Senior Manager of Payroll

CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Senior Manager of Payroll

Position Summary

The Senior Manager of Payroll will collaborate closely with the Superintendent, School Business Administrator, Executive Director Recruitment Evaluation and Professional Learning, and other senior leaders to ensure staff receive exceptional financial services and support. This role is responsible for overseeing all payroll functions with a high degree of accuracy, timeliness, and quality, while maintaining a strong commitment to customer service for all district employees.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 5 years in a K - 12 school district or public sector environment
• Demonstrated expertise in multi-union payroll administration, including contract interpretation, salary guides, stipends, and differential pay
• Strong knowledge of New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) rules, including enrollment, transfers, arrears, loan processing, and retirement reporting
• Proficiency with payroll and HRIS systems, as well as advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Proven ability to manage high-volume, deadline-driven payroll cycles with accuracy and attention to detail
• Understanding FSA and Employee benefits and their role in the payroll process.
• Strong customer-service orientation with the ability to communicate complex payroll matters clearly to staff at all levels
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and support payroll staff and collaborate effectively with Finance, HR, and school-based teams
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information
• Excellent mathematical abilities and a strong background in conducting qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Strong in-depth understanding and knowledge of current applicable state and federal wage and hour laws
• A valid driver's license as well as current insurance and vehicle with valid registration
• Required criminal history background check, physical and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status

Core Responsibilities

Major responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Oversee all aspects of the district's payroll operations to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Ensure proper application of collective bargaining agreements, salary guides, stipends, differentials, and supplemental pay and be able to communicate necessary changes during the bargaining process that will ensure a cleaner payroll process.
• Review and approve payroll runs, adjustments, retroactive payments, off-cycle checks, and year-end processing
• Maintain compliance with IRS regulations, FLSA requirements, wage and hour laws, and reporting obligations
• Ensure accurate processing and reporting for the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB), including enrollments, transfers, arrears, loans, and retirements
  • Completing purchase-credit verifications in compliance with pension requirements
• Oversee accurate administration of deductions, including benefits, garnishments, union dues, tax-sheltered annuities, and other required withholdings
• Timely completion of the TPAF and PERS ROC report due quarterly.
• Annual completion of the PERS payment due each April 1st
• Timely completion of all quarterly and annual tax reports: Federal 941, State 941, State WR-30 and others that may become necessary.
• Timely Payments of all Federal, State and Local employee payroll withholding taxes
• Timely completion of the employee W-2 files and any required 1099 files.
• Auditing account numbers to ensure PCR accuracy and provide feedback to Division of Talent and Labor Relations
• Provide guidance to the Division of Talent and Labor Relations for new positions PCR requirements.

Payroll Processing & Data Integrity

• Enters and updates payroll data as needed, ensuring accuracy through balancing, spot checks, and daily data comparisons
• Runs payroll cycles in accordance with the established payroll schedule and resolves out-of-balance issues by researching entries and correcting errors or inconsistencies
• Completes the ACH file uploads and confirms its submission
• Responds to employee inquiries by clearly and accurately explaining payroll policies, procedures, and paycheck details

Financial Reconciliation & Reporting

• Assists Payroll Specialist(s) with reconciliation of general ledger accounts and payroll-related bank accounts
• Oversees and provides guidance to the Manager - Employee Benefits for the accurate submission of employee deduction data, benefits payments and employee/benefit audits.
• Prepares the annual W-2 form for State Superintendent, Asst Superintendent and School Bus. Admin. and submits
• Generates internal management reports from the district's payroll processing system
• Calculates and prepares disbursement requests for NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits retirement savings plans; monitors participant balances and notifies plan sponsors and senior leadership when IRS limits are reached
• Prepares manual checks for new hires and separating employees when necessary
• Provides salary schedules during employee negotiations
• Systems Management & Process Improvement
• Tests system functions when payroll system upgrades or modifications occur and recommends enhancements to improve efficiency and accuracy
• Maintains and organizes confidential payroll files in compliance with district policies and legal requirements
• Recommends new approaches, policies, and procedures to improve departmental efficiency and service quality
• Regularly analyzes payroll data to identify trends, successes, and challenge areas, and develops actionable steps to strengthen payroll operations
• Annually roles the payroll year from one year to the next

