Payroll Manager

Wilkes University; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilkes University seeks a Payroll Manager to lead payroll for faculty, staff and student employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance. This hands-on role collaborates with HR, Finance, IT and campus partners to maintain controls and optimize processes.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a related field, 5+ years of payroll experience, advanced Excel skills, and Banner HRIS knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• At least five years of progressive payroll experience.
• Extensive knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements and wage/hour regulations; advanced Excel; Banner payroll/HRIS experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee biweekly payroll processing for faculty, staff and student employees.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, tax reporting and accurate payroll data.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance and IT; train staff and implement process improvements.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Microsoft Excel

Payroll laws

HRIS Banner

Staff training

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

Banner HRIS

Payroll software

Job description

Wilkes University invites applications for a Payroll Manager to lead the University's payroll operations with full ownership and accountability for accurate, timely, and compliant payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees. This hands-on management role requires a proactive leader who takes responsibility for the entire payroll process and ensures issues are resolved through completion.

The Payroll Manager oversees biweekly payroll processing, tax reporting, payroll systems, and regulatory compliance while establishing effective controls, improving procedures, and providing staff training and cross-training as needed. Working closely with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other campus partners, the manager ensures employee changes, compensation arrangements, and deductions are processed correctly and consistently. The position also evaluates and recommends enhancements to the payroll/HRIS to maximize system capabilities, streamline workflows, and improve operational efficiency.

The successful candidate will understand the relationship between payroll and human resources practices and bring a collaborative, team-oriented approach to the role. Exceptional customer service, a positive attitude, and clear, respectful communication are essential. Given access to sensitive personal information and frequent interaction with diverse constituents, this individual must demonstrate the highest regard for confidentiality and maintain professionalism, discretion, and diplomacy at all times. Strong management, organizational, recordkeeping, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, along with accuracy and attention to detail, are critical to success.

A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field and at least five years of progressive payroll experience are required. Candidates must possess extensive knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements, and wage and hour regulations; advanced Microsoft Excel skills; and the ability to lead and develop staff. Extensive experience and technical knowledge in administering and programming payroll/HRIS systems are essential, with specific Banner experience preferred. Relevant experience includes higher education payroll administration and knowledge of faculty contracts, adjunct compensation, and student employment regulations.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.