Job Description

Incumbents in District positions are expected to exhibit an equity-minded focus, responsiveness, and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, and employees, including those with physical or learning disabilities, and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment.

Description

Summary Description
Under the administrative leadership and general direction of the assigned Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, the Payroll Director is responsible for various and complex functions of the Payroll Services Office, including planning, organizing and directing the operation and activities of District payroll, while assuring compliance with applicable legal requirements, as well as Federal, State, County and District policies, accurate reporting, accounting and distribution of salary and wage payments for all District employees; record and maintain payroll-related information for District management and external agencies including tax and retirement reporting; train, supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel.  

Job Summary: Payroll Director
The Payroll Director is responsible for overseeing and managing the district's payroll functions to ensure efficient, accurate, and compliant payroll operations. This role involves planning, organizing, training, coordinating, and directing payroll activities, ensuring modern governance and operational policies are in place for an integrated payroll system. The Payroll Director will lead the integration and innovation of payroll systems, developing and improving business processes to meet technology and business requirements while resolving any system or process issues.

Key responsibilities include providing leadership, technical support, training, and backup for payroll operations, as well as supervising payroll staff. The Payroll Director ensures timely and accurate reporting of quarterly state and federal taxes, compliance with IRS, state, social security, PERS, and STRS pension rules, and other applicable regulations. This role also involves reconciling federal and state tax withholdings, unemployment insurance, social security, Medicare, and retirement reporting.

Additionally, the Payroll Director will provide technical expertise, guidance, and resources to district administrators regarding payroll operations, maintaining payroll-related policies and procedures. Effective and timely communication with government agencies, financial institutions, retirement systems, legal counsel, and bargaining units is essential to exchange information, resolve issues, and coordinate activities.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will be innovative and possess strong equity-focused leadership skills. They will have a strong understanding of how to apply payroll rules and regulations, strong performance management ethic, and be detail-oriented while maintaining a big-picture perspective.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
AND
Four (4) years of professional level experience performing direct payroll responsibilities including managing the governance, functional, and operational aspects and processes associated with an integrated Payroll enterprise resource planning system, inclusive of two (2) years of professional supervisory experience.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of professional level payroll supervisory/management experience. 
• Previous experience working in a large, complex, governmental organization such as higher education or other public agencies.
• Experience administering the Payroll functionality of a computer information management system (preferably Colleague).

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Accounting and financial controls.
• Retirement and state and federal tax reporting. 
• Applicable laws, rulings, procedures and policies, education codes and FLSA regulations regarding payroll and retirement records and programs.
• Preparation, maintenance, verification and processing of payroll records.
• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy. 
• Principles and practices of supervision and training.
• Computer applications used in payroll processing.
• Operation of a microcomputer, including word processing and software applications.

Ability to:

• Perform the functions of the position and innovate to achieve gains in efficiency and/or effectiveness.
• Plan, organize, supervise and participate in payroll duties to assure the timely and accurate distribution of District payrolls.
• Perform complex payroll preparation and verification duties.
• Explain payroll policies and procedures to employees.
• Post data and make arithmetical computations quickly and accurately.
• Monitor, adjust and reconcile payroll data.
• Effectively lead and supervise Payroll staff.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships. 
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Work independently with little direction. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: Director of Payroll Services (Download PDF reader)

Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

1. Plan, organize, train, coordinate and direct the activities and operations related to District payroll functions.
2. Ensure proper and modern governance, function, and operational policies, procedures, and processes associated with an integrated payroll system are in place. 
3. Lead and facilitate the integration and innovation of the payroll system. Plan, coordinate, and operationalize the development and improvement of business processes. Ensuring that technology meets business requirements, anticipating and resolving any system or process issues as they arise. 
4. Provide leadership to the Payroll department including technical support, training, and general backup for payroll operations; plan, prioritize, assign, and supervise the work of payroll office staff. 
5. Ensure timely and accurate reporting of quarterly state and federal taxes and other related reports, communications, and audits. 
6. Ensure timely and accurate compliance with IRS, State, Social Security, PERS and STRS pension, and all applicable rules and regulations. Reconcile federal and state tax withholding, unemployment insurance, social security, Medicare, and retirement reporting to proper agencies.
7. Provide technical expertise, guidance, training, and resources to District administrators regarding payroll operations and develop/maintain payroll related policies and procedures. 
8. Provide effective and timely communication to representatives of government agencies, financial institutions, retirement systems, legal counsel, and bargaining units to exchange information, resolve issues, and coordinate activities. 
9. Perform related duties as assigned.

Supplemental Information

SALARY SCHEDULE: Unrepresented Administrators (Download PDF reader)


PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This is a non-telecommuting position.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; possible exposure to dissatisfied individuals.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE:

July 10-August 9, 2024 - Position advertised; District receives applications August 9, 2024 - Initial screening deadline for guaranteed consideration. Position is open until filled. 

August 19-September 6, 2024 - Reviewing of applications.

September 16-20, 2024 - Search Committee interviews candidates

October, 2024 - Second level interview for finalists

November, 2024 - Employment start date pending Governing Board approval. 

Application Process:

A confirmation email will be sent once your application packet has been successfully submitted.

It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all application materials are received by the review deadline date. A separate, complete application packet is required for each position for which you are applying for. All materials included in your application packet become District property, will not be returned, will not be copied, and will be considered for this opening only.

A screening committee will evaluate applicants, taking into account the breadth and depth of relevant education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview.

 

INTERVIEW TRAVEL COSTS MUST BE BORNE BY THE APPLICANT.

If additional positions become available in this classification, applications received in response to this posting may be considered for those additional positions for up to 90 days after final board approval.

Candidates selected for employment with Southwestern Community College District must be fingerprinted by an electronic fingerprinting service (i.e. LiveScan) within 10 days of employment; provide clearance of tuberculosis (dated within the past 4 years and renewed every four years as a condition of continued employment) within 60 days of employment; provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Successful candidate selected may be assigned to any of the campus sites (Chula Vista, Crown Cove, National City, Otay Mesa, and/or San Ysidro).

 

American with Disabilities (ADA):

Reasonable accommodations will be provided to candidates with verified disabilities. Accommodation requests should be made as soon as practical by calling Human Resources at (619) 482-6395.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

As an Equal Opportunity Employer and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Southwestern Community College District will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

The Southwestern Community College District shall not discriminate against any person in employment or in any program affiliated with the District on the basis of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.


Notice of Availability of the Annual Security Report:

Southwestern Community College District is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security Report is available on the SWCPD website.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Security Report, which contains this information, you can stop by the College Police Department or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling (619) 482-6390.


Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Plan (DAAPP):

More information about the DAAPP, including the Biennial report and additional resources can be found in the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program website.

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