Payroll Manager

Wilkes University • Wilkes-Barre, PA

13d

About The Position

Wilkes University is hiring a Payroll Manager to lead its payroll operations and take ownership of accurate, timely, and compliant payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees. This hands-on management role oversees biweekly payroll processing, tax reporting, payroll systems, and regulatory compliance. The manager establishes controls, improves procedures, and provides staff training and cross-training as needed.

Working with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other campus partners, the Payroll Manager ensures employee changes, compensation arrangements, and deductions are processed correctly and consistently. The role evaluates and recommends payroll/HRIS enhancements to make better use of system capabilities, streamline workflows, and improve operational efficiency. The successful candidate brings a collaborative, team-oriented approach and understands the relationship between payroll and human resources practices.

The position requires exceptional customer service, clear and respectful communication, and a positive attitude. Because it involves sensitive personal information and frequent interaction with diverse constituents, the manager must maintain confidentiality, professionalism, discretion, and diplomacy. Strong management, organizational, recordkeeping, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, together with accuracy and attention to detail, are critical.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university focused on academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. It serves approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and more than 1,500 full-time-equivalent graduate and first professional students. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressive payroll experience.
• Extensive knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements, and wage and hour regulations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to lead and develop staff.
• Extensive experience and technical knowledge administering and programming payroll/HRIS systems.
• Strong management, organizational, recordkeeping, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exceptional customer service, a positive attitude, and clear, respectful communication.
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach and understanding of the relationship between payroll and human resources practices.
• Professionalism, discretion, diplomacy, and strong regard for confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

• Specific Banner experience.
• Experience in higher education payroll administration.
• Knowledge of faculty contracts, adjunct compensation, and student employment regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University's payroll operations and take responsibility for accurate, timely, and compliant payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees.
• Oversee biweekly payroll processing, tax reporting, payroll systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Establish effective controls and improve payroll procedures.
• Provide staff training and cross-training as needed.
• Work with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other campus partners to ensure employee changes, compensation arrangements, and deductions are processed correctly and consistently.
• Evaluate and recommend payroll/HRIS enhancements to maximize system capabilities, streamline workflows, and improve operational efficiency.
• Lead and develop staff.
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, discretion, and diplomacy when handling sensitive personal information and interacting with constituents.

What This Job Offers

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