Payroll Team Lead

Job summary

The Payroll Team Lead oversees daily payroll operations, ensuring accurate processing and compliance across multiple companies in Canada and the U.S. They also provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to the payroll team while driving process improvements.

Job details

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

What you’ll do

The Payroll Team Lead oversees daily payroll operations, ensuring accurate processing and compliance across multiple companies in Canada and the U.S. They also provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to the payroll team while driving process improvements.

Requirements

Candidates must have at least 5 years of payroll experience in a large, multi-company or unionized environment and hold a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation. Strong leadership skills and proficiency with payroll systems like JD Edwards or UKG Dimensions are required.

Listed skills

• Problem solving · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Team Leadership · Preferred
• Process Improvement · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Payroll processing
• Team leadership
• Payroll compliance
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• JD Edwards
• UKG Dimensions
• Kronos
• Payroll taxes
• Collective agreements
• Performance management
• Internal controls
• Process improvement
• U.S. payroll
• Canadian payroll
• Process Improvement
• Internal Controls
• Performance Management
• Management
• Operations
• Problem Solving
• Team Performance Management
• Leadership
• Decision Making
• Team Leadership
• Relationship Building
• Coaching
• Finance
• Customer Service
• Auditing
• Ability To Meet Deadlines
• Business Priorities
• Accounting
• UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group)
• Payroll Tax
• Service Delivery Improvement
• Remittance
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner

Job areas

• Finance & Accounting
• Human Resources
• Management & Leadership
• Administrative
• Payroll Team Lead
• Payroll Manager
• Payroll Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers