Canadian Payroll Manager

This on-site role blends hands-on Canadian payroll processing with global vendor governance, requiring deep Canadian payroll expertise and the ability to monitor, audit, and ensure compliance across multiple international payroll streams.

Responsibilities

• Canadian Payroll Processing
  • Own and process full-cycle, end-to-end Canadian payroll for 50-100 employees across one or more provinces, including data entry, validation, and disbursement.
  • Ensure accurate calculation and remittance of CPP, EI, federal and provincial income tax, and other statutory deductions in compliance with CRA requirements.
  • Manage payroll calendars, off-cycle runs, adjustments, retroactive payments, and termination payouts in accordance with applicable employment standards.
  • Prepare and file year-end reporting and Records of Employment (ROEs).
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of provincial employment standards, pay equity legislation, and CRA regulatory changes across all applicable Canadian jurisdictions.
• Global Vendor Oversight & Auditing
  • Serve as the internal point of accountability for all vendor-processed payrolls across LATAM and EMEA, ensuring vendors deliver accurate and compliant payroll outputs.
  • Review, audit, and approve payroll registers and reports submitted by global payroll vendors prior to each payroll cycle funding.
  • Monitor vendor SLAs, escalate discrepancies, and drive resolution of payroll errors in a timely manner.
  • Conduct periodic audits of vendor-processed payrolls to validate compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, and internal policies.
  • Maintain a global payroll calendar and coordinate funding approvals with Finance across all vendor-managed countries.
  • Evaluate vendor performance and contribute to vendor reviews, RFP processes, or transitions as needed.
• Compliance & Regulatory
  • Stay current on payroll legislation, tax regulations, and statutory requirements across Canada and all vendor-managed countries (LATAM and EMEA).
  • Partner with Legal, HR, and Tax teams to assess the payroll impact of regulatory changes in any active jurisdiction.
  • Ensure documentation, internal controls, and audit trails are maintained across both self-processed and vendor-managed payrolls to support SOX compliance and internal audits.
• Systems, Reporting & Stakeholder Management
  • Administer payroll systems and tools used for Canadian processing and global vendor data exchange (e.g., ADP, Workday, Ceridian, or equivalent).
  • Deliver regular payroll reporting and analytics including headcount, labor cost summaries, and variance analyses to Finance and senior leadership.
  • Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure accurate employee data, timely changes, and proper classification across all regions.
  • Act as the escalation point for complex payroll inquiries from employees, HR business partners, and global vendor contacts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field; or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years of hands-on Canadian payroll processing experience.
• Demonstrated experience processing multi-provincial Canadian payroll including CRA remittances, T4 filing, and ROE submissions.
• Experience auditing or overseeing third-party/vendor-processed international payrolls across LATAM or EMEA jurisdictions.
• Experience with SOX compliance, payroll internal controls, and audit documentation.
• Familiarity with payroll requirements in EMEA (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, or Ireland) and/or LATAM (Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, or Argentina) preferred.
• Bilingual in English and French is an asset given Canadian scope (not required).

Skills

• Deep knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, CRA requirements, provincial employment standards, and year-end reporting obligations (T4, ROE).
• Strong audit mindset with the ability to critically review vendor-submitted payroll data and identify discrepancies or compliance gaps.
• Experience managing or overseeing third-party payroll vendors across multiple international jurisdictions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to work effectively with vendors, Finance, HR, and Legal teams across time zones.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail under tight payroll deadlines.
• High degree of discretion and integrity when handling confidential employee and compensation data.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, reconciliation tools).
• Experience with enterprise payroll and HCM systems such as ADP, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) or Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) designation required, or actively working toward completion.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Global Payroll Management Certificate (GPMC) is a plus.