Assistant Director of Payroll

Alabama State University, Business and Finance, invites application to fill the position of Assistant Director of Payroll. The Assistant Payroll Director performs advanced professional and administrative duties in support of the University’s payroll and timekeeping operations. The position serves as the primary operational resource to the Payroll Coordinator and Senior Payroll Specialists, providing day-to-day guidance regarding payroll procedures, processing requirements, deadlines, workflow, and any ERP related issues.

The Assistant Payroll Director serves as the secondary level of operational authority within the department and assumes responsibility for daily payroll operations in the absence of the Payroll Director.

Duties and Responsibilities

Coordinate and administer Biweekly, Student Biweekly, and Monthly payrolls to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing.

Develop, maintain, and communicate annual payroll calendars and pay schedules, including payroll processing deadlines and pay dates.

Process and review payroll transactions, adjustments, deductions, payroll registers, accounting proofs, and final payroll reports in PeopleSoft and Time Clock Plus.

Coordinate payroll workflow and provide day-to-day functional guidance to the Payroll Coordinator and Senior Payroll Specialists.

Research and resolve payroll, timekeeping, tax, deduction, retirement, and system-related discrepancies.

Administer Time Clock Plus and serve as a functional resource for payroll and timekeeping systems, including system testing, upgrades, and process improvements.

Serve as the primary contact with the third-party student payment processor for student payrolls; assist with account setup and payment-related inquiries; serve as liaison between students, the University, and third-party payment processor; and coordinate the transmission of applicable student payments.

Prepare, reconcile, and submit required monthly, quarterly, annual, tax, retirement, and year-end payroll reports, including Form 941 and W-2 processing.

Process and reconcile retirement files, payroll liabilities, garnishments, levies, benefit deductions, fringe benefits, vendor payments, and other payroll-related obligations.

Coordinate with Human Resources, ERP, Information Technology, Accounting, and Accounts Payable to support payroll processing and resolve operational and system issues.

Maintain payroll procedures, internal controls, and documentation to support compliance with applicable payroll regulations and University policies.

Coordinate payroll documentation and reporting for internal and external audits and maintain the security and confidentiality of payroll information.

Assume responsibility for daily payroll operations in the absence of the Payroll Director and perform other duties as assigned by the Payroll Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required;
• Five years of progressively responsible payroll administration experience required with at least two years of experience supervising a payroll team.
• Experience with payroll tax compliance, reporting, reconciliations, and year-end processing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll tax requirements and understanding of latest payroll compliance requirements.
• PeopleSoft or comparable enterprise payroll system experience preferred.
• Time Clock Plus or comparable timekeeping system experience preferred.
• Experience providing functional leadership and guidance to payroll staff.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical payroll deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive employee, student, and financial information.
• Master’s degree or professional certification preferred.

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Alabama State University to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Federal law requires identity and employment eligibility verification on Form I-9 within three (3) business days of employment.
• All positions require the passing of a background check and some the passing of a drug screen.

DISCLAIMER

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements ae not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills of a person in this position.