Lead, Payroll Compliance and Controls

University Health Network; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Lead Payroll Compliance and Controls expert. This key role involves modernizing payroll practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, and contributing to the implementation of new HRIS and WFM systems. Ideal candidates will possess strong expertise in payroll systems, leadership skills, and experience in large organizations.

Benefits

Flexible work environment

Opportunities for professional development and promotions

Competitive offer packages

Pension plan access

Qualifications

• Minimum of six years related experience with three years of expertise in compliance.
• Deep understanding of Canadian payroll legislation.
• Experience with HRIS implementation or configuration projects.

Responsibilities

• Leads payroll operations review and compliance risk assessments.
• Implements internal controls and best practices for payroll.
• Serves as payroll governance expert during HRIS planning and implementation.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Problem-solving

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field

Certification in payroll administration (e.g. Canadian Payroll Association PCP or CPM)

Tools

Payroll reporting tools

HRIS systems (e.g. Workday)

Job description

Site : Toronto General Hospital with occasional travel to other sites

Department : People & Culture

Reports to : Sr. Director Total Rewards

Status : Permanent FullTime

Closing Date : May 23 2025

Position Summary

The Lead Payroll Compliance and Controlsprovides expert guidance during a period of strategic transformation at UHN. This role focuses on strengthening payroll operations by developing reliable internal controls ensuring legislative compliance and aligning payroll governance with the expectations and needs of a complex acuteteaching hospital.

The Lead brings a critical and structured approach to modernizing UHN payroll practices. Drawing on business controls frameworks and rooted in best practice the role ensures UHN payroll activities are accurate compliant and adaptable to new HRIS functionality. In addition the Lead has strong knowledge of employee records management and provides expert guidance on best practices in this domain.

The Lead Payroll Compliance and Controlswill be joining UHN at a pivotal time as in the fall of 2025 we are embarking on an implementation of a new Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and UHNs first Workforce Management System (WFM). The role will contribute to the design and implementation of payrollrelated processes in both systems.

About You

You are a seasoned professional with expert knowledge in managing and overseeing payroll systems. In this highly specialized individual contributor role you will work closely with People and Culture Finance IT and external vendors to streamline payroll functions integrate new technologies and ensure adherence to labour laws and tax regulations. You have expertise in both legacy and modern payroll solutions. Ideally you have been part of a robust HRIS / Payroll implementation. You have strong leadership problemsolving and communication skills.

Duties

• Payroll Operations Review and Risk Assessment : Leads a comprehensive assessment of currentstate payroll processes across UHN capturing nuances across various employee types and payment methods. Identifies and documents inefficiencies control gaps and risks related to compliance with legislation such as the Employment Standards Act Income Tax Act and CRA guidelines. Develops a payroll risk assessment with identified risks potential impacts and recommended mitigations.
• Internal Controls : Reviews internal payroll control mechanisms based on principles of accountability auditability and risk reduction. Implements best practices including rolebased access required approval structures and exception reporting. Prepares detailed documentation to support audits and ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities. Develops procedures and frameworks to support ongoing monitoring and reporting of control effectiveness.
• HRIS / WFM Configuration and Integration : Serves as the payroll governance subject matter expert throughout HRIS planning and implementation. Translates business rules and control requirements into system configuration requirements. Participates in data validation workflow testing and UAT to ensure payroll system functionality supports governance goals. Ensures integration with other systems time tracking and payroll modules is welldocumented and compliant. Contributes to all applicable training and ongoing payroll education to system users.
• Employee Records : Provides subject matter expertise in the maintenance and organization of digital and physical employee records. Ensures compliance by understanding and adhering to relevant legislation and regulations including ensuring adherence to UHNs data privacy and retention policies. Implements and maintains effective secure storage systems and establishes procedures and process for access control and information sharing.
• Process Optimization and Continuous Improvement : Conducts an open critical examination of all existing payroll practices with focus on systemic improvement including areas longstanding legacy processes. Engages stakeholders with professionalism and resolve while asking challenging questions about practices outdated procedures or accepted workarounds that may conflict with best practice or policy. Identifies areas of UHNuser resistance or habitual process dependency offering evidencebased alternatives that prioritize compliance and efficiency. Recommends and implements process enhancements that improve payroll accuracy and efficiency.
• Payroll Metrics : Establishes key performance indicators to track and analyze the efficiency accuracy and compliance of UHNs payroll operations to track performance identify areas of improvement and ensure employees are paid correctly and on time.

Qualifications :

• Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance Business Administration Human Resources or related field.
• Certification in payroll administration (e.g. Canadian Payroll Association PCP or CPM designation).
• Minimum of six (6) years related experience with three (3) years of demonstrated expertise on process improvement internal control and compliance within a large multisite organization.
• Deep understanding of Canadian payroll legislation including the Employment Standards Act Income Tax Act CPP EI and CRA requirements.
• Strong familiarity with internal control frameworks and audit readiness standards applicable to public sector organizations.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and payroll reporting tools including the ability to synthesize data to support operational decisionmaking.
• Skilled in navigating sensitive discussions challenging existing processes and gathering buyin around operational improvements.
• High attention to detail documentation skills and ability to write clearly for technical and nontechnical purposes.
• Demonstrated experience with complex payroll structures including unionized and nonunionized environments hourly and salaried workforces and retroactive pay scenarios.
• Direct experience designing or testing internal payroll controls.
• Significant involvement in HRIS implementation or configuration projects particularly related to payroll modules and system integration with Finance technical platforms.
• Selfdirected demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written. Ability to articulate difficult complex concepts to parties with limited knowledge of those concepts. Experience working with an influencing others and multiple management levels.
• Proven decision making negotiating conflict resolution and problemsolving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflicting priorities and confidential data.
• Additional education in audit internal controls or HR systems (e.g. Workday) considered an asset.

Additional Information :

Why Join UHN

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world UHN offers a wide range of benefits programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor allowing you to find value where it matters most to you now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHNs attendance management program to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading inaccurate or incorrect UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

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Key Skills