Director of Payroll

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranks among the top academic medical centers in the world. Its faculty members - who are responsible for a broad array of groundbreaking biomedical research advances - are respected for their dedication to teaching and patient care. The medical center has four degree-granting institutions: UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Southwestern School of Health Professions and the UT Southwestern School of Public Health. The schools train about 3,700 medical, graduate, and allied health students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows each year.

UT Southwestern was named one of the Top 5 Best Organizations for Leadership Development (BOLD) Award winners by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) in 2022. The NCHL conducts a survey of health care organizations across the U.S. every other year to assess all components of organizations' efforts to prepare and develop leaders.

A great medical center offers outstanding patient care in addition to fine teaching and innovative research. We emphasize compassionate medical treatment. UT Southwestern's physicians are equipped to bring the latest laboratory findings to each patient. We provide inpatient care to nearly 117,000 people and oversee approximately 3 million outpatient visits annually. UT Southwestern has approximately 21,000 employees and an operating budget of approximately $4.1 billion.

Position Summary

The Director of Payroll will oversee and manage the organization's payroll operations. This role includes providing strategic direction for payroll projects, ensuring compliance with tax regulations, and collaborating with Human Resources and Finance. Key responsibilities include processing payroll accurately and timely, handling tax activities, and maintaining effective internal controls.

Experience and Education

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field
• 10 years of progressively responsible supervisory/management experience to include 6 years in a payroll supervisory/management role.
• Experience working with Peoplesoft 9.2 and Kronos timekeeping

PREFERRED:

• CPA and/or CPP preferred
• Hospital Payroll experience preferred
• Prior state experience preferred
• May consider additional years related experience in lieu of education.

Job Duties

• Directs and manages payroll organization for providing accurate and timely processing of the payroll for ensuring the integrity of financial and accounting system.
• Oversees tasks necessary to accomplish payroll processing objectives, including relationships with human resources, accounting, operations, legal, internal/external auditors, and state and federal agencies.
• Oversees the timely and accurate processing of payroll, earnings and deductions. Ensures the accurate deduction and remittance of garnishments, child support, IRS levies and court orders as administered
• Interacts on a regular basis with the senior management and external customers for integrating solutions that address UTSW's goals.
• Establishes payroll strategy and vision to align with shared services, zone consolidation and other corporate initiatives.
• Supports payroll management by resolving all payment issues with benefits, human resources, consultants, technical resources, etc.
• Responsible for all payroll tax activities, compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and ensuring timely filings of each jurisdiction's periodic returns. Addresses/resolves non-resident alien tax issues. Reports state and federal payroll quarterly taxes in a timely and accurate manner.
• Responsible for remaining current on new legislation and regulatory ruling impacting payroll. Designs, maintains and documents effective internal controls for the payroll functions.
• Reviews pending Human Resource forms that impact Payroll/Benefit; Verifies direct deposit and positive pay file sent to bank; Reviews Teacher Retirement System & ORP reporting; Oversees retiree insurance payment process; Ensures payrolls are submitted timely for reimbursement.
• Understands Kronos and Peoplesoft technology in relation to payroll processing.
• Collaborates with IT resources to prioritize and resolve both proactive and reactive IT support for all components of our payroll systems, as well as multiple inbound and outbound interfaces. Communicates systems issues with management (PeopleSoft)
• Oversees all the operational management of Payroll, such as, the various payroll functions, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll, including garnishments, benefits and taxes to over 25,000 employees consistent with federal and state wage and hour laws.
• Develops, maintains, updates and communicates organization-wide payroll policies and processes regarding earnings, deductions, time keeping as well as government compliance reporting.
• Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local laws as well as Institution policy and procedures regarding payroll-related activities.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with payroll-related vendors, banks and government agencies.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven track record of being able to balance the strategic with the tactical: must understand how the payroll strategy impacts the business, and be able to articulate and implement a strategic vision for payroll
• Solid project management experience including track records in implementing transformational payroll initiatives
• Demonstrated ability and proven track record in driving payroll process and efficiency improvements
• Deep knowledge of end-to-end payroll systems and processes
• Experience processing state payroll for 12,000+ employees for exempt and non-exempt employees
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with focus on quality and integrity.
• Must be effective in communicating at all organizational levels
• Work requires the ability to ensure adherence to all policies and procedures of university.
• Work requires the ability to effectively interpret and apply organizational policies, procedures, and systems.
• Work requires proven supervisory, customer service, written and verbal communication skills.
• Work requires proven ability to handle multiple complex assignments.
• Work requires the ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the work of employees as necessary to ensure desired results are achieved.
• Work will require contact with all levels of internal and external personnel and organizations.
• Work requires the ability to work with confidential information as appropriate.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers please visit:

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race; color; religion; national origin; sex; including sexual harassment; age; disability; genetic information; citizenship status; and protected veteran status. In addition, it is UT Southwestern policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

UTSouthwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of: race; color; religion; national origin; gender, including sexual harassment; age; disability; citizenship; and veteran status. In addition, it is UTSouthwestern policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

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