Payroll Director-Hybrid Schedule at Columbia University

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Deputy Controller, the Payroll Director is responsible for the accurate and timely payment of compensation exceeding $3.5B to over 34,000 employees; ensuring accuracy and timeliness for over 100 semi-monthly, bi-weekly, weekly payroll runs, ensuring proper withholding and remittance of all withholdings including federal, state, and local taxes, and garnishments; supporting internal and external audits; and ensuring accurate accounting and reconciliation of all related expenses in the PeopleSoft financial accounting system. 

The role leads and develops a team of eight team members responsible for payroll operations and payroll accounting functions. The Payroll Director is also responsible for leading and participating in payroll system enhancements and upgrades.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Oversees payroll operations and accounting for over 34,000 employees, ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll


• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including tax reporting and filings


• Ensures compliance with university policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements


• Ensures proper accounting of payroll to Peoplesoft accounting system and complete reconciliation of all general ledger account balances every month. 


• Collaborates with the Human Resource Processing Center (HRPC) and Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) on system enhancements and upgrades


• Supports various internal and external audits and ensures timely implementation of proposed recommendations.


• Establishes operational protocol and analyses/recommends payroll system setups required for new benefits and/or new collective bargaining agreements


• Identifies opportunities for process improvement and leads the design and implementation of enhancements


• Develops payroll training materials and provides on-going guidance to school and department administrators


• Interprets and administers state and federal regulations on pay and taxation, with related reporting to various government agencies and vendors


• Ensures a high level of employee customer service is provided; is a key contact for HR and Finance Service Desk


• Manages relationships with vendors (ADP and Experian) who provide key payroll outsourced services.


• Stays updated on changes in payroll laws and regulations and implements necessary changes to ensure compliance


• Lead and mentor the payroll team, providing guidance, training, and development opportunities


• Develop data-driven metrics to monitor payroll team performance and dashboards for senior leadership


• Participates in special projects from time to time and leads Payroll specific tasks


• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, plus a minimum of eight years experience in payroll accounting and operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing large-scale payroll operations. Advanced degree or other professional certification (CPA) preferred. Extensive knowledge of large ERP payroll systems and software (preferably Peoplesoft Payroll module). Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll regulations and compliance requirements. Experience in a large, complex academic or research environment a plus. Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills are required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) essential, along with a demonstrated ability to prepare reports, summaries, and analyses and present findings and recommendations. Demonstrated planning and project management skills required, as well as a demonstrated ability to collect and analyze data and evaluate information. Strong leadership and team management abilities required. Must be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills, and have the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, working with diplomacy and efficiency in a high-pressured, short-deadline environment. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of University administrators, characterized by strong consensus-building and relationship-building skills. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Must be able to negotiate issues and resolve problems. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, be flexible in nature, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style of leadership that encourages teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization, and a strong role model, manager, and coach. Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

Apply Today! To be considered an applicant, all interested parties MUST apply through the Columbia University online employment application system. Click "Apply Now" on this page to get started!

About Us:

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world. Columbia is one of the top academic and research institutions in the world, conducting path-breaking research in medicine, science, the arts, and the humanities. It includes three undergraduate schools, thirteen graduate and professional schools, a world-renowned medical center, four affiliated colleges and seminaries, twenty-five libraries, and more than one hundred research centers and institutes. The creation of the Columbia Climate School is the first new school in 25 years at the University. Columbia can claim 86 Nobel Laureates as well as over 380 new inventions each year. Columbia is rated in the top 10 of private employers in NYC, and minorities make up 45% of faculty and staff. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best and brightest in the workforce to support our mission of excellence in higher education and research.

Columbia University is an Equal Employment / Affirmative Action Employer