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The Universities of Wisconsin are a premier system of public higher education serving more than 164,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Through a constellation of 13 universities statewide, the Universities of Wisconsin are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.
The Universities of Wisconsin Administration assists in establishing policies, planning the programmatic financial and physical development of the Universities. UWSA supports the Universities in delivering transformative educational outcomes and research that expands the boundaries of knowledge. We work to extend the value of our universities beyond the boundaries of the campuses, seeking to enhance the quality of life for all in Wisconsin and beyond, in fulfillment of the Wisconsin Idea.
UW-Shared Services (UWSS) exists to standardize processes, consolidate operations, and streamline administrative practices to provide high quality services while improving administrative efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to providing high quality services, UW-Shared Services brings value to UW institutions by reducing administrative burden and cost, thereby allowing them to invest time and resources into activities which are more central to their mission.
POSITION SUMMARY
This Associate Director will lead the Payroll Administration team and is responsible for the administration of UW’s bi-weekly payroll and related regulatory reporting. This includes federal, state and foreign payroll tax compliance as well as assuring UW policy is followed. The person in this role must have a good knowledge of Federal, state and foreign, payroll related laws and regulations.
This position will work collaboratively with other UWSS teams, UW Administration’s Finance and Legal teams, and Workday Enterprise Support Team to support current operations as well as lead the effort to build and enhance new work streams geared toward operational efficiency and automation of administrative services.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and lead a highly functioning team with a focus on operational discipline and enhancing customer experience
- Lead daily operations of the Payroll Administration team ensuring the necessary resources and tools are available for efficient processing with quality customer service
- Define and communicate service standards and oversee the attainment and maintenance of those expectations
- Assure processes comply with applicable regulations and policies and provide adequate internal controls
- Assure an efficient training program is in place, which includes written documentation of processes necessary to be successful on the job
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and monitor key process improvement metrics
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered for this position, a candidate must have:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the following
- Payroll administration including federal and multi-state compliance and related reporting
- Developing and supporting operational processes in a complex environment
- A minimum of 3 years’ supervisory experience within an operational processing environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Well qualified applicants will also have a substantial amount of experience in a combination of the following:
- Experience within a shared service or centralized processing unit
- Experience in higher education or large complex organization
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to work collaboratively with others on common goals, projects, and tasks
- Ability to use independent judgement and exercise discretion
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
Inclusive Excellence is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for Universities of Wisconsin. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the Universities of Wisconsin community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, community service, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
Universities of Wisconsin fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who serve the State of Wisconsin and the public good.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.
The Universities of Wisconsin will not sponsor a work visa for this position at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9 upon hire.
WORK LOCATION
The office location is in Madison, WI. An in-office requirement is expected three days per week with the option to work the remaining two days off-site/remote. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Associate Director, Payroll Administration is a full-time, salaried (exempt), academic staff position. Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $125,000 – $150,000 commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications.
The Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Universities of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Quick Guide (FA/AS/LI). Use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to calculate the estimated value of your compensation and benefits.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN (ALL CAMPUSES) EMPLOYEES
To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.
- Go to the UWSA Applicant Portal to submit your materials online and select the appropriate applicant portal, either External Applicants or Internal Applicants and click on the position title that you want to apply for.
- To receive full consideration, interested applicants are required to apply online and provide:
- Resume (PDF Format)
- Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications (PDF Format)
Failing to submit the required application documents may disqualify your application.
- Submit your application.
SPECIAL NOTES:
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting Sarah Haen, HR Business Partner, at sarah.haen@uwss.wisconsin.edu.
The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran, and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellent through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
Questions may be addressed to: Sarah Haen, HR Business Partner, at sarah.haen@uwss.wisconsin.edu