Payroll Manager

University of Phoenix; Phoenix (AZ); Remote; USD 88,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental & Vision

401(k) match

Tuition discount

Paid time off

Job summary

University of Phoenix is seeking a Manager, Payroll to lead our payroll function in a fully remote environment. You will supervise the payroll team, ensure timely processing for employees, faculty, and executives, and partner with HR, Finance, and vendors to maintain accuracy and compliance.

The role emphasizes Workday Payroll expertise, multi-state compliance, and process improvements, with a focus on service to a nationwide workforce and strong internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state operations.
• Experience with Workday Payroll and payroll tax compliance.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing for regular, off-cycle, and executive payroll.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations and tax accounting with vendors.
• Serve as Workday Payroll SME; support system changes, testing, and integrations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.

Skills

Workday Payroll

Payroll operations

Multi-state payroll

Leadership

Education

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

Tools

Workday

Job description

At the University of Phoenix, we are committed to the future of work by providing a fully remote, work-from-home environment. This strategy enables us to attract top talent nationwide. Are you looking for a rewarding and fulfilling position that offers challenging work and the opportunity to make a significant impact while collaborating with a team of fun, innovative individuals? Would you prefer to work with an organization that positively contributes to the world? If so, we would love to hear from you!

Are you searching for a rewarding, fulfilling position that offers challenging work and the ability to make a big impact while working side-by-side with a team of fun, innovative people? Ideally, would you like this position to be with an organization that makes a positive contribution to the world? If so…we would love to hear from you!

About Us

University of Phoenix is a leading higher education institution founded in 1976 by Dr. John Sperling. Our mission is to improve the lives of our students, their families and future generations through higher education. Our values (which hopefully you share) are: Brave. Honest. Focused.

Our University values and embraces all team members and their unique perspectives. We fundamentally believe in fostering an environment which deeply respects, celebrates, and actively encourages a diverse workforce. We are committed to hiring – and learning from – those who share our passion to help others achieve their educational aspirations.

We offer excellent benefits, an effective recognition program, and outstanding learning and development tools, including tuition vouchers for employees and their qualified family members.

About the Position

The Manager, Payroll provides operational leadership and day-to-day administration of the University’s payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for employees and faculty, including regular, off-cycle, and executive payroll. The position directly supervises payroll team, serves as a hands‑on Workday Payroll subject matter expert, and oversees payroll managed services providers (Payroll, Tax, and Garnishments). The role maintains effective payroll controls, resolves complex issues, partners with HR, Compensation, HRIS, Finance, and Benefits, and drives improvements in payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee service.

What You’ll Do

1. Lead end‑to‑end payroll production and processing, including collection, calculation, entry, validation, and updating of payroll data; ensure accurate and timely regular, off‑cycle, employee, faculty, and executive payroll and resolution of payroll exceptions.

2. Direct the issuance of paychecks and electronic payments; oversee payroll reconciliations, payroll and tax accounting, and bank account funding in partnership with vendors and Finance; ensure timely review and resolution of discrepancies.

3. Serve as a Workday Payroll subject matter expert and maintain payroll system and data integrity. Support hands‑on payroll processing, troubleshooting, testing, configuration changes, integrations, releases, enhancements, and issue resolution in collaboration with HRIS and technical resources.

4. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll and tax regulations, including multi‑state payroll, wage and hour requirements, tax levies, garnishments, and other involuntary deductions; maintain appropriate documentation and controls.

5. Oversee payroll managed services vendors for payroll processing, payroll tax, and garnishments; monitor deliverables and service levels, manage escalations, and coordinate adjustments, amendments, refunds, notices, and service issues.

6. Audit and approve reconciliations of quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, W‑2s, and third‑party sick pay; oversee year‑end activities and maintain effective approval processes, audit support, and payroll control procedures.

7. Select, mentor, coach and evaluate staff; establish and monitor appropriate employee performance objectives; prepare and present employee performance discussions, including one‑on‑one meetings and quarterly check‑ins; implement mentoring and coaching plans, or correction action, where appropriate.

8. Perform other duties as required or apparent.

NOTE: The Primary Accountabilities above are intended to describe the general content and requirements of the position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or most of the Primary Accountabilities listed above. Specific goals or responsibilities will be documented in incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate manager.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises the payroll team and provides day‑to‑day operational direction and oversight of payroll managed service providers.

Minimum Education and Related Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including complex payroll operations and multi‑state payroll.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with Workday
• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible payroll experience and previous direct supervision and development of payroll employees.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with Workday Payroll, including payroll processing, troubleshooting, testing, and supporting system changes.
• Experience leading payroll operations, projects, and/or employees.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements, including payroll taxes, garnishments, and related compliance obligations.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills; ability to manage competing deadlines and resolve complex, sensitive payroll issues accurately.
• Effective written and verbal communication and collaboration skills across HR, Compensation, HRIS, Finance, Benefits, and external providers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information and exercise sound judgment.
• Experience with Workday Payroll reporting, calculated fields, business processes, configuration, integrations, releases, enhancements, and automation.
• Experience managing third‑party payroll, payroll tax, and garnishment service providers and monitoring vendor service levels.
• Experience in a large, complex, multi‑state organization, including executive payroll and complex compensation arrangements.
• Experience developing payroll reporting, metrics, reconciliations, internal controls, audit documentation, and process improvements.

University of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer.

University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking are forms of sex discrimination, which are prohibited under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and by University policy. Reports of misconduct, questions regarding Title IX, and concerns about noncompliance should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator:

Kelly Hermann, Vice President, Accessibility & Student Affairs

602-387-9936 office / 480-749-5515 mobile

For a complete copy of the University’s Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy and additional information on Title IX, please click the Title IX Information link at the bottom of the page.

Pay Range

The annual pay range for this position is $87,600 (minimum), $132,300 (midpoint), and $177,000 (maximum).*

*Typical hiring range is between the minimum and midpoint of the above pay range. Actual starting base pay may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, location and budget. Compensation above the midpoint is generally associated with experienced, long‑tenured employees who have demonstrated sustained performance and expertise in the role.

Individuals in this role are eligible for:

• Annual Bonus Award

Your work is critical to helping adult learners achieve their dreams, and we’re committed to rewarding you for your efforts. We offer a competitive, comprehensive total rewards package designed to help you achieve your health, financial, educational and work‑life balance goals.

Full‑time employees are eligible for:

• Medical, dental and vision plans; Flexible Spending Accounts; Health Savings Accounts; Life and Disability insurance; and our Wellness incentive program;
• Competitive 401(k) employer match;
• Substantial tuition discount for you and eligible dependents; and,
• A generous time off package, including paid vacation, sick time and company holidays.*

*For more details around paid time off benefits, please click here.

Application Deadline is 10/28/2026.