Two top administrators for Maryland’s second-largest school system were removed from their jobs Thursday for using school funds to make an unauthorized payment to the former head of human resources after she resigned, according to school officials with direct knowledge of the firings.

Roger C. Thomas, the general counsel for the Prince George’s County school system, and Matthew E. Stanski, its chief financial officer, were dismissed after it was discovered that former human resources director Synthia J. Shilling received a six-figure check after her August resignation, said the officials, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak about the firings.