SENIOR MANAGER, PAYROLL OPERATIONS

Denver Public Schools•Denver, CO

6h•$101,781 - $124,662

About The Position

Responsible for the strategic leadership and overall direction of the Payroll function, including operations, systems, analytics, and process improvement, ensuring alignment with district goals, regulatory mandates, and financial controls. Ensures district employees receive accurate and timely pay in accordance with federal and state laws, district policies, and union agreements. Leads strategic programs and initiatives to strengthen payroll services, optimize technology and processes, and support the district’s long-term goals. Builds engagement and empowers teams while leading high-impact, district-wide initiatives and cross-functional partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field and/or Certified Payroll Professional accreditation required.
Seven or more years of related experience in a related field required.
Five or more years of management responsibility.
Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity; believe in and support all students so they feel seen and heard and have access to high-quality education.
Maintain a permanent home address in Colorado while working for the district.
Ability, with or without accommodations, to meet the physical demands of the position.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Previous HRIS administration experience.

Responsibilities

Manage daily Payroll Department operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant regular and off-cycle payroll processing while meeting deadlines and service expectations.
Oversee, coach, develop, and evaluate the Payroll Manager and staff by setting performance expectations, promoting accountability, delivering training, and supporting collaboration, customer service, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
Develop, implement, and continuously improve payroll policies, procedures, workflows, internal controls, documentation, and business processes.
Lead or participate in payroll-related projects, system implementations, organizational change initiatives, and strategic departmental initiatives; develop and deliver training and communications and support execution aligned with district goals.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and collective bargaining agreement requirements related to payroll administration, wage and hour laws, payroll taxes, garnishments, retirement contributions, employee compensation, and other regulatory requirements.
Oversee payroll tax administration, reconciliations, balancing, employee overpayment recovery, garnishments, audits, financial reporting, unemployment insurance reporting, W-2 processing, tax filings, and other regulatory reporting.
Oversee the administration, maintenance, testing, optimization, and implementation of payroll, timekeeping, and human capital management systems, including upgrades, releases, tax table updates, patches, vendor coordination, and system testing with the Department of Technology.
Manage payroll technology, HCM/ERP systems, software upgrades, tax table updates, and vendor relationships in partnership with the Department of Technology.
Serve as the department’s payroll subject matter expert by interpreting laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements; provide technical guidance and resolve complex payroll issues.
Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Budget, Benefits, the Department of Technology, schools, auditors, vendors, government agencies, and other stakeholders to coordinate operations, resolve issues, support integrated business processes, and represent the department in meetings, audits, compliance reviews, and cross-functional initiatives.
Establish and monitor performance measures and operational metrics; analyze trends; prepare reports; support workload forecasting, resource allocation, budgeting, and project prioritization; and identify and implement process improvements, automation, and best practices.
Perform other duties as assigned.