Lead Payroll Admin Processing

Job Description

Organizational Summary :

Central HR consists of multiple areas of expertise including Talent Acquisition, Benefits, Classification & Compensation; Employee and Labor Relations; Continuous Process Improvement, HRIS, HR Business Partners and Talent and Learning Management. USF Human Resources is embarking on a multi-year transformation focused on a Human Resources strategy that elevates our people so that the University and culture support a competitive workforce advantage in line with our strategic plan.

Position Summary :

The Lead Payroll Administrator reports to the Assistant Director of Payroll Services and serves as the primary point of contact for day-to-day payroll operations and payroll cycle processing activities. This position is responsible for coordinating and streamlining payroll processes, building redundancy across payroll functions, and ensuring accuracy and timeliness in payroll delivery. The incumbent directly oversees Payroll Administrators and provides guidance, training, and quality review of payroll transactions. The role also supports system maintenance activities, including testing of system patches and updates, and validation of payroll results. In rotation with other team members, this position executes payroll processing jobs to complete gross-to-net calculations for the university's employee population, including related off-cycle payments and outbound vendor files.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Duties :

Lead and develop Payroll Administrator I and II staff to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery.

Support end-to-end payroll processing efficiencies and accuracy by reviewing data integrity reports, validating inputs, and taking action in Oracle HCM.

Resolve escalated payroll discrepancies, retroactive adjustments, and pay issues to maintain employee trust and operational accuracy. Serves as the lead to bring items that need further escalation to the Payroll Assistant Director.

Analyze payroll trends, variances, and adjustment rates to identify root causes and recommend and implement process improvements that enhance accuracy and reduce manual interventions.

Oversee overpayment recovery, off-cycle processing, and garnishment administration to ensure timely resolution and proper financial reconciliation.

Strengthen cross-functional collaboration with HR, Accounting, and Legal to streamline workflows and improve payroll data quality.

Lead system testing for quarterly patches, tax updates, and configuration changes, ensuring payroll system reliability and compliance.

Maintain and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs), training guides, and audit documentation to support operational excellence and knowledge continuity.

Ensure compliance with all university, state, and federal wage and tax regulations, minimizing audit findings and financial risk.

Monitor compliance with IRS, DOL, and state tax regulations.

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and university payroll, wage, and hour regulations.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience :

• Bachelor's degree and 2 or more years of related experience

Preferred Education & Experience :

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud or similar enterprise HR / payroll systems.

Experience in higher education or large, multi-entity organizations.

CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification.

Degree Equivalency Clause : Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws :

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application / interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.