Leadership, Training & Staff Development

• Leads and recommends training for new payroll staff on system functions, departmental procedures, and payroll policies
• Manages Payroll Specialist (s) and Manager - Employee Benefits using goals-based management practices, continuous feedback, coaching, and professional development
• Facilitates understanding of payroll procedures among senior management and district employees

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Works closely with leaders in the Division of School Finance to analyze, prepare, and process semi-monthly payroll for all salaried and hourly employees, ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal wage and hour laws
• Collaborates regularly with the Division of Talent and Labor Relations on matters including:
• Processing leaves of absence and recouping medical premiums
• Processing workers' compensation adjustments
• Processing employee separations to prevent payment errors
• Updating and or supervise new hire information
• Ensuring IRS compliance, including 1095-C reporting

Commitment to Division Standards

• Executes all responsibilities with accuracy, quality, and fidelity, aligned with the vision and goals of the Division of School Finance

The Senior Manager of Payroll may also take on other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the School Business Administrator and/or designee.

Preferred skills:

• Experience, preferably in a nonprofit, education, consulting and/or entrepreneurial environment working in settings that serve low-income students and communities
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPC) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) credential preferred
• Advanced knowledge of Systems 3000 financial accounting system

Physical Demands:
The following physical demands are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to:

• Sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear for extended periods for various tasks.
• Use hands and arms to reach, handle, and operate tools, computers, or controls.
• Lift and carry items necessary for job performance.
• Use close, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and adjust focus as needed.

Environmental Demands:

The following environmental conditions are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

• Possible exposure to a range of childhood and adult illnesses.
• Occasional exposure to varying weather conditions.
• Work performed in heated, air-conditioned, ventilated facilities.
• Moderate to high at times, noise level especially during school hours, assemblies or events.
• Frequent interruptions from calls, walk-ins and urgent requests.
• Possible exposure to cleaning agents, instructional materials, and equipment-related chemicals.

CORE COMPETENCIES

An ideal candidate for this role will demonstrate the following and/or have experiences with:

• Exceptional time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated record of accomplishment in leading significant cross-functional initiatives in diverse organizational settings
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Creative and outside-of-the-box thinking
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to communicate and work with all levels of employees and teamwork skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop a vision and inspire others to achieve shared goals
• Flexible, optimistic approach; committed to overcoming challenges; comfortable with change and ambiguity
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Systems thinker with a demonstrated ability to design disciplined and sustainable processes and systems that produce strong results
• Desire to grow professionally and seek out new opportunities to learn
• Integrity and clarity in all communications and interactions
• Commitment to the success of all Camden students; specifically, to raising the academic achievement of children in high-poverty communities
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and achievement-oriented environment
• Strong problem-solving and project management skills - strong organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goal and the ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Fluency in basic Web browsers and searches
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and take initiative  

Terms of Employment

Twelve-month position. Salary, benefits, and conditions of employment shall be in accordance with Board policy and applicable employment agreements.

Evaluation

Performance shall be evaluated annually in accordance with Board policy, administrative regulations, and district leadership evaluation procedures.

Reports To: Assistant Business Administrator

Work Year: Twelve (12) Months

Classification: Non-Affiliated / Confidential 

Minimum Starting Salary: $105,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $130,000.00

Residency Requirement

Under New Jersey's "New Jersey First Act" (N.J.S.A. 52:14-7), all employees of New Jersey public school districts must maintain bona fide New Jersey residency as a condition of employment. Candidates must already reside in New Jersey or establish residency within the required timeframe after hire. Current employees who were hired on or before September 1, 2011areexemptfrom this requirement and may continue to reside outside the state. In limited circumstances, applicants may request a residency waiver through the state's Employee Residency Review Committee if they can demonstrate critical need or hardship; approval is not guaranteed.

THE CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER 

(Pending availability of funds and Superintendent's approval)