oversees payroll processes, supervises payroll staff, reviews payroll transactions for accuracy and compliance, and manages payroll reporting, reconciliations, and regulatory filings. The position also serves as the primary resource for payroll policy interpretation, employee payroll inquiries, and audit support. The target hire date for this position is mid-June. Essential Functions Payroll Operations Leadership and Management Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for payroll operations, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of all university payrolls in accordance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements. Supervise and mentor payroll staff, ensuring appropriate training, cross-training, and professional development to maintain continuity of payroll operations. Work collaboratively with the Controller’s Office, Human Resources, and other administrative departments to coordinate payroll activities and resolve complex payroll issues. Oversee and manage the processing of all bi-weekly and monthly payrolls to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timely payment to employees. Review and approve payroll timecards, including exempt employee submissions, ensuring proper authorization, completeness, and compliance with institutional policies. Oversee the entry and validation of manual timecards and payroll adjustments. Review and validate employee tax withholding information, direct deposit data, and payroll setup for new hires and employee changes. Review and approve payroll adjustments related to employee benefits as provided by Human Resources. Review retirement contribution changes and ensure accurate payroll implementation based on HR reporting. Review and verify all salary changes and compensation adjustments for accuracy against supporting documentation and payroll calculation registers. Review payroll calculations and verify final payroll totals prior to payroll confirmation Payroll Controls, Compliance, and Reporting Maintain and enforce payroll internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional payroll regulations. Prepare, review, and retain payroll reports for each pay cycle and ensure proper documentation and electronic filing within payroll record systems. Maintain payroll documentation and ensure appropriate record retention and accessibility for audit purposes. Prepare payroll reports and supporting documentation for internal and external audits, including the annual workers’ compensation audit. Monitor and respond to payroll-related tax notices and regulatory correspondence. Tax Reporting and Reconciliation Oversee the preparation of payroll tax reporting and filings, ensuring the accurate and timely completion of all quarterly and annual federal, state, and local payroll tax returns. Prepare and maintain detailed payroll tax reconciliation schedules and supporting documentation for each reporting period and provide this information to the Controller’s Office to support reconciliation of payroll tax liabilities and payments to the general ledger. Coordinate year-end payroll reporting activities, including W-2 preparation and distribution, and work with third-party vendors as necessary. Provide required payroll reports and supporting documentation to assist the Controller in completing year-end payroll reconciliations. Maintain payroll tax reports, reconciliation schedules, and supporting payroll system documentation to assist the Controller in performing periodic reconciliations between payroll system records, tax filings, and the University’s financial records.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for payroll operations, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of all university payrolls in accordance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
Supervise and mentor payroll staff, ensuring appropriate training, cross-training, and professional development to maintain continuity of payroll operations.
Work collaboratively with the Controller’s Office, Human Resources, and other administrative departments to coordinate payroll activities and resolve complex payroll issues.
Oversee and manage the processing of all bi-weekly and monthly payrolls to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timely payment to employees.
Review and approve payroll timecards, including exempt employee submissions, ensuring proper authorization, completeness, and compliance with institutional policies.
Oversee the entry and validation of manual timecards and payroll adjustments.
Review and validate employee tax withholding information, direct deposit data, and payroll setup for new hires and employee changes.
Review and approve payroll adjustments related to employee benefits as provided by Human Resources.
Review retirement contribution changes and ensure accurate payroll implementation based on HR reporting.
Review and verify all salary changes and compensation adjustments for accuracy against supporting documentation and payroll calculation registers.
Review payroll calculations and verify final payroll totals prior to payroll confirmation
Maintain and enforce payroll internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional payroll regulations.
Prepare, review, and retain payroll reports for each pay cycle and ensure proper documentation and electronic filing within payroll record systems.
Maintain payroll documentation and ensure appropriate record retention and accessibility for audit purposes.
Prepare payroll reports and supporting documentation for internal and external audits, including the annual workers’ compensation audit.
Monitor and respond to payroll-related tax notices and regulatory correspondence.
Oversee the preparation of payroll tax reporting and filings, ensuring the accurate and timely completion of all quarterly and annual federal, state, and local payroll tax returns.
Prepare and maintain detailed payroll tax reconciliation schedules and supporting documentation for each reporting period and provide this information to the Controller’s Office to support reconciliation of payroll tax liabilities and payments to the general ledger.
Coordinate year-end payroll reporting activities, including W-2 preparation and distribution, and work with third-party vendors as necessary.
Provide required payroll reports and supporting documentation to assist the Controller in completing year-end payroll reconciliations.
Maintain payroll tax reports, reconciliation schedules, and supporting payroll system documentation to assist the Controller in performing periodic reconciliations between payroll system records, tax filings, and the University’s financial records.