Citywide Payroll Director - Controller's Office (0953) - 169378

Zuckerberg San Francisco General; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 201,000 - 256,000; Full time

Job summary

City and County of San Francisco, Controller's Office is seeking a Citywide Payroll Director to lead the centralized payroll division, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll services for the City’s 35,000 employees. You will oversee PeopleSoft payroll, system interfaces, and payroll tax administration, driving improvements in processing accuracy and efficiency.

The role is permanent exempt with a competitive package, offering strategic impact on citywide payroll operations and risk

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership, strategic direction, and overall management of the Citywide Payroll Division across City departments.

Job description

Citywide Payroll Director - Controller's Office (0953) - 169378

• Full-time
• Job Code and Title: 0953-Deputy Director III
• Fill Type: Permanent Exempt

The Controller is the chief financial officer and auditor for the City and County of San Francisco (City).The Office of the Controller’s mission is to ensure the City’s financial integrity and promote efficient, effective and accountable government. Its vision is to be a model for good government and to make the City a better place. Our team includes financial, technology, analytical and other professionals. We value the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences of our teams and clients in everything we do. We work in a collaborative and inclusive environment, promote equal opportunity, and invest in the professional development and wellbeing of our team members. You can expect to work alongside colleagues who are committed to serving the public with integrity and want to see positive impacts from their work. We are looking for smart, motivated individuals who want to make a difference and use government to play a role in solving our City’s problems, including addressing long-standing and harmful disparities in our communities. For a career with purpose and professional growth, join us in the Controller’s Office.

Application Opening: November 6, 2026
Application Filing Deadline:May close anytime but not before December 4, 2026
Compensation Range: $200,538 - $255,538 (Range A)
Recruitment ID: PEX-0953-169378

Under executive direction of the Controller or designated Deputy Controller, the Citywide Payroll Director provides strategic leadership, executive management, and operational oversight of the City and County of San Francisco's centralized payroll administration and processing functions.

The Director is responsible for ensuring the accurate, timely, secure, and compliant processing and disbursement of employee compensation and related payroll obligations across City departments. This includes oversight of the City's PeopleSoft payroll processing environment, payroll calculation and validation, final output reports, financial reconciliations, payroll tax administration, payroll-related system interfaces, and coordination of payroll disbursements for approximately 35,000 employees. The Payroll Director is responsible for the quality, accuracy and production of about 1 million payroll checks per year, amounting to the disbursement of $6 billion of salaries and benefits annually.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership and Strategic Management

• Provide executive leadership, strategic direction, and overall management of the Citywide Payroll Division, ensuring accurate, efficient, and compliant payroll services across City departments.
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate divisional operations, staffing, resource allocation, performance objectives, and service delivery standards.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to strengthen payroll accuracy, operational efficiency, system reliability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead, develop, and supervise management and professional staff through performance management, succession planning, workforce development, and continuous improvement.

Citywide Payroll Operations and Administration

• Direct and oversee the accurate and timely execution of citywide payroll processing, including regular and supplemental payrolls, retroactive adjustments, special payments, and year-end activities.
• Ensure the accuracy and timely completion of PeopleSoft payroll calculations, final output reports, system interface files, and coordination of employee compensation disbursements.
• Oversee validation and reconciliation of payroll earnings, deductions, benefits-related transactions, leave balances, and complex compensation provisions, including overtime, premium pay, and negotiated adjustments.
• Establish citywide payroll processing standards, quality controls, and operational procedures; coordinate with departments to ensure accurate payroll inputs and timely resolution of processing discrepancies.

PeopleSoft Payroll Systems Governance and Technology Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of the City's PeopleSoft payroll system, related applications, interfaces, reporting tools, and data integrity to ensure secure, reliable, and accurate payroll processing.
• Direct the interpretation and implementation of labor MOUs, compensation provisions, regulatory requirements, and policy changes into payroll system rules and configurations.
• Establish governance and quality assurance procedures for system changes, including requirements analysis, testing, validation, approvals, and implementation.
• Collaborate with technology teams and City departments to advance system enhancements, automation, modernization, data security, and analytical reporting capabilities.

Labor Agreement Implementation and Regulatory Compliance

• Direct the accurate and consistent implementation of payroll-related provisions in collective bargaining agreements and labor MOUs across the City's represented workforce.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, payroll tax regulations, the City Charter, Civil Service Commission Rules, local ordinances, and City personnel policies.
• Partner with DHR, Employee Relations, the City Attorney's Office, and departmental leadership to interpret complex compensation provisions and assess payroll impacts of labor negotiations and regulatory changes.
• Establish compliance monitoring procedures, maintain current payroll policies, coordinate regulatory reviews, and address legal, financial, and operational risks.

Payroll Tax Administration and Financial Accountability

• Direct payroll tax administration, including accurate withholding, reconciliation, reporting, timely remittance, and required year-end employee tax documentation.
• Oversee the accurate recording and reconciliation of payroll expenditures, liabilities, deductions, and employer contributions with the City's financial accounting systems.
• Establish financial controls and reconciliation procedures to identify discrepancies, prevent improper payments, and ensure compliance with reporting and audit requirements.
• Collaborate with the Controller's accounting and financial reporting functions to resolve complex payroll financial issues and advise executive leadership on significant financial exposures and compliance risks.

Internal Controls, Audit Readiness, and Risk Management

• Establish and maintain comprehensive internal controls governing payroll authorization, processing, reconciliation, reporting