Metropolitan State University of Denver
Assistant Payroll Manager
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285
Office : Office of the Controller, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Overview
This position serves as the Assistant Payroll Manager for MSU Denver. It includes oversight of all payroll-related matters, such as tax filings, vendor payments, garnishments, on-time payments, staff supervision, and related duties. Responsibilities
60% Payroll Process Management Prepare and process the University’s payroll expenditures, withholdings/contributions, vendor payments, tax compliance, employee repayments of payroll overpayments, and manual payments. Responsible for regulatory filings, including IRS, Social Security Administration, and Colorado Department of Revenue filings (W-2s, 1042s, 941s). Prepare and process withholdings and taxes (Federal, state, local, unemployment) and ensure compliance with payment and reporting requirements, including establishing internal MSU accounts for out-of-state taxes and completing amended tax returns when necessary. Process/backup for semi-monthly payroll and/or monthly payroll as needed. Serve as liaison between MSU Denver and state/local/federal agencies and external entities (IRS, garnishment agencies, tax authorities). Work with vendors and third parties to resolve issues and ensure regulatory compliance. Coordinate information flow with the Bank Accountant, Accounts Payable, and Accounting Services to ensure timely disbursements and reconciliations. Maintain, evaluate, and implement payroll procedures and policies to meet QA goals for the payroll accounting system, including testing/implementation of system upgrades and reconciliation with the ledger, while ensuring appropriate segregation of duties. Assist Payroll Manager in recruiting, selecting, mentoring, training, and supervising staff, assigning duties, scheduling, monitoring workload, and approving timesheets. Provide customer service to staff, faculty, and students on payroll inquiries (pay amounts, withholdings, garnishments, direct deposit, etc.). Assist with year-end W-2 filing and 1042-S filing; prepare year-end closing and adjusting entries. Assist with University financial audits and perform other duties as assigned. Responsibilities (Customer Service and Metrics)
Assist and participate in Workday Payroll projects involving strategy, design of payroll systems support, integrations, business processes, security, and data integrity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify risks and roadblocks in transformation processes to provide reliable payroll/HR/finance information; communicate progress to the Payroll Manager and stakeholders. Maintain, upgrade, and support payroll systems to ensure high availability and reliability. Conduct regular audits of system usage, performance, and security to ensure compliance with standards. Respond to campus inquiries regarding payroll processing, troubleshoot issues, and implement changes to ensure proper recording in the accounting system. Coordinate with HR and ITS on changes related to pay (furloughs, PTO, new deduction/earning codes, employee classes, minimum wage changes, etc.). Qualifications
Required Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. At least four (4) years of hands-on payroll processing experience in an integrated ERP system for an institution with 2000+ employees, including withholding payments, working with tax authorities, processing W-2s, garnishments, repayments, and retirement plan contributions (e.g., TIAA, Fidelity, PERA). Knowledge of IRS regulations and tax reporting requirements. Experience with semi-monthly and/or monthly payrolls. Experience supervising others. Ability to reconcile accounts and ensure month-end clearance. Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with ability to respond to queries within published timelines. Preferred Qualifications
Experience processing payroll in Workday ERP. We encourage applicants to apply even if not meeting every preferred qualification; we seek candidates who will best contribute to the Office of the Controller and the University. Schedule and Benefits
Full-time, 40 hours/week; Exempt. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Hybrid schedule with 2 days on-site; occasional evenings and weekend work may be needed. Some local travel may be required. The University’s benefits package includes medical, vision, dental, tuition reimbursement, life and supplemental insurance, retirement plans, and other programs. More details are available on the MSU Denver benefits site. Salary
The full salary range is $58,189.00 – $87,283.00. The anticipated starting range is $58,189.00 – $72,736.00. Application Instructions
For full consideration, submit: resume, cover letter describing relevant experience, professional references (at least one supervisor), and official transcripts if selected. Applications accepted until position is filled; priority given to applications received by 11:59pm MT October 9, 2025. Equal Opportunity
The University is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities during the employment process. Diversity and inclusion are valued in our campus community.
