Assistant Director of Payroll

Assistant Director of Payroll

In Office | Honolulu | Higher Education

In higher education, payroll is not routine. It is complex, highly regulated, and central to the trust that holds a campus together. Because payroll touches every employee, every pay period, and every compliance obligation, strong and steady leadership truly matters. If you take pride in running payroll operations that are accurate, audit-ready, and dependable every single cycle, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to lead.

Bishop & Company is partnering with a respected higher education institution to recruit an Assistant Director of Payroll for an in-office role based in Honolulu. This position plays a key leadership role in overseeing multi-division payroll operations, supporting a dedicated payroll team, and ensuring consistency, compliance, and strong internal controls across a diverse employee population.

As Assistant Director of Payroll, you will balance hands-on operational oversight with people leadership, serving as a trusted resource to campus stakeholders while strengthening processes and systems that support accurate, timely payroll delivery.

About the Role

Reporting into senior leadership, the Assistant Director of Payroll is responsible for the oversight and day-to-day management of payroll services across multiple divisions. This role requires both technical expertise and sound judgment, as well as the ability to lead, mentor, and develop payroll staff in a complex regulatory environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing end-to end payroll operations for employees across multiple divisions, ensuring accurate and timely processing of wages, taxes, and benefits
• Designing, maintaining, and strengthening internal controls to support accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness
• Managing payroll reconciliations, including retirement plans, tax services, insurance programs, savings plans, garnishments, and other related payroll accounts
• Preparing management reports and supporting ad hoc payroll and compensation analyses
• Serving as a primary liaison with auditors, tax preparers, and external agencies
• Recruiting, training, mentoring, and supervising payroll staff to ensure consistent service delivery and professional growth
• Supporting broader business office operations and contributing to process improvements, system enhancements, and documentation
• Leading or supporting special projects and cyclical payroll initiatives as needed throughout the year

Qualifications

The ideal candidate brings a combination of technical payroll expertise, leadership experience, and the ability to operate effectively in a highly regulated environment.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Management, Human Resources, or a related field
• An Associate's degree may be considered with 10 years of progressive payroll, HRIS, and general ledger accounting experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with computerized ERP HR/payroll systems
• At least 2 years of supervisory or management experience
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent certification preferred
• Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll
• Proven ability to interpret and apply complex payroll laws, regulations, and policies
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments
• Ellucian (Banner) Software experience preferred
• Ability to develop Ad Hoc Reports for payroll management and monitoring.
• Higher education experience working with adjunct pay and stipends.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a fast paced and rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms with executive, senior management, faculty, staff, managers, technical staff, and external auditors and attorneys.
• Education/Higher Education industry a plus.

Additional Information

• This is an in-office position located in Honolulu
• Extended hours may be required during payroll cycles and key deadlines
• Reliable transportation is required for occasional work-related travel
• Competitive benefits package, including generous paid time off!

Compensation

Compensation is unique to each candidate and relative to the skills and experience they bring to the position. The salary range for this position is typically $75,000 to $95,000 annually. This does not guarantee a specific salary as compensation is based upon multiple factors such as education, experience, certifications, and other requirements, and may fall outside of the above-stated range.

About Bishop & Company

Bishop & Company provides recruiting and placement services for organizations and job seekers throughout Hawaii. There is no cost to candidates, and all client services are 100 percent guaranteed.

Submit your resume to Bishop & Company

Phone: 808-839-2200

Website: http://www.bishopco.net

Equal Opportunity Employer - Disability and Veteran