Associate Vice President, Payroll

The Ohio State University is seeking an Associate Vice President, Payroll to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Payroll Services supporting employees across The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. The AVP will set vision and direction for payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across campuses, including biweekly and monthly cycles for ~42,000 employees. Responsibilities include leading a multi-functional payroll organization, overseeing payroll tax administration, time and absence management, accounting, systems teams, and driving process and system optimization in partnership with IT, HR, and Finance. The role emphasizes enterprise-wide compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, advancement of innovation and service excellence, and alignment of payroll strategy with institutional priorities. The successful candidate will lead development of leaders, manage complex payroll functions, and enhance data-driven decision-making and stakeholder engagement to improve efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and employee experience. The position requires residency in Ohio with potential on-site engagement in Columbus; a Master’s degree and CPP/CPA credentials are desirable additions. The role is based in Payroll Services within the Office of Business and Finance, reporting to the Vice President of Operations and Deputy CFO, with responsibility across multiple locations and campuses.