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This position serves as the Assistant Payroll Manager for MSU Denver. It includes oversight of all payroll-related matters, such as tax filings, vendor payments, garnishments, on-time payments, staff supervision, and related duties. Responsibilities
60% Payroll Process Management Prepare and process the University’s payroll expenditures, withholdings/contributions, vendor payments, tax compliance, employee repayments of payroll overpayments, and manual payments. Responsible for regulatory filings, including IRS, Social Security Administration, and Colorado Department of Revenue filings (W-2s, 1042s, 941s). Prepare and process withholdings and taxes (Federal, state, local, unemployment) and ensure compliance with payment and reporting requirements, including establishing internal MSU accounts for out-of-state taxes and completing amended tax returns when necessary. Process/backup for semi-monthly payroll and/or monthly payroll as needed. Serve as liaison between MSU Denver and state/local/federal agencies and external entities (IRS, garnishment agencies, tax authorities). Work with vendors and third parties to resolve issues and ensure regulatory compliance. Coordinate information flow with the Bank Accountant, Accounts Payable, and Accounting Services to ensure timely disbursements and reconciliations. Maintain, evaluate, and implement payroll procedures and policies to meet QA goals for the payroll accounting system, including testing/implementation of system upgrades and reconciliation with the ledger, while ensuring appropriate segregation of duties. Assist Payroll Manager in recruiting, selecting, mentoring, training, and supervising staff, assigning duties, scheduling, monitoring workload, and approving timesheets. Provide customer service to staff, faculty, and students on payroll inquiries (pay amounts, withholdings, garnishments, direct deposit, etc.). Assist with year-end W-2 filing and 1042-S filing; prepare year-end closing and adjusting entries. Assist with University financial audits and perform other duties as assigned. Responsibilities (Customer Service and Metrics)
Assist and participate in Workday Payroll projects involving strategy, design of payroll systems support, integrations, business processes, security, and data integrity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify risks and roadblocks in transformation processes to provide reliable payroll/HR/finance information; communicate progress to the Payroll Manager and stakeholders. Maintain, upgrade, and support payroll systems to ensure high availability and reliability. Conduct regular audits of system usage, performance, and security to ensure compliance with standards. Respond to campus inquiries regarding payroll processing, troubleshoot issues, and implement changes to ensure proper recording in the accounting system. Coordinate with HR and ITS on changes related to pay (furloughs, PTO, new deduction/earning codes, employee classes, minimum wage changes, etc.). Qualifications
Required Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. At least four (4) years of hands-on payroll processing experience in an integrated ERP system for an institution with 2000+ employees, including withholding payments, working with tax authorities, processing W-2s, garnishments, repayments, and retirement plan contributions (e.g., TIAA, Fidelity, PERA). Knowledge of IRS regulations and tax reporting requirements. Experience with semi-monthly and/or monthly payrolls. Experience supervising others. Ability to reconcile accounts and ensure month-end clearance. Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with ability to respond to queries within published timelines. Preferred Qualifications
Experience processing payroll in Workday ERP. We encourage applicants to apply even if not meeting every preferred qualification; we seek candidates who will best contribute to the Office of the Controller and the University. Schedule and Benefits
Full-time, 40 hours/week; Exempt. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Hybrid schedule with 2 days on-site; occasional evenings and weekend work may be needed. Some local travel may be required. The University’s benefits package includes medical, vision, dental, tuition reimbursement, life and supplemental insurance, retirement plans, and other programs. More details are available on the MSU Denver benefits site. Salary
The full salary range is $58,189.00 – $87,283.00. The anticipated starting range is $58,189.00 – $72,736.00. Application Instructions
For full consideration, submit: resume, cover letter describing relevant experience, professional references (at least one supervisor), and official transcripts if selected. Applications accepted until position is filled; priority given to applications received by 11:59pm MT October 9, 2025. Equal Opportunity
The University is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities during the employment process. Diversity and inclusion are valued in our campus community.
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