Director of Payroll

Merced Community College

$89K — $138K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, or related field
  • Three years of relevant payroll management experience
  • Understanding of diverse academic and cultural backgrounds
  • Valid California Class 'C' driver's license
  • Master's degree preferred but not required

Responsibilities

  • Plan and coordinate payroll procedures and processes
  • Supervise payroll staff and provide training
  • Maintain payroll records and update employee garnishments
  • Reconcile payroll accounts and direct deposits
  • Communicate with various offices on payroll issues
  • Investigate and resolve complex payroll problems
  • Recommend enhancements to the payroll system and policies

Benefits

  • Health coverage for employee and dependents at $12/month
  • Access to PPO medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • $50,000 life insurance policy for employees
  • Generous vacation and sick leave policies
  • Participation in retirement plans (PERS/STRS) with employer contributions
Full Job Description
Salary: $89,166.00 - $138,491.00 Annually
Location : Merced College, CA
Job Type: Management
Job Number:
Division: Administrative Services Div
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 9/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

General Description:
This is a classified management position. The incumbent reports directly to the Director, Business & Fiscal Services and oversees the day-to-day functions of the payroll office. The incumbent will independently perform professional work involving judgement in the interpretation and application of payroll-related policy and procedure, as well as applicable state and federal laws. The incumbent has a high frequency of responsible contact with administrative and professional staff and with other public agencies.

REPORTS TO
Controller

SALARY SCHEDULE
Management Range 9
Salary will be commensurate with education and experienceAdditional compensation for doctorate
Examples of Duties

Representative Duties:
  • Plan, coordinate and recommend payroll procedures, processes, and disbursements under the direction of the Director
  • Plan, prioritize, supervise, and evaluate the work of the payroll staff; provide training and developmental support as needed
  • Maintain records and update employee wage garnishments, levies, and assignments
  • Reconcile and direct the timely preparation of reports to STRS and PERS
  • Supervise the preparation, maintenance and processing of the District payroll
  • Reconcile and make direct deposits in payroll accounts
  • Communicate with a variety of offices on campus and outside agencies
  • Provide technical direction to support staff conducting various payroll activities; investigate and resolve complex or unusual payroll problems, which may require specialized research or analysis
  • Make deposits for taxes and retirement in a timely manner
  • Reconcile and direct the timely reporting of payroll taxes to the proper agencies
  • Process and balance W-2 information
  • Maximize technology functionality to ensure the payroll system is fully optimized
  • Recommend payroll system enhancements to comply with laws, regulations, tax requirements, reporting procedures, accounting policies, union agreements, and organizational needs
  • Develop, recommend and revise payroll policies and procedures
  • Review and analyze proposed legislation affecting payroll issues
  • Assist with testing and implementing new software programs or upgrades
  • Prepare, audit and submit forms related to the Affordable Healthcare Act
  • Attend and participate in various meetings and serves on committees and acts as a liaison to District staff and outside agencies on payroll related issues
  • Monitor and audit the accuracy and integrity of all payrolls, benefit health cost premiums, mandated benefit costs and balances payroll transactions to the general ledger
  • Coordinate with Human Resources to oversee billing and invoicing processes for health, dental, and other employee benefits
  • Other related duties as assigned

Knowledge of
  • Regulations, policies, and standards governing payroll and benefit processes
  • Methods, practices, and terminology used in payroll and financial record keeping
  • Federal, state and local reporting requirements relating to payroll processes including FLSA, California Education Code, STRS, PERS, and other programs and laws related to payroll records and benefit programs
  • Best practices in customer service/care

Ability to
  • Effectively manage and oversee a complex payroll process
  • Type and operate calculating machines and computers.
  • Make arithmetic computations rapidly and accurately
  • Follow oral and written directions.
  • Give explicit, understandable directions to others and to work cooperatively with others
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students


Typical Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
  • Bachelor's degree from an acceptable accredited institution in business administration, accounting or closely related field AND three (3) years of increasingly responsible and relevant experience OR the equivalent education and experience directly related to payroll management.
  • AND evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students
License or Certificate:
A valid California Class "C" driver's license. Travel to locations throughout the District may be required.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Master's degree from an acceptable accredited institution in business administration, accounting, or a closely related field or the equivalent.

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENTThe conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical Ability to:
  • Hear and understand speech at normal levels
  • Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
  • Read printed matter and computer screens
  • Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
  • Bend, twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push, and pull
  • Reach in all directions
  • Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations
  • Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard
Vision:
See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing:Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply:
  1. Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at

Required Documentation:
  1. Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
  2. Resume
  3. List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)
  4. Legible unofficial college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate); transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
  5. Diversity Statement: The Merced College District has a diverse staff and student population. As such, applicants must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community at large. Please describe your leadership efforts and professional experience promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a work setting. Please do not include any personally identifying information. Limit your response to one (1) page.
  6. If applicable, foreign transcripts must includea U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information:
Those applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to appear for oral interviews before a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be invited to interviews. Interviews will be scheduled on site.

Employee Benefits:
Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee's only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.

Condition of Employment:
The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

MANAGEMENT
Health Benefits
The cost is $12.00 per month for 10 months each year, with no deductions in June and July. This amount covers the following services, provided that members use Plan providers:

  • Medical (Anthem Blue Cross)
    $100 deductible for each family member or $300 deductible per family paid by employee each calendar year. 100% coverage after deductible is paid (except for emergency room visits which cost $100 unless the person is admitted to the hospital).

  • Prescription (Navitus)
    Pharmacy costs are $3.00 for up to a 30-day supply of generic medications and a $15.00 co-payment for brand-name medications; at Costco, a 30-day supply of generic medications and a 90-day supply by mail are $0.00, while brand-name medications cost $15.00 for a 30-day supply and $35.00 for a 90-day supply.

  • Dental (Delta Dental - Incentive Plan)
    1. Plan pays 70% the first calendar year that the plan is used
    2. 80% paid second year
    3. 90% paid third year
    4. 100% paid fourth year
    5. 100% will be paid each year thereafter unless member does not visit the dentist each year for cleanings/check-ups.
    6. $1,500 lifetime maximum for each enrollee.

  • Vision (VSP)
    $5.00 co-pay for exam every calendar year. The plan pays $150 for frames, anything over $150 is paid by the member. Single vision, lined bifocal and lined trifocal lenses are covered in full.

  • $50,000 life insurance policy on employee


  • Short-term and long-term disability.

Retirement
  • Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
    • Classic members - 7% and the college pays 26.68%.
    • New members (PEPRA) - 8% and the college pays 26.68%.
  • State Teachers Retirement System (STRS)
    • Members prior to 1/1/13 - 10.250% and the college pays 19.10%
    • Members after 1/1/13 - 10.205% and the college pays 19.10%
    • The District and the employee do NOT pay into Social Security

Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave
  • Holidays: 11 paid plus 5 days during Christmas.
  • Vacation: 2 days per month.
  • Sick: 12 days per year each fiscal year.

01

Have you attached your transcripts for all completed college units or degrees?
  • Yes
  • No
  • Not Applicable

Required Question

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