Payroll Manager

Talentify; Medford (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Medford Public Schools seeks a Payroll Manager to supervise payroll staff, drive improvements to payroll workflows, and ensure accurate processing across systems. You will review procedures, train staff, and cover short-term absences.

You will handle confidential employee data, manage deductions and 403B schemes, supervise MTRS reporting for accuracy and compliance, and collaborate with HR and finance to support forecasts and budgets.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated supervision and leadership in payroll environments.
• Knowledge of payroll processing best practices and compliance.
• Ability to perform complex arithmetic and financial calculations.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with payroll systems such as Harpers or similar.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and directs payroll staff; improves workflows for accuracy.
• Handles confidential employee information and responds to payroll questions.
• Manages deductions and reports to recipients in a timely manner.
• Oversees MTRS reporting compliance and inquiries from MTRS.
• Maintains and improves payroll recording systems and digitization efforts.
• Supports budget, forecasts, grant applications, and special projects.

Skills

Employee supervision

Payroll processing knowledge

Mathematical aptitude

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Confidential data handling

Education

Post-secondary degree preferred

Tools

Harpers Payroll Systems

Frontline attendance system

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Position Type:
Administration

Date Posted:
6/3/2026

Location:
District-Wide ALL Locations

Supervises and directs the work of the payroll staff, recommends and implements improvements to payroll workflows to ensure accurate payroll processing within and between systems providing payroll information, develops procedures to review work for accuracy, develops procedures and forms to support payroll processing, trains staff to support the successful completion of assigned tasks, covers short-term payroll staff absences.

Works with confidential employee information, develops procedures and systems to ensure the proper handling of such information, ensures employee and retiree payroll questions are promptly responded to.

Responsible for directing and supervising the accurate implementation of required deductions, ensures deduction reports are distributed to the applicable recipients in a timely manner.

Responsible for Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (MTRS) reporting, supervises work required to ensure information provided to MTRS is accurate and in compliance with MTRS requirements, including responses to inquiries from MTRS regarding current or former MTRS employees.

Supervises the completion of payroll information required for Medicaid claiming.

Responsible for implementing and maintaining a payroll recording keeping system, leads efforts to improve such a system by digitizing records and other similar improvements.

Assists the Director of Finance and the district leadership team in providing payroll information to prepare expenditure forecasts, annual budget requests, grant applications and other special projects.

Is familiar with the provisions of various collective bargaining agreements and operationalizes these provisions when required to ensure employees are paid accurately.

Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in payroll management by attending seminars, workshops, professional meetings, and/or by conducting research under the supervision of the Director of Finance.

Works collaboratively with Medford Public Schools' Human Resources department and the City finance and payroll staff, to ensure the efficient processing and posting of payroll, occasionally represents the school district in meetings, on and off site, when required.

To support capacity building within the ranks of the payroll staff, the Payroll Manager may delegate any of these tasks not already delegated, with provided supervision and the approval of the Director of Finance.

Employee supervision and systems management experience.

Knowledge of best practices in payroll processing.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform complex arithmetic operations.

Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Knowledge of Harpers Payroll Systems or similar software.

Knowledge of Frontline employee management and attendance system or similar software.

Ability to analyze situations to define and draw conclusions.

Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding employee compensation.

Ability to develop and implement projects.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints.

Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth.

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Demonstrated education and experience in order to fulfill the duties and responsibilities required, post-secondary degree preferred.

Background in accounting, payroll or office management.

Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation

Payroll Manager Medford Public Schools

Position Purpose

Under the supervision of the Director of Finance, the Payroll Manager supports the management of the district's payroll operations including supervision of payroll staff, payroll processing, reporting, research, compliance, accuracy, and records retention.

Essential Functions

• Supervises and directs the work of the payroll staff, recommends and implements improvements to payroll workflows to ensure accurate payroll processing within and between systems providing payroll information, develops procedures to review work for accuracy, develops procedures and forms to support payroll processing, trains staff to support the successful completion of assigned tasks, covers short-term payroll staff absences.
• Works with confidential employee information, develops procedures and systems to ensure the proper handling of such information, ensures employee and retiree payroll questions are promptly responded to.
• Responsible for directing and supervising the accurate implementation of required deductions, ensures deduction reports are distributed to the applicable recipients in a timely manner.
• Responsible for the management of 403B salary deferrals and similar salary reduction agreements, supervises third-party administrator services, if applicable, signs 403B withdrawal requests and other similar requests including student loan forgiveness applications and employment verifications.
• Responsible for Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (MTRS) reporting, supervises work required to ensure information provided to MTRS is accurate and in compliance with MTRS requirements, including responses to inquiries from MTRS regarding current or former MTRS employees.
• Supervises the completion of payroll information required for Medicaid claiming.
• Responsible for implementing and maintaining a payroll recording keeping system, leads efforts to improve such a system by digitizing records and other similar improvements.
• Assists the Director of Finance and the district leadership team in providing payroll information to prepare expenditure forecasts, annual budget requests, grant applications and other special projects.
• Is familiar with the provisions of various collective bargaining agreements and operationalizes these provisions when required to ensure employees are paid accurately.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in payroll management by attending seminars, workshops, professional meetings, and/or by conducting research under the supervision of the Director of Finance.
• Works collaboratively with Medford Public Schools' Human Resources department and the City finance and payroll staff, to ensure the efficient processing and posting of payroll, occasionally represents the school district in meetings, on and off site, when required.
• To support capacity building within the ranks of the payroll staff, the Payroll Manager may delegate any of these tasks not already delegated, with provided supervision and the approval of the Director of Finance.

Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Director of Finance.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment/Environment

Use standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone. Work in standard office and school building environments.

Travel Requirements

Travel to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Employee supervision and systems management experience.
• Knowledge of best practices in payroll processing.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform complex arithmetic operations.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of Harpers Payroll Systems or similar software.
• Knowledge of Frontline employee management and attendance system or similar software.
• Ability to analyze situations to define and draw conclusions.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding employee compensation.
• Ability to develop and implement projects.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Qualifications Profile

• Demonstrated education and experience in order to fulfill the duties and responsibilities required, post-secondary degree preferred.
• Background in accounting, payroll or office management.
• Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation

Experience

Successful experience working for municipal or school district organizations preferred.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Medford Public Schools fills positions on the basis of individual qualifications without regard to race, age, color, national origin, sex, marital status, gender identity, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.

Salary

$80,000-$90,000