Payroll Manager 2026

Payroll Manager 2026 Santa Monica, CA Job Details Full-time $828 - $124,980 a year 1 day ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Qualifications Payroll tax Retirement plan management Operations management System troubleshooting Handling wage garnishments Regulatory compliance Research State tax Compliance management implementation Bachelor's degree in business administration Hiring Supervising experience Policy & process development Bachelor's degree Team management Financial record maintenance Legislation HR systems implementation Labor contracts Business Administration Training & development 1 year Bachelor's degree in accounting Senior level Business Certified Payroll Professional Financial systems implementation Accounting Communication skills Overseeing training Performance evaluation Full Job Description Description Merged Promotional & Open Competitive Payroll Manager

WELCOME TO SANTA MONICA COLLEGE!

We are excited to recruit for a new Payroll Manager to join our SMC team! Under general direction, this classification directs, plans, manages, integrates, and supervises the day-to-day operations, activities and staff of the District's Payroll Department processing academic, classified, management and student payrolls. The incumbent serves as the District's payroll advisor by evaluating and implementing District payroll policies, regulations, procedures, systems, and labor agreements, in addition to ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations. This position is scheduled to work full time, 12 months per year at the Santa Monica College District Offices. Please note that all candidates must have authorization to work in the United States; the District does not have the ability to provide sponsorship. What You Will Bring to the College Our ideal candidate is an experienced payroll leader with a strong background managing staff and operations in a public-sector environment, along with in-depth knowledge of payroll compliance, including tax regulations and retirement systems such as CalSTRS and CalPERS. They bring a strong focus on developing, documenting, and improving payroll processes and procedures to ensure consistency, efficiency, and operational continuity. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and solutions-driven, with the ability to interpret labor agreements, identify discrepancies, and ensure accurate, timely payroll processing. They have experience working within third-party payroll systems and playing a key role in supporting system transitions, including maintaining continuity of operations, troubleshooting issues, and adapting processes during implementation. An effective leader and communicator, they manage priorities, support staff performance, and provide reliable guidance in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, particularly during periods of change. Important note regarding the District budget: In an effort to address budget shortfalls and ensure the long-term financial health of the College, the Board of Trustees has approved cost saving measures for the 2026-27 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.

These measures consist of:

(1) two unpaid furlough days per month for management staff, which amounts to approximately a 10% salary reduction, and (2) management freezes in step advancement that will halt salary advancement for at least one year. The posted salary for this role does not reflect the two unpaid furlough days per month that will take effect on July 1, 2026. Please note that the District will continue to offer fully paid health, dental and vision benefits for employees and their eligible dependents. Remote Work Program Santa Monica College has a remote work program option available for employees whose job duties do not require a physical presence on College property. Remote work arrangements cannot be guaranteed prior to the date of hire, and must go through a review and approval process. Why Work at SMC? At SMC, you will work beside a diverse group of colleagues who leverage their combined talents and passions to accomplish something great. No matter what department you are in, or what job you have, your contributions will be critical to helping our students fulfill their dreams - landing that new job, or breaking through the cycle of poverty.

Some details about us:

We are currently the number one transfer college to UCLA, USC, the University of California system, and Loyola Marymount University We are dedicated to sustainable practices and are accessible via environmentally-friendly transportation options, including the Expo Line and Big Blue Bus. We are one of the select community colleges in California approved to award a Bachelor's degree. SMC currently awards a Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design. Our second Bachelor's degree in Cloud Computing is coming in Fall 2027. Please visit www.smc.edu/aboutsmc to learn more about us and why we are Proud to Be SMC! Benefits We value our employees as people, and recognize the value of work-life balance, the health of you and your family, and professional development. We offer a variety of benefits and perks to support new members of our team, including: 18 paid holidays

• 24 paid vacation days
• 12 paid illness days
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision-care coverage (including eligible dependents) Free mental health assistance through the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) program.

Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS) 5% increase in base pay for every 5 years worked with SMC, up to 40 years of service (suspended for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by the Board of Trustees) Free Big Blue Bus access and monthly incentives for eligible employees through the Sustainable Transportation Incentive Program Benefits, holidays, vacation, and illness days listed above assume a 40-hours per week, 12 months per year schedule. Benefits, vacation and illness days are prorated for other work schedules.

