Position Specific Summary: The Payroll
Manager position at the City of Tucson's Human Resources Department is responsible for managing payroll operations and system administration, including testing, troubleshooting, auditing, and implementing payroll processes. This position ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations through reporting, audits, and correspondence with regulatory agencies, while also overseeing payroll projects.
Work is performed under the supervision of the Human Resources Administrator - HR Systems & Payroll. This position exercises supervision over payroll personnel.
Duties and Responsibilities:Leads testing and troubleshooting of payroll scenarios within the Workday and timekeeping systems. Works with the HR Systems team and Information Technology Department to test configured payroll-related changes within the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for new or updated policies and procedures that impact employee pay. Provides daily input and auditing of pay and deduction codes and approves payroll testing scenarios within the system. Configures payroll-related items within the ERP system to properly advise and test payroll related changes. Coordinates and implements changes for payroll processes and updates. Participates as a member of the payroll team in all system updates and decisions. Identifies and reports issues that result from data changes that affect pay results, time, and leave.Conducts weekly payroll auditing by reconciling registers and auditing reports to balance Federal, State, OASDI, and Medicare wages and taxes for Quarterly and Annual forms to report wages and taxes. Prepares and submits 941 and 941-X form corrections and processes corrected or reissued W-2s. Maintains ongoing correspondence with the IRS regarding taxable wage matters. Assists with Department of Labor Audits and compliance for proper Fair Labor Standards Act reporting. Responds to Annual outside Financial Audits.Assists with the implementation, evaluation and interpretation of department policies, projects and procedures including city-wide implementation and use of the timekeeping system. Develops and implements auditing processes to ensure payroll is accurate and delivered on time for all employees. Audits departmental payroll and clarifies policies and procedures. Leads and executes payroll projects, including year-end updates.Oversees and assists the City's Payroll Division with the administration of child support, garnishments, verification of employment, military supplemental pay, auditing department time checks, bi-weekly payroll, payouts of separated employees and city-wide payroll training. Provides guidance, training, and support to staff on the interpretation and application of policies, practices, and federal and state laws related to timekeeping. Prepares reports for auditing and analysis, troubleshoots payroll issues, and develops improvements to payroll processes. Directs and facilitates cross-functional training initiatives, ensuring staff and teams develop proficiency in all core HR functions and practices. Communicates effectively with management, employees, and vendors to build and maintain collaborative and productive working relationships. Participates on other Citywide teams when assistance or payroll advice may be needed. Fosters relationships with each department and satellite offices across the city.Provides leadership, direction, mentorship, and training of designated staff members. Participates in the recruitment and hiring of employees, making recommendations on employee discipline, and other human resources issues including evaluating and managing performance, facilitating positive resolutions, promoting positive morale, and ensuring staff is appropriately trained for maximum performance. Provides leadership and guidance while facilitating positive solutions, promoting positive morale, and providing training for maximum efficiencies within division and to departments.Creates, recommends, implements, and evaluates improvements in payroll processes to create efficiency across the city. Takes a proactive management approach to payroll challenges by providing ongoing training and guidance to departments on all payroll related topics.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSEducation: Bachelor's Degree
Work Experience: Four (4) years of related work experience.
Equivalency: Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications: At least (one) year in a supervisory position.
Experience in: • Payroll administration or Municipal payroll.
• Payroll laws and regulations, including federal, state, and local tax requirements (e.g., FLSA, ACA, IRS guidelines).
• Payroll systems such as Workday, ADP, or PeopleSoft, including report generation and system audits.
• Payroll reconciliation, tax filings, and W-2/W-3 reporting.
• Training, mentoring, and evaluating staff, managing workflows, and ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.
Benefits: The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings. With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours.
You can learn more about our benefits at
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