Payroll Administrator- New York Campus

AMDA; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AMDA College of the Performing Arts, with campuses in New York City and Hollywood, is a premier post-secondary performing arts college offering diverse pathways, including certificates and degrees.

The Payroll Administrator will manage full-cycle bi-weekly payroll, ensure timely, accurate processing, and maintain compliance with federal, state, and local laws across multiple states. This role reports to the Director of Payroll and collaborates with multiple departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, HR, or related field required (or equivalent work experience).
• 3–5 years of hands-on payroll processing experience, ideally multi-state.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes, regulations, and multi-state compliance.
• Proficiency with ADP or similar HRIS/payroll software.
• Experience with payroll tax calculations and filings; benefits integration.

Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle bi-weekly payroll, including salaries, taxes, and deductions.
• Maintain payroll records in ADP; manage new hires, terminations, and changes.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws across states.
• Prepare payroll tax documents and file accurately and on time.
• Serve as point of contact for employee payroll inquiries; support cross‑campus teams.

Skills

Payroll processing

ADP familiarity

Multi-state compliance

Attention to detail

Communication

Confidentiality

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field

Tools

ADP payroll systems

HRIS/payroll software

Job description

AMDA College of the Performing Arts, with campuses in New York City and Hollywood, is one of the foremost post-secondary performing arts colleges in the country. AMDA offers various pathways for students to receive unparalleled performing arts education taught by world-class industry professionals, including Professional Conservatory Certificates as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Occupational Studies, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts).

The Payroll Administrator will be responsible for the payroll functions of the organization, ensuring pay is processed on time, accurately, and in compliance with government regulations. This position will report directly to the Director of Payroll. This role will require a strong knowledge of payroll processes, best practices, and multi-state compliance, in addition to excellent customer skills. This role will collaborate effectively with various departments across the institution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle bi-weekly payroll; implement, maintain, and review payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions, including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates, including new hires, terminations, and changes to pay rates.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, wage and hour laws and best practices, including accurate tax withholding and reporting for a multi-state workforce, under the direction of the VP of Finance and in collaboration with the Controller.
• Maintain and update employee payroll records in ADP, including entering new hires, processing terminations, recording salary changes, and other updates, as well as managing payroll deductions and contributions (e.g. health insurance, retirement plans) to ensure they are applied correctly. Will work in collaboration with the Human Resources Department.
• Prepare and file required payroll tax documents (such as quarterly tax returns and year-end W-2 forms) on time, working with the Finance team to address any discrepancies.
• Serve as a point of contact for employee payroll inquiries, resolving issues and explaining payroll information in a clear, customer-friendly manner.
• Assist the Director of Payroll generating payroll reports, conducting internal audits, and refining payroll procedures to align with best practices, as directed by the VP of Finance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field required (or equivalent work experience)
• 3–5 years of hands‑on payroll processing experience, ideally in a multi‑state setting
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes, best practices, and relevant regulations, including multi‑state payroll compliance
• Proficiency with ADP payroll systems (or similar HRIS/payroll software)
• Experience handling payroll tax calculations and filings, with a solid understanding of multi‑state tax withholding requirements
• Familiarity with benefits administration and the integration of benefit deductions (healthcare, retirement contributions, etc.) into payroll
• Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality of sensitive payroll data
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively to meet strict bi-weekly payroll deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross‑campus teams and address employee payroll questions professionally

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP or FPC certification (Certified Payroll Professional or Fundamental Payroll Certification) is a plus
• Prior experience in an academic, performing arts, or nonprofit work environment
• Knowledge of New York payroll laws and wage/hour regulations is highly beneficial
• Advanced Excel skills or experience with financial reporting tools for payroll analysis

Position Information

• This is a Hybrid position 3 days in the NY office
• The regular schedule for this role is 9:00am – 6:00pm EST. This is subject to change based on department needs. May be required to work an alternate schedule which would include evenings based on student calendar and department needs.
• The pay range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 annually.

Diversity and Qualifications

AMDA is fully committed to diversity, inclusivity, and equity throughout the teaching and learning process. We encourage applications from individuals who have extensive experience working with students from diverse backgrounds.

Successful candidates will have a sensitivity to, and understanding of, the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of our students, including disabilities that may affect students' development and learning styles.

Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

AMDA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in which no person is subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, supervision, promotion, working conditions, termination, layoff, demotion, transfer, compensation, and training.