Payroll Manager

Roosevelt University; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Roosevelt University seeks a Payroll Manager to lead biweekly and monthly payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance. You will oversee tax reporting, reconciliations, audits, and system controls while collaborating with HR, Finance, and departments to improve processes and service.

The role is full-time, hybrid, reporting to the Chicago campus three days a week, with occasional overtime during peak periods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• 2–3 years of progressively responsible payroll experience is required.
• Experience with multi-payroll environments and complex organizations is valued.
• Working knowledge of payroll tax regulations and wage and hour laws.
• Proficiency with ADP and HRIS platforms is essential.
• Strong Excel skills for data analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely biweekly and monthly payrolls and support year-end activities.
• Oversee payroll data audits, reconcile discrepancies, and prepare required reports.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and partner with HR, Finance, and Financial Aid.
• Administer ADP Time & Attendance and supervise payroll staff.
• Maintain audit-ready records and support internal controls and compliance.

Skills

Payroll processing

ADP Workforce Now

HRIS

Excel advanced

Tax reporting

Audits

Internal controls

Communication

Education

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

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Ellucian Banner

Time & Attendance systems

Job description

The Payroll Manager leads payroll operations and ensures accurate, timely, and compliant processing of the University’s biweekly and monthly payrolls. This role oversees payroll processing, tax reporting, reconciliations, systems, audits, and employee support while partnering with HR, Finance, Financial Aid, and departments to improve controls, processes, and service.

The Payroll Manager reports to the Associate Vice President of HR Technology & Solutions. This is a full-time, at-will, exempt position. The position is full-time, hybrid, and requires the employee to report to the Chicago campus 3 days per week. The hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM. Occasional additional hours may be required during payroll processing, year-end processing, audits, or other critical payroll deadlines.

Roosevelt University offers many great benefits. Please review our benefits in further detail by clicking this link: https://rooseveltu.touchpointsonline.com/

The salary range for this position is $70,000-$75,000

Title IX Contact Information: Federal Title IX policy requires that all colleges and universities make known the contact information for the person responsible for coordinating its efforts to comply with Title IX regulations. At Roosevelt University, the Title IX Coordinator is Natasha Robinson. Her office is located in the Auditorium Building of the Chicago campus, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, AUD 476B. She can be reached at 312-281-3245 or [e-mail].

Do not contact this email address for inquiries about your job application; if you have questions, you may email [e-mail].

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field required.
• Minimum of two to three years of progressively responsible payroll experience required, including full-cycle payroll processing.
• Experience processing multiple payroll cycles in a complex organizational environment. Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, payroll compliance requirements, institutional policies, and collective bargaining agreements, as applicable.
• Working knowledge of payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and time and attendance systems required. Experience with payroll tax filings, W-2 preparation, garnishments, payroll reconciliations, and related payroll reporting.
• Understanding of payroll accounting principles, including general ledger reconciliations and journal entry preparation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reconciliation, and reporting; working knowledge of Word and Outlook required.
• Ability to manage and improve payroll processes, controls, and procedures while supporting accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to lead payroll audits, prepare compliance documentation, maintain audit-ready records, and respond to internal and external audit requests.
• Ability to research, analyze, and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries.
• Ability to train, mentor, or provide guidance to payroll staff.
• Strong analytical, organizational, project management, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and explain payroll concepts clearly.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with Human Resources, Finance, Financial Aid, and academic and administrative departments.
• Strong commitment to accuracy, compliance, continuous improvement, customer service, and Roosevelt’s core values, mission, and vision.

Years of Experience Required

Years of Experience Required 2-3

Required Education

Required Education Bachelor's Degree

Certification/Licensure Required

Minimum Qualifications

Please refer to knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience processing payroll in a higher education, nonprofit, union, or multi-payroll environment.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now and Ellucian Banner.
• Prior experience supervising or leading payroll, administrative, or shared services staff.
• Experience with student employment payroll, Federal Work-Study reconciliation, restricted fund reconciliation, general ledger reconciliation, or payroll-related journal entries.
• Experience supporting year-end payroll activities, audit responses, and compliance documentation.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) certification.

Equipment Operated

Basic office equipment (desktop computer, copier/multi-function device, printer, fax and telephone).

Working Conditions

Normal climate-controlled office environment is provided. Job is largely sedentary, but there may be a need to move about the office frequently. Occasional bending, stooping, lifting, pushing and/or pulling is required (typically less than 10 pounds of weight or pressure). Regular use of desktop computer is required, calling for frequent hand/wrist movement and repetition.

Essential Job Functions

Duty and Responsibility

Process accurate and timely payroll by reviewing and validating payroll data, correcting discrepancies, processing off-cycle and manual payments, and supporting W-2, year-end, audit, record retention, and internal control activities. Provide oversight to the Payroll Administrator, respond to payroll questions, communicate payroll policies, process stop/reverse/void payments in ADP , and reconcile payroll funds with the Business Office and Federal Work-Study payroll amounts with Financial Aid.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 50

Duty and Responsibility

Prepare biweekly and monthly payroll data, checks, bank payment files, and federal and state tax files. Review Banner and ADP discrepancies before payroll approval and maintain payroll records, reports, compliance documentation, and reconciliation support.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 20

Duty and Responsibility

Research and resolve employee payroll questions and concerns. Partner with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, Financial Aid, and departments to support accurate payroll processing, funding reconciliation, compliance, and employee service.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 20

Duty and Responsibility

Administer ADP Time & Attendance, process payroll redistributions, supervise the Payroll Administrator, provide training and performance support, and prepare required payroll reports on schedule.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 10