Assistant Manager, BFS Payroll Office

UC Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Santa Barbara seeks an Assistant Payroll Manager to oversee campus payroll operations, supervise staff, and ensure accurate processing for all employee groups. You will guide UCPath processes, manage complex tax compliance, and resolve escalated payroll issues at UCSB.

You will collaborate with departments, approve corrections, and support Glacier and NRA tax activities while ensuring timely high‑volume payroll cycles and accurate reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, HR, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise four full‑time staff, manage hiring, promotions, performance reviews, and coaching.
• Monitor GLACIER; assist NRA tax issues, residency determinations, and tax treaty eligibility.
• Serve as UCPath expert; refine payroll processes; manage accruals and error reports; support Tracker I‑9.
• Assist departments with payroll and GL ledger issues; prepare adjustments or journal entries; advise on payroll policy.

Skills

Team leadership

Data analysis

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

UCPath

Glacier

Tracker I-9

Salesforce

FinHub

Tioga

Oracle Financial

Student Information System

Job description

Position Overview

The Assistant Payroll Manager supports the Payroll Manager in overseeing campus‑wide payroll operations and ensuring accurate, compliant processing for all employee groups. The role supervises payroll staff, provides expert guidance on UCPath processes, and manages complex payroll and tax compliance activities, including nonresident alien tax regulations and GLACIER administration. The Assistant Payroll Manager acts as a primary resource to departments, resolves escalated payroll issues, and ensures timely completion of high‑volume payroll transactions and corrections.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervision & Team Management (50%) – Provides direct supervision to four full‑time career staff, oversees hiring, reclassification, promotions, performance evaluations, and goal setting. Sets productivity and quality standards, ensures enforcement of payroll policy, manages employee relations, and addresses staff inquiries through coaching and recognition.
• Glacier Tax Compliance (20%) – Monitors the GLACIER system, assists nonresident alien employees with tax issues, residency determinations, and tax treaty eligibility. Applies IRS regulations on nonresident alien tax, coordinates residency and tax compliance, and manages Salesforce ticketing for GLACIER and NRA tax cases.
• Payroll Operations & UCPath Support (20%) – Serves as a subject‑matter expert for UCPath payroll processes; collaborates with the Payroll Manager to refine local payroll business processes; manages accrual processing; serves as a central contact for troubleshooting and escalation; approves overpayments and backup approvals; reviews error reports; prepares mass‑upload files; and provides support for Tracker I‑9.
• Labor Ledger Support (10%) – Assists departments with payroll and general ledger issues, researches discrepancies, prepares payroll adjustments or journal entries, and provides guidance on payroll policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, human resources, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 4‑6 years of increasing responsibility and work experience in payroll, HR operations, accounting, or related administrative work.
• 4‑6 years of experience supervising or leading staff, including performance management, workflow oversight, and staff training.
• 4‑6 years of strong understanding of payroll processes, labor contracts, compensation rules, and HR policies.
• 4‑6 years of ability to analyze complex data, identify discrepancies, and resolve issues with accuracy and timeliness.
• 4‑6 years of strong communication and customer service skills; ability to explain payroll policies to staff, departments, and employees.
• 4‑6 years of ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive payroll and personnel information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or a large, complex organization.
• Experience working with payroll systems (e.g., Tracker I‑9, UCPath, Glacier, FinHub, AWS, Tioga, Oracle Financial, Student Information System).
• Knowledge of nonresident alien tax rules, IRS regulations, and tax treaty eligibility.

Special Conditions Of Employment

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employee sponsorship.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check.
• UCSB is a Tobacco‑Free environment.

Disclosures & Policies

• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement – Final candidate must disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years that determined misconduct, or any pending appeal of a misconduct finding.
• UC Vaccination Programs Policy – Employee must comply with the University of California vaccination policy and provide proof of up‑to‑date vaccination or a valid exception.
• Equal Employment Opportunity – The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under applicable law.