Job Description
Director, Payroll
Posting Number: SF02156
Position Type: Professional Staff
Union: Non-Union Classified Staff
Pay Grade Level: Grade Level: 17
Pay Grade Range: Anticipated Hiring Salary: $140,000 - $145,000
Department: Payroll Office
Campus Location:
Job Description Summary:
The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by July 10, 2026. Applications received after July 10, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI: The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State's flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
POSITION SUMMARY:
Provides strategic and operational leadership for all payroll operations, ensuring compliant, efficient, and customer-focused payroll services. Oversees multi-state payroll governance, regulatory compliance, taxation, and year-end reporting for a complex higher education environment, while driving process improvement, system optimization, and continuous enhancement of payroll operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Payroll Operations
• Lead, manage, and develop payroll staff to ensure timely, accurate processing of multi-state payrolls (State and In-House).• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, including validation, calculation, reconciliation, and disbursement.• Ensure seamless coordination between Workday Payroll and legacy PeopleSoft systems, including data integrity and payroll balancing.
Compliance, Taxation & Year-End Processing
• Ensure compliance with all federal, multi-state, and local payroll tax regulations, union agreements, and institutional policies.• Oversee preparation, review, and submission of payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, 1042, W-2, W-2C, and 1099, as applicable.• Lead year-end payroll processing, including W-2 production and reconciliation, tax balancing, and audit reporting.• Manage taxation complexities related to non-U.S. citizens, multi-state employees, and higher education-specific payroll scenarios.
Systems, Transformation & Integration
• Serve as the Payroll Subject Matter Expert for Workday Payroll implementation, configuration, enhancements, and releases.• Partner with University Computing Services, Human Resources, Finance, and external consultants to troubleshoot payroll issues, conduct testing, and implement upgrades and enhancements.• Conduct fit/gap analyses across Workday and PeopleSoft Payroll and Financial systems to align capabilities with business requirements.• Drive automation, reporting, and process improvements leveraging ERP and reporting frameworks.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
• Serve as the primary payroll liaison to the Controller's Office, Human Resources, Finance, and the University community.• Provide guidance on payroll processing, tax regulations, and compliance matters.• Support audits, internal controls, executive reporting, and payroll change management initiatives.
Leadership & Continuous Improvement
• Provide strategic leadership to enhance payroll service delivery, accuracy, and operational efficiency.• Develop and implement process improvements, standard operating procedures, and best practices aligned with modern payroll operations in higher education.• Ensure staff training and development in payroll systems, compliance, and customer service.• Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll operations.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Implement case management tools and service level agreements (SLAs).• Support broader financial and human resources transformation initiatives, including ERP modernization efforts.
Posting Date: 06/11/2026
To apply, visit https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/16755
Copyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency
jeid-a60444145f0c254d8e8571ed2670dd2b
Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)
To see additional information about our job opening(s) or to apply, please click on the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of our job posting.
Jobs at the University of Rhode Island. When inquiring or applying for jobs at the University of Rhode Island, please also reference AcademicCareers.com
Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs such as professor jobs, dean jobs, chair / department head jobs, and other faculty jobs and professional and administrative staff employment opportunities with the University of Rhode Island and at other institutions of higher education in the region on AcademicCareers.com
To receive email alerts when new jobs at the University of Rhode Island are posted, please sign up for new job openings at the University of Rhode Island.
The University of Rhode Island is a thriving, welcoming community that attracts students, faculty, and staff from around the world. At URI, we maintain a strategic vision that is propelling us forward and elevating our standing as a leading global research institution that drives positive social, economic, cultural, and environmental change.
Our faculty and staff members are central to our success, which is why we have built a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees as we work together to contribute and instill new knowledge to address the world’s greatest challenges.
At URI, we are cultivating a sense of place with endless opportunities to collaborate, network, live, learn, and conduct research. Every member of our community plays a part in moving our University forward. We invite you to explore our job postings and hope you find your opportunity to join us.
To see additional information about our job opening(s) or to apply, please click on the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of our job posting.
Jobs at the University of Rhode Island. When inquiring or applying for jobs at the University of Rhode Island, please also reference AcademicCareers.com
Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs such as professor jobs, dean jobs, chair / department head jobs, and other faculty jobs and professional and administrative staff employment opportunities with the University of Rhode Island and at other institutions of higher education in the region on AcademicCareers.com
To receive email alerts when new jobs at the University of Rhode Island are posted, please sign up for new job openings at the University of Rhode Island.
