Senior Manager

Leads and oversees the University's payroll operations, payroll accounting functions, compliance, and process improvement initiatives. Partners with the Director of Payroll to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while maintaining the financial integrity of payroll transactions and delivering exceptional customer service.

• Knowledge of payroll systems and compliance platforms, including Oracle Fusion Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance, with experience supporting system implementations, stabilization efforts, and process enhancements.
• Knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws, payroll taxation, regulatory compliance requirements, payroll accounting principles, reconciliations, financial reporting, and the impact of payroll transactions on the general ledger.
• Skill in analyzing payroll, tax, accounting, and operational data to identify issues, solve complex problems, make sound decisions, and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
• Skill in using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications to support payroll operations, reporting, analysis, reconciliation activities, and organizational objectives.
• Ability to provide leadership and manage change by leading teams, establishing performance standards, measuring outcomes, supporting KPI initiatives, coaching staff, and fostering accountability and high performance.
• Ability to build and maintain effective cross-functional relationships and communicate complex payroll, tax, accounting, and compliance information to stakeholders across Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, and other University departments.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment while remaining self-motivated, highly organized, and focused on achieving departmental goals and facilitating issue resolution.
• Bachelor's Degree required.

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the University's payroll accounting function, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll accounting activities, related financial transactions, reconciliations, general ledger balancing, payroll funding, journal entries, fringe benefit calculations, and payroll liability accounts.
• Ensures the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of payroll financial data by monitoring reconciliations, validating accounting transactions, and collaborating with Finance to resolve discrepancies in accordance with GAAP, University policies, University of Texas System policies, and internal controls.
• Ensures the accuracy and integrity of payroll financial data by monitoring reconciliations, validating accounting transactions, and collaborating with Finance to resolve discrepancies and maintain compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), University policies, and internal controls.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state tax regulations, IRS requirements, payroll accounting standards, and applicable University policies.
• Leads the evaluation, enhancement, and optimization of Oracle Fusion Payroll processes, including system testing, report development, automation, financial controls, operational efficiency improvements, and customer service enhancements.
• Partners with the Director of Payroll to support strategic initiatives, change management efforts, Oracle Fusion Payroll enhancements, regulatory updates, process improvements, and other organizational initiatives as appropriate.
• Leads and maintains standard operating procedures (SOPs), payroll accounting procedures, departmental policies, and operational standards, ensuring adherence to established requirements.
• Provides leadership and performance management for payroll staff through hiring, onboarding, coaching, cross-training, succession planning, employee development, regular one-on-one meetings, and efforts that promote accountability, performance, and team effectiveness.
• Establishes workload priorities, monitors performance metrics, oversees payroll reporting and financial analysis, and supports month-end and year-end close activities, tax reporting, budgeting, management decision-making, and the achievement of operational objectives.
• Collaborates with Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, and other University departments; leads payroll-related audits and special projects; coordinates required documentation and corrective actions; resolves complex payroll and accounting issues; and performs collateral duties as assigned.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.