Salary Placement New Employees:

Generally, new employees start at the first step on the salary schedule. A new permanent classified employee may request a higher salary placement based on recruitment issues and/or additional training and experience which greatly exceeds the minimum requirements. Please note that salary placement above the third step requires additional approvals by Santa Monica College executive staff.

Current Employees:

Upon promotion, the new salary for a current, permanent employee is based on Merit Rule 12.2.7. In accordance with this rule, employees are entitled to at least a one-step (5%) salary increase, and may be eligible for advanced step placement in accordance with established criteria. About the Selection Process The selection process tentatively consists of a Qualifications Appraisal Interview, which may be preceded by a Training & Experience Evaluation. Candidates must be successful on all test parts to be placed on the eligibility list. The eligibility list created from this recruitment will be used to fill any vacancies that occur during the six-month life of the eligibility list, including full-time and/or part-time, permanent and/or temporary positions. Santa Monica College reserves the right to modify the stated test parts and weights prior to the administration of any test. Communication for this recruitment will be via e-mail. You must check your e-mail on a regular basis to be informed of your status for this recruitment. Test Retake Policy Based on the District's hiring needs, we may administer multiple recruitments for this job classification (or a related job classification that uses the same test(s)) within the next several months. Candidates must wait a period of 90 calendar days between testing appointments before retesting. Candidates who are ineligible to participate in an upcoming test or interview due to the provided retake period will be notified via email, and will have their highest valid score(s) on any non-weighted (pass/fail) test parts applied toward that recruitment. Equity Statement "Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity, and inclusion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC, and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment." Examples of Duties Supervises Payroll Department staff, which includes assigning payroll schedules, reviewing work, participating in new employee selection, discipline and termination, training employees, and evaluating employee performance. Develops and implements plans, policies and procedures to improve District payroll services and operations; reviews, information for accuracy, identify discrepancies, make corrections and resolve problems as necessary. Interprets, explains and ensures compliance with payroll operating procedures, laws and regulations, complex payroll and HR systems, labor agreements, and Personnel Commission and Board of Trustee policies. Oversees the payroll reporting systems ensuring accuracy, training and managing of cycles and timelines; sets-ups and maintains computer master tables; resolves difficult and complex payroll issues. Maintains current and historical payroll and vacation accrual records, audits and related files. Schedules, organizes, reviews, and assures proper processing of federal and state tax deposits and payroll tax returns; balances District accounts with Los Angeles County Office of Education, and Federal and State taxing authorities. Researches, analyzes and serves as the professional expert in areas related to payroll, retirement benefits, related systems, and legislative and negotiated agreement changes that affect the payroll process; prepares and presents oral and written reports, and proposal Ensures adherence to wage garnishments, payroll record subpoenas and other information legally requested by appropriate agencies. Coordinates the payroll function and collaborates with Human Resources, Personnel Commission, District departments, and outside governmental agencies. Oversees the alternative retirement program; serves as the plan administrator; issues refunds and distributions; balances individual accounts; analyzes, corrects and applies appropriate retirement program rules and regulations. Provides direction, oversight and development of spreadsheets, computerized records and special reports related to all payroll activities for budget development, contract negotiations, projections, and recommendations as requested by District administration. Attends and participates in management development programs, seminars and workshops to stay abreast of current legislative changes, trends and practices within assigned area of responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications Education Requirement:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or a closely related field.

Experience Requirement:

Three (3) years of technical or professional payroll experience, which included one (1) year of lead or supervisory experience. Experience implementing payroll or financial systems is highly desirable.

Education/Experience Equivalency:

Experience and/or education of the same kind, level and amount as required in the minimum qualifications may be substituted on a year-for-year basis Licensure and/or

Certification:

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or related professional certifications are desirable. Supplemental Information For additional information about our employment process, please visit our FAQ page and click on "current employees" (for existing, permanent SMC employees) or "job applicants" (for external applicants). Santa Monica College offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.