Director of Payroll

Belmont University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Belmont University in Nashville seeks a Director of Payroll to lead the university's payroll function, providing strategic and operational oversight for all payroll processing, tax compliance, and payroll systems administration.

This executive role serves as the Oracle Cloud HCM/Payroll owner and partners with Finance, Human Resources, and campus leadership to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely pay for faculty, staff, and student employees, while maintaining internal controls and SOX-aligned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field required.
• Seven to nine years of progressively more complex payroll experience is required.
• Payroll operations, tax compliance, payroll systems leadership.
• Direct experience with Oracle Cloud/HCM strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct the university's end-to-end payroll operations, including biweekly and monthly payroll processing, ensuring accurate and on-time pay for all faculty, staff, and student employees.
• Lead the Oracle Cloud HCM/Payroll strategy, including system configuration, testing, upgrades, and integration with Finance and HR systems.
• Oversee multi-state and out-of-state tax compliance across jurisdictions.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the payroll team, including hiring, performance management, workload distribution, and succession planning.
• Own payroll compliance and audit readiness, including SOX-aligned recordkeeping and coordination with auditors.
• Partner with Finance, HR, Budget, and leadership on compensation changes, cost reporting, and year-end processes.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Oracle Cloud/HCM

Tax compliance

SOX controls

Analytical skills

Supervisory skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field

Tools

Oracle Cloud/HCM

Job description

Employment Type

Staff

Internal Job Category

Exempt (Staff)

Hours

37.5

Department

Finance and Accounting

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Payroll leads the university's payroll function, providing strategic and operational oversight for all payroll processing, tax compliance, and payroll systems administration. This role directs the payroll team, serves as the institution's primary owner of the Oracle Cloud HCM/Payroll platform, and partners with Finance, Human Resources, and campus leadership to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely pay for the university community. The Director is accountable for the internal controls, regulatory compliance, and system strategy that protect the university's payroll operations at scale.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new staff in the department.
• Oversees the daily workflow of the department.
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Direct the university's end-to-end payroll operations, including biweekly and monthly payroll processing, ensuring accurate and on-time pay for all faculty, staff, and student employees. Serve as the executive-level owner of payroll accuracy, controls, and disbursement integrity.
• Lead the university's Oracle Cloud HCM/Payroll strategy, including system configuration, testing, upgrades, and integration with Finance and HR systems. Serve as the institution's primary subject matter expert during the Oracle implementation and as the ongoing owner of payroll system architecture post-go-live.
• Oversee multi-state and out-of-state tax compliance, including establishing and maintaining state withholding accounts, monitoring remote-employee footprint, and ensuring timely, accurate filing and payment across all applicable jurisdictions.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the payroll team, including hiring, performance management, workload distribution, and succession planning. Build team capability in Oracle and modern payroll practices.
• Own payroll compliance and audit readiness, including federal, state, and local wage and tax law, internal controls, SOX-aligned recordkeeping, and coordination with internal and external auditors.
• Partner with Finance, Human Resources, Budget, and academic and administrative leadership on compensation changes, labor cost reporting, benefits reconciliation, and year-end processes (W-2, ACA, 1042-S).
• Drive continuous improvement of payroll processes and internal controls, identifying automation opportunities within Oracle to reduce manual work and risk, and documenting standard operating procedures.

Required Qualifications

Belmont University seeks to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff who will support our mission and vision. As a Christ-centered and student-focused community, we aim to:

• Form diverse leaders of character;
• Equip people to solve the world’s complex problems through teaching, research and service;
• And be radical champions for helping people and communities flourish.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field required.
• Seven to nine years of progressively more complex payroll experience is required.
• Payroll operations, tax compliance, payroll systems leadership.
• Direct experience with Oracle Cloud/HCM strongly preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of the payroll function including preparation, balancing, internal control, and payroll taxes.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Experience with meeting fixed deadlines and work in a periodically high-pressured role.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field required.

Required Experience

Seven to Nine years of progressively more complex payroll experience is required. Payroll operations, tax compliance, payroll systems leadership. Direct experience with Oracle Cloud/HCM strongly preferred.

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check satisfactory to the University.

Belmont University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.