Director, Payroll

Auburn University•Auburn, AL

17h

About The Position

This position provides strategic leadership and direction for all payroll operations serving Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery. Responsible for the development, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of payroll services, timekeeping administration, payroll systems, taxation, reporting, and related processes. Ensures accurate and timely payroll delivery while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and aligning payroll operations with institutional objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Business Management, Accounting, Finance, or other related field
7 years of progressively responsible experience in progressively responsible experience in payroll administration, tax compliance, and payroll/HRIS systems administration within a complex, multi-entity, multistate environment.
At least 1 year of experience supervising full-time employees.

Responsibilities

Directs payroll operations for Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and affiliated operations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing. Establishes strategic priorities, service standards, operational objectives, and internal controls for payroll administration.
Ensures proper operations of payroll systems, timekeeping systems, integrations, tax tables, payroll configurations, and enterprise business processes. Collaborates with others for system enhancements, upgrades, testing initiatives, and technology modernization efforts.
Develops and maintains payroll policies, practices, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations, multi-state payroll requirements, wage and hour laws, and other applicable employment and payroll regulations. Provides strategic oversight of payroll compliance for employees working across multiple states and jurisdictions and directs the implementation of regulatory changes impacting payroll operations.
Serves as the University's senior payroll advisor and subject matter expert, providing consultation and guidance to university leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, auditors, and external agencies.
Directs payroll audits, reconciliations, tax reporting, liability account balancing, regulatory filings, and risk mitigation activities. Ensures timely remittance of taxes, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll obligations.
Monitors changes in federal, state, and local payroll legislation, tax regulations, labor laws, multi-state employment requirements, and industry best practices. Evaluates institutional impact, develops compliance strategies, and directs implementation of required policy, process, and system changes.
Leads payroll analytics and reporting initiatives to support compliance monitoring, budgeting, workforce planning, financial reporting, and decision-making.
Oversees vendor relationships, payroll-related contracts, service delivery, and strategic partnerships.
Directs payroll communications, training programs, educational resources, and customer service initiatives for employees, supervisors, and departmental administrators.