Director, Payroll

Auburn; Auburn, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn is seeking a strategic payroll leader to direct operations for Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery. You will oversee timekeeping, tax, and payroll systems, ensuring compliant, timely payroll delivery and strong internal controls across multiple states.

You will work with HR, Finance, IT, auditors, and external agencies to implement changes, optimize processes, and lead analytics and reporting to support budgeting and decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7 years of progressively responsible payroll, tax compliance, and payroll/HRIS systems experience in a complex, multi-entity, multistate environment.
• At least 1 year of supervisory experience of full-time staff.

Responsibilities

• Directs payroll operations for Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and affiliated operations.
• Sets strategic priorities, service standards, and internal controls for payroll administration.
• Ensures smooth operation of payroll and timekeeping systems, tax tables, and configurations; coordinates system enhancements and upgrades.
• Develops payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with multi-state tax and wage laws.
• Provides strategic oversight of payroll compliance across states and implements regulatory changes.
• Serves as senior payroll advisor to university leadership, HR, Finance, IT, auditors, and external agencies.
• Directs audits, tax reporting, and risk mitigation related to payroll obligations.
• Monitors federal, state, and local payroll laws and best practices; communicates impacts and drives policy changes.
• Leads payroll analytics and reporting to support budgeting, workforce planning, and financial reporting.
• Oversees vendor relationships and payroll-related contracts and service delivery.

Skills

Multi-entity payroll experience

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field

Job description

Overview

This position provides strategic leadership and direction for all payroll operations serving Auburn University and
Auburn University at Montgomery. Responsible for the development, administration, compliance, and continuous
improvement of payroll services, timekeeping administration, payroll systems, taxation, reporting, and related
processes. Ensures accurate and timely payroll delivery while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and
local regulations and aligning payroll operations with institutional objectives.

Responsibilities

Directs payroll operations for Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and affiliated operations

to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing. Establishes strategic priorities, service

standards, operational objectives, and internal controls for payroll administration.

Ensures proper operations of payroll systems, timekeeping systems, integrations, tax tables, payroll

configurations, and enterprise business processes. Collaborates with others for system enhancements,

upgrades, testing initiatives, and technology modernization efforts.

Develops and maintains payroll policies, practices, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance

with federal, state, and local tax regulations, multi-state payroll requirements, wage and hour laws, and

other applicable employment and payroll regulations. Provides strategic oversight of payroll compliance for

employees working across multiple states and jurisdictions and directs the implementation of regulatory

changes impacting payroll operations.

Serves as the University's senior payroll advisor and subject matter expert, providing consultation and

guidance to university leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, auditors, and

external agencies.

Directs payroll audits, reconciliations, tax reporting, liability account balancing, regulatory filings, and risk

mitigation activities. Ensures timely remittance of taxes, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll

obligations.

Monitors changes in federal, state, and local payroll legislation, tax regulations, labor laws, multi-state

employment requirements, and industry best practices. Evaluates institutional impact, develops compliance

strategies, and directs implementation of required policy, process, and system changes.

Leads payroll analytics and reporting initiatives to support compliance monitoring, budgeting, workforce

planning, financial reporting, and decision-making.

Oversees vendor relationships, payroll-related contracts, service delivery, and strategic partnerships.

Directs payroll communications, training programs, educational resources, and customer service initiatives

for employees, supervisors, and departmental administrators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Business Management, Accounting, Finance, or other related field
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in progressively responsible experience in payroll administration, tax compliance, and payroll/HRIS systems administration within a complex, multi-entity, multistate environment.
• At least 1 year of experience supervising full-time employees.

Contract Type

Continuing

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence:We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You:Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama:The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone:Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.