Payroll Supervisor

State of Utah • Taylorsville, UT

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Government Operations, Division of Finance is seeking a new Payroll Supervisor to ensure the timely and accurate processing of payroll for all state employees. This role requires experience managing payroll functions and a team of employees. The ideal candidate is open to finding new ways to solve problems, integrates best practices, strengthens processes, is personable, approachable, enjoys helping others, can think on their feet, simplify complex ideas, and is highly motivated and takes initiative.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• At least 5 years of experience in payroll processing, with a focus on multi-jurisdictional tax compliance.
• Supervisory or leadership experience, with proven team management skills.
• Expertise in payroll automated systems.
• Strong understanding of federal and state payroll tax regulations, including filing requirements for Utah and other states.
• Knowledge of out-of-state payroll tax compliance, including registration, reporting, and withholding for remote or multi-state employees.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other reporting tools for payroll data analysis.
• Familiarity with managing and troubleshooting batch processing interface feeds, automated file transfers (SFTP), monitoring cycles, and third-party vendor integrations (e.g., benefits carriers, 401k providers).
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication skills for effectively liaising with team members, agencies, and external tax authorities.
• Ability to interpret and apply payroll laws and ensure compliance with state policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and train staff on payroll policies and best practices.
• Capacity to lead process improvements and implement streamlined payroll operations.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or similar certification preferred.
• Familiarity with audit processes and record-keeping for payroll-related documentation.
• Experience managing payroll during organizational transitions or compliance updates.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that payroll activities are completed properly and on schedule in accordance with federal/state tax laws and other state statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Provide guidance to resolve questions regarding payroll activities and functions.
• Ensure that all payroll activities have adequate backup support.
• Follow up with staff to ensure payroll procedures are complete and make changes as necessary.
• Supervise and mentor payroll staff, providing guidance and support as needed.
• Configure, test, and maintain payroll software parameters, including pay types, deduction types, and tax profiles.
• Work with the payroll system vendor to evaluate and optimize existing system workflows, automations, and business process definitions to streamline processing and reduce manual data entry.
• Lead user acceptance testing (UAT) for regular software releases, tax table updates, and system integrations, ensuring minimal disruption to active payroll operations.
• Monitor end-to-end payroll processing cycles, tracking automated batch jobs, interfaces, and file transfers (e.g., ACH files, general ledger feeds).

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

What This Job Offers

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