Job Description
The Payroll Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the payroll function while leading a team of Payroll & Benefits Analysts. This role ensures the accurate and timely processing of payroll across a large group of companies, maintains compliance with applicable legislation, collective agreements, and company policies, and serves as the primary escalation point for payroll-related matters.
The Payroll Team Lead provides coaching, guidance, and performance management to the payroll team, while driving continuous process improvements, maintaining strong internal controls, and fostering a high-performing, customer-focused environment. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and communication skills, and will thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and service-focused environment
- Oversee the accurate and timely processing of payroll across multiple companies, both in Canada and U.S.
- Review payroll activity, audits, remittances, and reporting to ensure compliance with legislation, collective agreements, and company policies
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll, benefits, and timekeeping matters, applying sound judgment and an understanding of operational realities to resolve issues effectively
- Ensure the accurate administration of employee setups, changes, terminations, garnishments, and union-related processes
- Partner with HR, Finance, Operations, and external stakeholders to understand business priorities, resolve payroll related issues and improve service delivery
- Identify and implement process improvements, system enhancements, and best practices to drive efficiency and accuracy
- Monitor team performance, manage priorities, and support achievement of departmental objectives
- Build and maintain strong relationships with operations and management by taking time to understand the nature of the work, business flows, and employee experience across the companies supported
- Additional duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Post-secondary education in Business, Accounting, or a related field is considered an asset
- Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation
- 5+ years of payroll experience, preferably in a large, multi-company and/or unionized environment
- Previous leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience
- Experience working with payroll and timekeeping systems such as JD Edwards (JDE), UKG Dimensions (Kronos), or similar platforms
- Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, payroll taxes, remittances, and collective agreements
- Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
- U.S. payroll knowledge is considered an asset
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
