Director of Payroll

Description

AMDA College of the Performing Arts, with campuses in New York City and Hollywood, is one of the foremost post-secondary performing arts colleges in the country. AMDA offers various pathways for students to receive unparalleled performing arts education taught by world-class industry professionals, including Professional Conservatory Certificates and undergraduate and graduate degrees.

AMDA is seeking a Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations for its Los Angeles and New York campuses and remote employees nationwide. This Los Angeles-based, fully in-person role directly supervises the Payroll Administrator(s) responsible for Los Angeles payroll and is personally responsible for processing payroll.

The Director of Payroll reports to the Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. The Director works under the direction of both leaders within their respective areas of responsibility and is accountable for implementing payroll-related directives and approved decisions from both Finance and Human Resources. This role provides payroll expertise while ensuring that payroll operations align with AMDA’s financial controls, employment practices, institutional policies, and legal requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

Payroll Leadership and Administration

• Lead payroll operations for AMDA’s Los Angeles and New York campuses and remote employees throughout the United States.
• Directly supervise the Payroll Administrator(s), including providing guidance, establishing priorities, monitoring performance, and ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Personally process full-cycle, biweekly payroll for staff, and student employees.
• Audit and approve payrolls across all locations before final submission.
• Maintain consistent payroll procedures, controls, documentation, and service standards across locations and employee groups.
• Serve as a backup when Payroll Administrator(s) are unavailable.
• Respond to payroll questions from employees and leadership professionally, accurately, and promptly.

Finance and Human Resources Partnership

• Work under the direction of the CFO and SVPHR, maintaining timely communication with both leaders and implementing payroll-related decisions within their respective areas of responsibility.
• Serve as AMDA’s payroll subject matter expert and advise Finance and Human Resources regarding payroll laws, tax requirements, systems, processes, and operational risks.
• Implement authorized compensation, employment status, benefit deduction, leave, and other employment-related payroll changes accurately and promptly.
• Escalate payroll discrepancies, compliance concerns, and operational issues to the CFO and SVPHR, as appropriate.
• Maintain clear and timely communication with Finance and Human Resources regarding payroll deadlines, changes, risks, discrepancies, and required actions.
• Ensure payroll records accurately reflect information and decisions authorized by Human Resources, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, employment status changes, benefit deductions, and leaves.
• Partner with Human Resources on wage-and-hour compliance, employee communications, benefit deductions, and other employment-related payroll matters.
• Partner with Finance on payroll funding, reconciliation, accounting, tax reporting, audits, and internal controls.

Payroll Operations

• Process full-cycle, biweekly payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees.
• Maintain payroll records in ADP Workforce Now, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, deductions, and other authorized employee information.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and city payroll, wage-and-hour, tax, and reporting requirements.
• Review timekeeping and payroll information for accuracy and resolve discrepancies before payroll submission.
• Provide responsive and accurate support regarding payroll matters.

Payroll Oversight

• Provide oversight, guidance, and performance management for the Payroll Administrator(s).
• Ensure compliance with payroll, wage-and-hour, tax, final-pay, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee payroll requirements for remote employees working in multiple states.
• Ensure accurate administration of garnishments, levies, deductions, tax withholding, and other payroll obligations across jurisdictions.
• Monitor changes in federal, state, and local payroll requirements and coordinate necessary operational updates with Finance and Human Resources.

Compliance, Reporting, and Process Improvement

• Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings, quarterly and year-end reporting, W-2 processing, and other regulatory requirements.
• Conduct regular payroll audits and promptly investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and internal controls to support institutional and external audits.
• Generate payroll reports and analysis to support budgeting, audits, compliance reviews, and executive decision-making.
• Identify and implement improvements to payroll systems, workflows, documentation, and controls in collaboration with Finance and Human Resources.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee payroll and personal information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least seven years of progressive payroll experience, including at least three years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience processing and overseeing complex, full-cycle payroll.
• Strong knowledge of California and New York payroll, wage-and-hour, tax, final-pay, and reporting requirements.
• Experience administering payroll for employees working in multiple states.
• Strong proficiency with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable payroll and HR information system.
• Experience supervising, developing, and holding payroll staff accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and service.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a dual-reporting and cross-functional leadership structure.
• Ability to communicate concerns clearly, provide informed recommendations, accept direction, and ensure timely follow-through.
• Exceptional accuracy, discretion, judgment, organization, and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and complete payroll accurately in a deadline-driven environment.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or an equivalent credential is preferred.
• Experience in higher education or another organization with multiple employee groups is preferred.

Position Information

• This is a fully in-person position based at AMDA’s Los Angeles campus.
• The regular schedule for this position is 9:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. PT.
• The annual salary range is $110,000–$125,000.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference checks.

Diversity and Qualifications

AMDA is fully committed to diversity, inclusivity, and equity throughout the teaching and learning process. We encourage applications from individuals who have extensive experience working with students from diverse backgrounds.

Successful candidates will demonstrate sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, and disability-related backgrounds and experiences of our students.

Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

AMDA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. No person will be subjected to discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, supervision, promotion, working conditions, termination, layoff, demotion, transfer, compensation, and training.