Manager, Payroll & Benefits

Surrey Schools (School District #36 Surrey); Surrey; On-site; CAD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Extended Medical, Vision and Dental

Life Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Employee Family Assistance Program

Municipal Pension

13 Paid Holidays, Sick & Vacation Time

Job summary

Surrey Schools is seeking a Manager of Payroll & Benefits to lead the district's payroll operations, ensuring compliance with legislation and district policies while driving process improvements. You will manage a payroll team, oversee reporting, and collaborate with stakeholders to support district goals.

The role oversees complex payrolls, benefits, and deductions, with a focus on accuracy, security, and continuous improvement within a term 12-month assignment.

Qualifications

• Degree in business, accounting or related discipline and PLP certification.
• Six years of recent related experience in a unionized environment with progressive leadership responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills for trust-building and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, coaching, and project management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll processing, ensuring timely and accurate salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and deductions.
• Ensure payroll compliance with collective agreements, contracts, policies, and laws.
• Provide leadership to the payroll team; set priorities and monitor performance.
• Prepare payroll financial reporting and data analytics for internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify issues and drive system/process improvements with cross-department collaboration.
• Maintain security and privacy of payroll data in line with FIPPA and BC privacy laws.
• Engage with stakeholders and participate in committees to support district goals.
• Establish KPIs and drive best practices and continuous improvement in payroll services.
• Stay current on payroll legislation, collective agreements, and general ledger classifications.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical skills

Written/verbal communication

Legislation knowledge

Data analysis

Payroll systems knowledge

Education

Degree in business, accounting or related discipline; PLP

Tools

Payroll systems

MS Excel

Microsoft applications

Job description

The Surrey School District respectfully acknowledges that our schools reside on the traditional, unceded, and shared territories of Coast Salish peoples: The q̓íc̓əy̓ - Katzie, the q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓- Kwantlen and the SEMYOME - Semiahmoo First Nations, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.

Surrey Schools is the largest BC school district and the second-largest employer in Surrey. Surrey Schools provides quality education to over 82,000 students with 124 schools sites and a variety of other learning facilities, offering a broad range of innovative programs and services to support the learning of our students. The Surrey School District team of approximately 13,000 employees works tirelessly every day to ensure that children are getting the best start they can, providing the preparation to be our leaders of tomorrow.

Our Commitment

Providing quality education extends beyond academic excellence; we are committed to creating and cultivating diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free environments for all applicants, employees, students, and their families.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion & Values

Our identity, as Surrey Schools, is expressed in the shared values of openness, fairness and belonging and recognizes the importance of diversity of identity and thought. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are committed to removing barriers and creating a workplace where everyone, regardless of their background, feels empowered to contribute their best.

Join us in our mission to provide the best start for children, preparing them to be the leaders of tomorrow. If you are passionate about education, diversity, and making a positive impact, we invite you to explore opportunities with Surrey Schools.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Associate Director, Payroll & Benefits, the Manager, Payroll & Benefits is responsible for the payroll operations of the District, ensuring compliance with legislation, provincial and federal policies, and reporting requirements. This position leads the Payroll team and ensures high service levels and standards are met. The Manager actively participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of systems, policies, and procedures and leads best practices and continuous improvement activities in collaboration with other departments.

• This is a term assignment for 12-months*

Responsibilities

• Implements, maintains, and reviews payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
• Ensures payroll information is reliable, accurate and secure, and the processing of payroll transactions complies with collective agreements, employment contracts, benefit contracts, legislation and school district policies and practices.
• Provides leadership and direction to the payroll team by establishing priorities, providing work direction, and fostering effective teamwork. Manages recruitment and selection, monitors and assesses individual and team performance, develops and implements employee development plans.
• Responsible for payroll financial and management reporting and data analytics to various internal stakeholders, governmental and regulatory bodies, and outside agencies.
• Analyses and resolves issues impacting service delivery. Identifies and implements corrective actions and partners with other departments to lead and support system and process improvements.
• Manages security and maintenance of systems and data to support accounting, legal, and regulatory requirements, such as Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and B.C. privacy law
• Maintains and builds trusted relationships and communication with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that needs are met and resolve issues. Serves on committees, working groups, and taskforces, providing advice and expertise in support of district goals.
• Participates in business continuity and operational planning activities, including goal and priority setting for the Payroll Department. Establishes targets and key performance indicators that drive a culture of best practices and continuous improvement. Reviews statistical reports, key performance indicators, and service levels to confirm accuracy and assess performance.
• Actively maintains current knowledge of payroll legislation and regulations, Board union contracts and general ledger classifications.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Degree in business, accounting or related discipline and achievement of Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) from National Payroll Institute. Six years’ recent related experience in a complex, unionized environment including five years’ of progressive leadership responsibility. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Expert knowledge of legislation, regulations, accounting principles, and processes and practices related to payroll and benefits.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills with the ability to build trust, facilitate decisions and resolve conflict.
• Leadership experience with the ability to motivate and develop a team through mentorship and coaching.
• Demonstrated project management skills including experience managing large-scale projects and supervising project teams.
• Skilled at interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements; department policies and procedures; and applicable laws and regulations.
• Solid research, analytical and decision-making skills and the ability to resolve issues in a deadline-driven environment.
• Advanced understanding of data collection and payroll systems and experience in development, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Proficient with Microsoft applications with adaptability to learn new applications. Intermediate knowledge of MS Excel is required.

What We're Offering

• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Extended Medical, Vision and Dental
• Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• Municipal Pension
• 13 Paid Holidays, plus Sick & Vacation Time
• Supportive workplace with a positive and productive work environment. Feel a sense of security and safety to act, speak, and reflect who you are

The salary range for this position is $103,613 to $129,516 per year with comprehensive benefits package and Municipal Pension.

Placement in the salary range is determined by an assessment of qualifications and ability to meet the key requirements of the job, and consideration of internal equity comparisons. The midpoint of the range represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications, and experience for the position.

The closing date for this position is September 11, 2026 at 4:00 pm.

Surrey Schools recognizes the importance of accessibility and supporting the diverse needs of our community. If there is any accommodation you may require for your interview, whether related to accessibility or otherwise, please do not hesitate to advise and we will make every effort to meet your needs.

Note:

Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Records Search prior to employment. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. To all others, thank you for your interest.