Associate Vice President, Payroll

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for payroll services, ensuring the delivery of accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations.
• Sets the strategic direction for Payroll Services, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities while maintaining rigorous compliance.
• Leads and develops a multi-functional Payroll organization, overseeing payroll operations, payroll tax administration, time and absence management, accounting, and systems teams.
• Provides leadership for the planning, organization, and execution of all biweekly and monthly payroll processes across all campuses, serving approximately 42,000 employees.
• Drives process and system optimization initiatives in partnership with IT, HR and Finance, leveraging data and enhancing platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and twelve (12) or more years of progressive experience supporting large, complex organizations with highly regulated, operationally diverse, and multi-faceted workforce environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, multi-layered teams, including development of leaders and high-performing organizations.
• Deep expertise in payroll operations, tax compliance, and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a complex, decentralized environment and influence across functions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Recognized as a collaborative leader who builds partnerships across a complex enterprise environment, influencing stakeholders and driving change across areas outside of direct authority to improve operational efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and employee experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to quickly learn new systems, technologies, and business.
• Extensive knowledge of enterprise payroll, HRIS, and workforce management systems, including hands‑on experience working within complex payroll and timekeeping environments, with a strong understanding of payroll system functionality, configuration, workflows, business processes, interfaces, and data management.