Lead Payroll Administrator – 18-Month Maternity Leave Coverage-(Hybrid) - January 2026 Start Date!

Central 1 Credit Union; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Toronto is seeking a Lead Payroll Administrator for an 18-month contract. The candidate will oversee payroll processes using Workday and Excel, ensuring accuracy and compliance. They will play a crucial role in improving processes and supporting employees with payroll-related inquiries. Required qualifications include a college degree, PCP designation, and over 8 years of payroll processing experience. The position offers a hybrid work environment and a salary range of $80,000-$90,000.

Benefits

Work-life flexibility

Hybrid work environment

Variable annual incentive plan

Generous annual vacation allotment

Top-notch flexible benefits plan

Retirement Plan, matched contributions at 6%

Access to a learning platform

Access to a virtual wellness platform

Career development opportunities

Wellness Flex Fund

Day off to volunteer

Corporate discounts

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience processing large corporate payroll in an ERP system.
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation required.
• Workday experience is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Process and review payroll transactions in Workday.
• Use Excel to analyze payroll data and reports.
• Collaborate with HR to identify and implement process improvements.

Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Ability to problem-solve both independently and collaboratively

Intermediate Excel skills

Education

College or University degree in Commerce, Accounting, or Business

Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation

Tools

Workday

Job description

Central 1 cooperatively empowers credit unions and other financial institutions to deliver banking choice to Canadians. Central 1 provides critical services at scale to enable a thriving credit union system. We do this by collaborating with our clients, developing strategies, products and services to support the financial well-being of their more than 5 million diverse customers in communities across Canada. For more information, visit www.central1.com.

What we offer:

• Work-life flexibility
• Hybrid work environment
• Variable annual incentive plan
• Generous annual vacation allotment
• Top-notch flexible benefits plan including family building and gender affirmation
• Retirement Plan, matched contributions at 6%
• Access to a learning platform and educational assistance support
• Access to a virtual wellness platform
• Career development opportunities
• Wellness Flex Fund to support personal interest and activities
• Day off to volunteer in your community and other paid time off options
• Corporate discounts

*subject to employment agreement

Job Summary:

Are you a payroll pro who loves turning numbers into insights? Central 1 is looking for a Lead Payroll Administrator to take charge of our full payroll process and drive accounting operations with precision and analytics.

In this role, you’ll use Excel and Workday to uncover data-driven insights, streamline processes, and ensure accuracy and compliance every pay cycle. Your work will directly help employees feel confident and supported, all while maintaining payroll excellence.

This 18-month contract is perfect for someone who thrives in a tech-forward, collaborative environment and is passionate about using analytics to make processes smarter, faster, and more efficient.

What you'll be doing:

• Process and review payroll transactions in Workday.
• Use Excel to analyze payroll data and reports.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee and payroll records.
• Ensure payroll entries are allocated correctly and align with Central 1 guidelines and employment standards.
• Review year-end payroll reports and T4s for accuracy.
• Collaborate with HR to identify and implement process improvements.
• Prepare manual payroll entries when needed.
• Support year-end activities, including T4s for employees and directors.
• Reconcile payroll and benefits general ledger accounts monthly.
• Prepare required annual tax forms (T4, T4A, T2200, etc.) and filings.
• Submit pension reports to retirement plan providers.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee payroll files.
• Create payroll reports and respond to payroll-related data requests.
• Prepare final pay and documentation for departing employees.
• Communicate with government agencies as required.
• Respond to employment verification requests from external organizations.
• Monitor payroll legislation and recommend updates to internal processes.
• Provide guidance on payroll policy and interpretation.
• Support the Accounting team on payroll-related items.
• Produce ad-hoc payroll reports when needed.
• Participate in payroll and HR projects.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What you'll have:

• College or University degree in Commerce, Accounting, or Business
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation required
• 8+ years experience processing large corporate payroll in an ERP system
• Workday experience is a strong asset
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to problem-solve both independently and collaboratively
• Intermediate Excel skills required

Salary range: $80,000-$90,000

The salary represents the job rate determined for the successful candidate who is fully competent in the role. The actual salary will vary depending on market conditions and relevant job‑related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training.

#LI-Hybrid

Central 1 is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building an inclusive workforce by creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong and has the opportunity to be successful. We welcome all applicants to join our diverse workforce and we will provide an accessible candidate experience including, but not limited to accommodations to interview sites and alternate formats upon request to our Recruitment team.