Payroll Manager

Wofford College is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Manager. The Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of all college payrolls, including student, biweekly, and monthly payrolls. This position oversees payroll processing, tax withholding and reporting, payroll reconciliations, required payments and filings, and maintenance of payroll records. The Payroll Manager partners with Human Resources, Finance, and external service providers to maintain accurate payroll data in Workday and related systems, resolve discrepancies, support audits, and identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and technology.

The Payroll Manager is a full-time, exempt position with a normal work schedule of 37.5 hours per week. Limited evening and weekend work may occasionally be required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing and Administration

· Manage the accurate and timely processing of all student, biweekly, and monthly payrolls in accordance with college policies and applicable federal and state requirements.

· Review and verify payroll changes, including new hires, compensation changes, special payments, bonuses, and Wofford gift payments, for accuracy and completeness. Process retroactive payroll adjustments and other payroll corrections as needed.

· Review timekeeping uploads for each payroll and coordinate with Human Resources staff to resolve errors or missing information.

· Monitor leave activity and calculate and process termination payments in accordance with college policy and applicable requirements.

· Review payroll records and reports for accuracy, research discrepancies, and ensure payroll databases reflect current and complete information.

· Run reports to identify missing or inaccurate employee information, including Social Security numbers and direct-deposit details.

Payroll Tax, Compliance, and Reporting

· Calculate and verify federal and state tax withholdings and ensure payroll tax records are accurate before payroll is finalized.

· Coordinate with the third-party payroll provider to prepare and reconcile quarterly federal Form 941 filings, state withholding reports, unemployment insurance reports, and other required payroll tax filings.

· Reconcile wages, deductions, taxable wages, and withholding amounts to quarterly tax reports and maintain supporting spreadsheets and records.

· Review third-party reports for W-2 errors and discrepancies and coordinate corrections as needed.

· Review new-hire contracts and job profiles to ensure appropriate Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are entered for unemployment insurance reporting.

· Maintain appropriate tax-exempt and withholding statuses for student employees, including applicable state unemployment insurance and FICA/Medicare exemptions, in accordance with federal and state requirements.

· Coordinate tax treaty setup and applicable payroll tax treatment for international employees and nonresident aliens.

· Complete employment verification requests involving payroll history.

Payroll Funding, Payments, and Reconciliations

· Provide the Controller with net payroll totals for each payroll to support ACH processing and funding.

· Access banking systems as needed to complete payroll fraud-control balance verification and confirm payroll funding amounts.

· Prepare payroll breakdowns and coordinate wire-transfer requests for TIAA as required.

· Provide the HR Manager with payroll-related benefit amounts for FSA and TIAA 403(b) processing.

· Enter and remit involuntary deductions and other required payments, including child support, state and federal levies, United Way contributions, and unemployment insurance claims, to the appropriate agencies or organizations.

· Maintain payroll records and reports supporting accounting for wages, salaries, deductions, and other payroll transactions.

Workday and Cross-Functional Coordination

· Partner with the Controller and other Finance staff to ensure cost centers, grants, gifts, programs, and one-time payments are properly established and recorded in Workday and the general ledger.

· Collaborate with HR staff to ensure payroll-related employee and position data are set up accurately in Workday.

· Participate in coordination meetings with Human Resources and Finance to address payroll and setup changes throughout the academic year, including fall, spring, summer, and camp operations.

· Work with HR Operations Specialist and the HR Manager to research and resolve retroactive payroll adjustments associated with timekeeping or benefit changes.

· Run reports to identify benefit deductions in arrears and coordinate resolution with the HR Manager.

· Coordinate with the third-party payroll provider to address processing questions, correct discrepancies, and maintain accurate payroll and tax information.

Audits, Year-End Processing, and Special Projects

· Prepare quarterly workers’ compensation audit reports and update supporting spreadsheets; coordinate with the Controller during the annual audit period as needed.

· Coordinate annual personal-use/lease automobile processing and submit required information to the Associate Vice President of Finance for approval.

· Coordinate annual W-2 processing with the third-party payroll provider and review payroll tax reporting for accuracy.

· Prepare year-end payroll schedules and supporting spreadsheets and coordinate with HR Operations Specialist to load applicable year-end information into Workday.

· Review and update W-2 box information as needed to reflect applicable changes.

· Stay current on changes to federal and state laws, regulations, and college policies affecting payroll, and evaluate payroll technology and process improvements.

· Recommend and implement improvements to payroll procedures, controls, reporting, and systems to strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.

Additional Responsibilities

· Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee payroll and tax information.

· Develop and maintain accurate documentation, records, and procedures related to payroll processing and reporting.

· Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting, business administration, human resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least three years of progressively responsible experience in payroll processing and administration.
• Experience with payroll tax reporting and compliance, quarterly payroll reconciliations, and year-end payroll processing, including W-2 reporting.
• Working knowledge of federal and state payroll tax requirements and applicable employment regulations.
• Experience using payroll systems and spreadsheet applications to review data, reconcile reports, research discrepancies, and maintain accurate records.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills, including the ability to collaborate with HR, Finance, employees, and external service providers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, human resources, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible payroll experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex organization.
• Experience with Workday Payroll or another enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
• Experience administering payroll tax requirements for student employees, international employees, and nonresident aliens.
• Experience coordinating payroll funding, retirement plan contributions, benefit deductions, and involuntary deductions.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, including workers’ compensation audits.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate payroll processes, strengthen internal controls, and recommend improvements to systems and procedures.

ABOUT WOFFORD COLLEGE

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a private liberal arts residential college located a few blocks north of downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina. Wofford offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of nearly 1,800 undergraduates and is nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, and study abroad participation. Wofford is home to one of the nation’s 290 Phi Beta Kappa chapters. The college community supports 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams and numerous student organizations, including honor societies, professional organizations, faith-based organizations, Greek life, and club sports.

SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA

Spartanburg is located in upstate South Carolina, 30 miles east of Greenville, South Carolina, an hour from Charlotte, North Carolina, and three hours east of Atlanta, Georgia. Historic Charleston and the South Carolina coast are three hours away, and Wofford sits an hour south of the artistic, culinary hub of Asheville, North Carolina. Spartanburg is a growing, diverse community that supports six college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations. It became the first city in South Carolina to join the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and, in 2012, became one of five cities nationally to participate in the 10-year Wellville program, a national nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving equitable well-being in U.S. cities. Spartanburg and Wofford partner on multiple community equity initiatives, including the Northside Initiative, which has brought together a diverse group of citizens to revitalize a neighborhood in ways that don’t reproduce the harm of earlier urban renewal programs.

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