Payroll Manager (Contractor)

NU National University; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

National University is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee multi-state payroll operations across a large organization. You will partner with Human Resources and Finance to ensure accurate processing, data integrity, and compliance with tax and wage regulations while managing payroll vendors and systems.

The role requires supervising payroll staff, ensuring timely weekly, biweekly, and monthly payroll runs, and driving improvements in efficiency and controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or related field.
• 6+ years of multi-state payroll experience in a high-volume environment.
• Experience with Workday and payroll systems; supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise payroll staff with training and feedback.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing weekly, biweekly, monthly.
• Ensure compliance with payroll regulations and year-end reporting.
• Administer payroll systems and verify postings to GL.
• Collaborate with HR and finance to meet operational goals.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Supervisory experience

Workday

OSV

ADP

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

Equivalent combination of education or experience

Tools

Workday

ADP

OSV

Job description

Compensation Range: Hourly: $40.00 - $50.00

Position Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily multi-state payroll operations for a large organization and ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll. This position requires close collaboration with the Human Resources and Finance departments to maintain data integrity, reconcile payroll transactions, and support organizational goals. The Payroll Manager ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, federal, and international tax laws and wage regulations, addressing pay-related issues and supporting both staff and leadership. The Payroll Manager maintains data integrity, reconciles payroll transactions, manages payroll vendors and systems, and translates organizational priorities into reliable payroll operations.

Essential Functions

• Supervises, mentors, and supports payroll staff by providing training, guidance, and performance feedback.
• Manages end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accurate and timely preparation of weekly, biweekly, and monthly payrolls.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including oversight of W-2 preparation and year-end tax reporting.
• Administers payroll systems (e.g., Workday, ADP, OSV), audits payroll cycles, and verifies uploads to the general ledger.
• Researches, analyzes, and resolves payroll discrepancies, audit findings, and budget variances.
• Reviews payroll reports, responds to third-party payroll inquiries, and assists with worker’s compensation audits.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to support operational initiatives and organizational objectives.
• Fosters a collaborative, inclusive team environment while managing deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners, and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the organization and oneself.
• Provides excellent positive customer service across an organizational structure and handles sensitive and confidential information with tact and discretion.
• Prioritizes time-critical assignments.
• Works independently and fosters a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures and experiences, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Hire, train, mentor, and develop payroll staff members.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field required.
• Six (6) or more years of multi-state payroll experience in a high-volume environment required.
• Four (4) or more years of supervisory experience preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education or experience may be accepted.
• Experience with Workday required.
• Experience with One Source Virtual (OSV) preferred.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong knowledge of payroll processing and accounting principles in a high-volume organization.
• Solid understanding of payroll regulations, tax requirements, and labor laws.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and payroll systems such as Workday, ADP, and OSV.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships, and gain alignment with peers, functional partners, and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the company, and oneself.
• Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations, designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes.
• Ability to generate and/or recognize imaginative or creative solutions that generate successful outcomes.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of accounting and payroll processing and impact on general ledger within a large volume organization.
• Basic knowledge of mandates and other regulations related to payroll processing and labor law, preferred.

Location

Remote, USA Travel: Travel seldom required #LI-Remote

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals. National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. National University is breaking barriers in education – and in the workplace. We’re united in our mission to build a better future for our more than 4,500 employees and our 45,000+ students. National University prioritizes our employee’s well-being and growth by offering competitive pay and benefits packages, development and advancement opportunities, remote-first work perks, and more. We value and reward the hard work of our faculty and staff.

National University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.