Payroll Manager

Talentify; Glendale (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Elementary School District is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee the Payroll Department, ensuring accurate and timely wage processing and compliance with applicable laws. The role involves supervising staff, managing payroll systems, and coordinating with auditors for compliance.

The ideal candidate will have payroll processing and supervisory experience, knowledge of payroll regulations, and experience with ERP/timekeeping systems.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to being hired.
• Three years of payroll processing experience.
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Obtain and maintain a valid Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ IVP FPCC).

Responsibilities

• Oversees payroll operations to ensure timely wage payments and compliance with laws.
• Supervises staff, assigns workloads, trains on procedures, and evaluates performance.
• Collaborates with district staff on payroll software and policy needs.
• Analyzes and reconciles general ledger and payroll-related bank accounts.
• Prepares reports for district, agencies, and vendors including W-2s and payroll taxes.
• Coordinates with auditors to ensure compliance with laws and district policies.

Skills

Payroll operations

Supervisory skills

Interpreting laws & regulations

Internal collaboration

Reporting to agencies

Budgeting principles

Payroll analytics

Presentations

Interpersonal communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Visions (School ERP Pro)

TimeClock Plus

Microsoft Office

Job description

Pay Grade: N (Exempt Salary Schedule)

Department: Business Services/Payroll

Accountable To: Director of Fiscal Analysis

FLSA Status: Exempt

Creation/Revision Date: April 21, 2025

Summary:

Under general direction, incumbent manages the Payroll Department to include overseeing the payroll operations, supervising department staff, implementing and overseeing payroll information systems, and collaborating with District staff on identifying needs and resolving problems. Incumbent analyzes and reconciles general ledger accounts and bank accounts, developing and preparing required reports, and coordinates with internal and external auditors to ensure compliance.

Essential Functions:

• Oversees and implements operations and procedures for the Payroll Department to ensure accurate and timeliness of wage payments to employees. Ensures payroll operations remain compliant by researching and interpreting applicable laws and regulations. Makes recommendations to the Executive Director of Business Services to change or develop policy options in regards to the payroll operations of the District.
• Supervises departmental staff including determining workloads, establishing work schedules, monitoring work performance, recommending new hires and termination, training on payroll procedures, providing staff development programs, conducting performance evaluations, resolving staff conflicts, and interpreting and implementing policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with other district staff in identifying needs and resolving problems regarding software systems that integrate with the payroll system, payroll expenditures, encumbrances, and payroll policies and procedures.
• Analyzes and reconciles general ledger accounts and bank accounts affected by payroll. Reconciles personnel databases to payroll databases.
• Develops, prepares, and submits reports for the District, outside agencies, and vendors including federal and state payroll tax and wage reports, employee W-2’s, and other required reports.
• Coordinates with internal and external auditors to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations and District policies.
• Provides training and communication to district staff of on payroll operations such as wage and hour reporting requirements, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) reporting standards, and payroll information system management.
• Performs other job related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

• High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to being hired;
• Three years of payroll processing experience;
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ IVP FPCC).

Preferred Qualifications:

It is preferred that applicant possesses the following preferred qualifications; however, the following qualifications are not required to be eligible for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Management or related field;
• Three years of school district payroll supervisor experience;
• Proficiency in English and Spanish Language.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications for this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Skills required, but not limited to, for this position include:

• Applying the supervisory process;
• Understanding payroll operation procedures;
• Understanding external auditing processes;
• Integrating payroll information systems;
• Understanding collaborative process;
• Interpreting and implementing laws and regulations governing payroll operations;
• Applying budgeting theories and principles;
• Reporting required payroll information to regulating agencies;
• Proficiency with computer‑related software applications that include, but not limited to, Visions (School ERP Pro), TimeClock Plus, Microsoft products;
• Analyzing payroll expenditures and encumbrances;
• Troubleshooting payroll‑related software;
• Demonstrating presentation techniques;
• Engaging and encouraging interpersonal communication skills while interacting with supervisors, staff, students, etc. to exchange information.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally requires to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:

The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Washington Elementary School District is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Washington Elementary School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, disability or age in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students. For information regarding discrimination grievance or complaint procedures contact the Executive Director for Human Resources at 602.347.2801.