Payroll Manager (Part-time) at Regis University in Denver, CO

Job description

Working at Regis University As Regis employees, we embrace our Jesuit Catholic values of respect, inclusion and equity, and welcome employees, faculty and students from all faiths and cultures. Together, we perform our duties in alignment with the mission of the University and seek dedicated individuals to contribute to and strengthen that mission and our service to students. Why Work at Regis? Job Summary: The Part-Time Payroll Manager oversees the end-to-end payroll operations for the institution, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant salary and wage disbursements for faculty, staff, student workers, and adjuncts. Operating in a higher education environment, this role manages complex compensation structures (e.g., academic year vs. fiscal year appointments, stipends, overload pay, and student employment regulations). As a working manager, this individual serves as the primary escalation point for complex operational issues, leads continuous improvement initiatives within the payroll function, spearheads compliance planning, and designs and delivers robust Workday Payroll training for campus users (such as department administrators and HR partners). Major Duties and Responsibilities: Payroll Operations & Escalation Management Oversee the accurate and timely processing of semi-monthly/monthly multi-cycle payrolls for all employee groups using Workday Payroll. Serve as the final escalation point for complex payroll discrepancies, exception handling, tax inquiries, garnishments, and retroactive pay adjustments. Partner with Human Resources and Information Technology to troubleshoot system integration issues, interface errors, and data discrepancies between Workday HR and Payroll. Ensure proper handling of specialized higher education pay practices (e.g., faculty summer pay, grants funding allocations, stipends, and fellowships). Team Leadership & Development Manage, mentor, and evaluate 1–2 Payroll Specialists, providing daily guidance, workload balancing, and professional development. Establish operational benchmarks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and quality assurance checks for the payroll team to minimize errors. Compliance & Risk Management Lead compliance planning and execution for federal, state, and local tax laws, labor standards (FLSA), and higher education-specific regulations (e.g., nonresident alien taxation, student FICA exemptions). Monitor regulatory changes and collaborate with institutional legal and finance teams to implement necessary policy or system adjustments. Ensure compliance with institutional policies, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and grant-funded payroll compliance requirements. Partner and support internal and external audits, including the annual employee benefit plan audit. Prepare and support the monthly, quarterly, and annual W-2 processing, including 941 reconciliations. Continuous Improvement & System Optimization Support HRIS partners to drive continuous improvement projects to streamline payroll workflows, automate manual tasks, and optimize the use of Workday Payroll features. Support HR partners to review current business processes and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and customer service for the campus community. Partner with Workday system administrators to test system updates, tenant releases, tax updates, and configuration enhancements. Training & Change Management Design, develop, and deliver comprehensive payroll training programs for campus users, department administrators, timekeepers, and HR partners utilizing Workday Payroll. Create user guides, job aids, and documentation for time-tracking, absence management, and payroll approval workflows within Workday. Facilitate regular training sessions and workshops to promote data accuracy and empower campus departments to manage their payroll-related tasks effectively. Working Conditions: Working conditions are normal for an office environment. Work may require occasional weekend and/or even