Interim Payroll Manager

Principal duties of the Payroll Manager - 6+ months: Our client is in downtown Toronto, and they are looking for a Payroll Manager as their current employee is retiring in mid 2027 (they want some overlap for training & likely to convert). Our client is in entertainment business that operates major performance venues and brings concerts, theatre, dance, comedy, and other cultural events to the city.

CA$59,100.00–CA$98,500.00 yearly

Remote

Full-time

The Payroll Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Oversee accurate and timely weekly and biweekly payroll processing, validating timesheets, attendance records, and other payroll inputs.
• Manage payroll administration for onboarding, terminations, employee status changes, and employee record maintenance.
• Ensure accurate calculation, reporting, and timely remittance of statutory deductions, contractual payments, benefits, union dues and benefits, pension contributions, and other employee deductions.
• Prepare and submit required government documentation and reports, including EI, Records of Employment (ROEs), CPP, and other applicable filings.
• Monitor changes to payroll legislation, employment standards, collective agreements, union benefit rates, OMERS contributions, insurance premiums, and benefit plans.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for complex payroll inquiries, discrepancies, and system issues, liaising with employees, managers, HR, providers, pension administrators, and government agencies.
• Improve payroll procedures, internal controls, accuracy, and operational efficiency while maintaining compliance with legislation and best practices.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor payroll staff, promoting accountability, professional development, and consistent performance.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, process documentation, and internal controls.
• Ensure cross-training and backup coverage to maintain operational continuity during absences and peak workloads.
• Prepare and review payroll journal entries for General Ledger (GL) posting.
• Perform and oversee reconciliations of payroll registers, GL records, balance sheet accounts, statutory deductions, benefit contributions, and other payroll accounts; investigate discrepancies and ensure resolution.
• Prepare and distribute year-end employee tax slips, including T4s, and complete required payroll filings.
• Prepare payroll financial reports, schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for Finance.
• Monitor payroll system functionality and configuration to ensure alignment with organizational requirements, legislation, collective agreements, and payroll practices.
• Identify and implement workflow improvements, enhanced reporting, reduced manual processing, and stronger data integrity.
• Maintain controls and procedures to mitigate payroll risks, protect confidential employee information, and ensure compliance.
• Develop payroll reports, metrics, and tools to monitor performance and support management decision-making.

Must Have:

• Degree or diploma in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation.
• Five to seven years of progressive payroll experience, including at least four years processing payroll for unionized and non-unionized employees across multiple collective bargaining units, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred experience supervising, coaching, or mentoring staff.
• Experience in payroll accounting, GL reconciliations, statutory remittances, year-end reporting, and payroll system implementations or transitions is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of payroll administration, applicable legislation, statutory deductions, government remittances, collective agreements, benefits, pensions, and year-end reporting requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills for payroll data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Knowledge of , ezLaborManager, and OMERS pension administration is an asset.
• Experience in payroll system configuration, testing, implementation, upgrades, and process optimization is an asset.

Start Date of December 2026/January 2027

TMGCT