Director – Payroll Services

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

The Finance Division at Carnegie Mellon University is responsible for providing financial management, enterprise planning and stewardship in support of education, research, and strategic goals of the university. As part of the Controller’s Office Team, the payroll department supports the entire scope of pay operations for CMU, including staff, faculty, and students, across international and domestic multi-state locations.

We are seeking a knowledgeable, motivated, and experienced Director of Payroll Services. This strategic leadership role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of payroll operations for CMU. You will develop and execute the global payroll strategy, aligning it with business objectives and compliance requirements, and ensuring accurate and timely processing for multiple countries.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and build on a comprehensive university system designed to ensure timely and accurate compensation for its diverse workforce, including faculty, staff, and students, across domestic and international, multi-state locations.  Although University operations are centered in Pittsburgh, the University has various locations including in California, Virginia, Qatar, and Rwanda.  Payroll operations work in close collaboration with the Human Resources division, particularly for onboarding, benefits administration, and ensuring compliance with university policies and external regulations.

You will lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team in processing domestic and international payroll in a compliant and accurate manner, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement. You will be responsible for providing strategic direction, managing and directing day-to-day operations, facilitating issues, auditing staff transactions, supporting professional development, and ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, and federal, state, and local tax regulations. This role requires extensive knowledge of global payroll practices, the ability to navigate complex payroll landscapes, and proven success in making change and transforming payroll operations across an organization.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the global payroll strategy, aligning with business objectives and compliance requirements.
• Oversee end-to-end global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing for multiple countries, regions, and states.
• Continuously analyze federal, state, and local tax compliance regulations and initiate system changes as needed to align with these requirements.
• Directing and managing activities related to W2 processing and coordinating year-end payroll processes, including tax reporting and annual statements globally.
• Ensuring tax calculations and withholdings from all payrolls are accurate and filed in a timely manner.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison for domestic and international payroll vendors, partners, external auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory agencies regarding payroll matters.
• Managing requests from internal, external, government, and international audits of payroll and impacting payroll.
• Lead or significantly contribute to multi-disciplinary teams addressing complex, high visibility process redesign and technology implementation or innovation projects that impact Payroll.
• Overseeing projects related to payroll, including integration of international campuses, system changes, and process/policy changes.
• Lead and manage the integration of newly established entities into the university’s processes and systems.
• Provide leadership and management of university payroll processes by establishing and executing payroll policies, procedures, processes, functions, activities, and related services such that payrolls are processed efficiently with minimal adjustments and retroactive corrections.
• Provide technical subject matter expertise and strategic guidance to university leadership and staff for consideration and decision-making on payroll-related matters.
• Collaborate with all university constituents, including HR, Finance, Legal, and IT leaders, to actively identify ways to gain processing efficiencies, resolve system-related issues, and streamline payroll processes and data integration.
• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of global payroll operations.
• Assess adequacy of internal controls, policies, and procedures and ensure timely and accurate resolution of payroll issues including root cause analysis, collaborative remediation, and ensuring identified changes are implemented in a timely manner.
• Drive a high-performance team culture with accountability and ownership through development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance measures that demonstrate effectiveness.
• Ensure proactive and strategic publication and delivery of communications, notifications, and training programs relative to payroll systems, policies, procedures, or regulations to leadership and employees.
• Ensure delivery of payroll analytics and reporting to help operational and organizational leaders make data-driven decisions, drive efficiencies, and compliance.
• Identify trends and opportunities for cost savings or process improvements.
• Plan and allocate resources to drive payroll operational, financial, and budgetary success, and monitor and control team expenses.
• Build, lead, mentor, hire, train, develop, and motivate a high-performing global payroll team, fostering professional development and collaboration, establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics.
• Stay updated with evolving payroll regulations, industry trends, and emerging technologies in global payroll management, and participate in professional networks or associations to foster knowledge exchange.

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University.  We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least 10 years of experience required.
• Certified payroll professional designation preferred.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Requirements:

• Successful background check

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insuranceas well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Payroll

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: