Payroll Manager

Job Description

PAYROLL MANAGER

Victoria

The Opportunity

At BC Ferries, more than 5,000 employees work around the clock to connect coastal communities across British Columbia. Behind every sailing is a dedicated team of mariners, terminal employees, skilled trades, and corporate professionals who rely on one thing every pay period: getting paid accurately and on time.

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead one of the organization's most critical functions. This is more than managing payroll processing. It's an opportunity to lead a high-performing team, navigate the complexities of a large, unionized environment, and help modernize payroll practices that support thousands of employees across the organization.

As the Payroll Manager, you will lead all aspects of payroll operations, ensuring employees are paid correctly, on time, and in compliance with collective agreements, employment standards, pension requirements, tax legislation, benefit plans, and corporate policies.

If you're a collaborative leader who enjoys solving complex payroll challenges, driving continuous improvement, and building strong partnerships across Finance, People Experience, Accounting & Reporting, Scheduling Services and IT, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Financial Operations, your key areas of responsibility will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing a high-performing payroll team, including overseeing hiring, onboarding, training, performance management and employee development;
• Overseeing end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring employee time is appropriately authorized. and employees are paid accurately and on time, with the correct statutory and contractual deductions;
• Ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, pension requirements, employment standards, tax regulations and collective agreements, while monitoring legislative changes and their impact on payroll operations;
• Leading month-end, calendar year-end and fiscal year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations, T4 preparation, statutory reporting and external audit support;
• Partnering with People Experience, Labour Relations, Scheduling Services, Accounting & Reporting and IT to resolve complex payroll matters, implement collective agreement and legislative changes, and support payroll system enhancements;
• Developing and implementing departmental strategies, policies, objectives and short- and long-term plans that strengthen governance, improve service delivery and maximize operational efficiency;
• Developing and maintaining payroll procedures, process documentation and training materials to support consistent, compliant and effective payroll practices;
• Managing the department's operating budget while aligning resources and priorities with the strategic goals of the payroll function;
• Evaluating and strengthening internal controls, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial records, maintaining compliance with legislative and organizational requirements, and identifying opportunities to improve processes and mitigate risk;
• Developing payroll analytics, key performance indicators and reporting to monitor trends, validate payroll accuracy and completeness, and support informed decision-making;
• Serving as the organization's payroll subject matter expert, providing technical payroll and pension guidance to internal and external stakeholders, and presenting key payroll matters and recommendations to senior leadership.

What you bring to the team

• Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation from the National Payroll Institute
• A degree or diploma in a business-related discipline is preferred
• 7 to 10 years of progressive management experience in a large, complex payroll environment
• Extensive experience managing payroll for a unionized workforce
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, pension administration, employment standards, and payroll best practices
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and developing high-performing employees
• Experience with Oracle Payroll and UKG is considered an asset
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities

What we offer 

This is a regular full-time position with a target salary range of $98,500 to $123,100 per annum. The starting salary is determined based on the successful candidate’s knowledge, experience and internal equity.  

Taking care of our employees is a top priority for us, and to do that, we offer benefits that help you stay healthy in all ways. Some of our great benefits include:

• Career development and learning opportunities 

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits 

• Defined benefit Public Service Pension Plan 

• Minimum four weeks’ vacation 

• Hybrid work flexibility 

• Wellness programs and employee discounts 

Join us!

If this sounds like your next great career move, please submit your cover letter and resume as one combined PDF document by September 27, 2026 at 11:59PM. 

"We sail to serve and connect the people and the coast of BC”

At BC Ferries, our people are at the heart of delivering safe and reliable service along 1,600 km of coastline. Every day, we connect communities and move tens of thousands of passengers and vehicles across our 25 routes through the dedication, expertise and hard work of our teams. Guided by a shared commitment to safety, service, inclusion, and local commitment, we offer meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and the chance to make a positive impact. Whether you work onboard our vessels, in our terminals or behind the scenes, you'll play an important role in connecting people, supporting communities, and keeping coastal BC moving.

We support employment equity and diversity in the workplace and we encourage applications from all qualified individuals including women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), and others who reflect our ever-changing workplace.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.