Payroll Implementation Consultant

Manulife; Southwestern Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 59,100 - 98,500; Full time

Job summary

Manulife is seeking a Payroll Implementation Consultant to join the AdminAdvantage team in a client-facing, technically focused role on payroll changes and implementations. You will gather requirements, guide clients through transitions, and ensure data integrity from development through post production.

The role emphasizes building strong client and vendor relationships, delivering compliant payroll solutions, and collaborating across payroll, technology, and benefits teams in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Experience administering benefits or implementing payroll for medium to large organizations.
• Formal training or equivalent work experience in project management, business analysis and methodologies (Lean Six Sigma) to manage projects efficiently.
• Strong capability to identify and resolve root cause issues related to system investigations, data flows, and information management.
• Proven experience in managing customer relationships, setting clear expectations, and guiding clients through the project lifecycle with a focus on satisfaction and success.
• Ability to quickly grasp new ideas, concepts, technologies, and tools, demonstrating strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, and proficient use of Office 365.
• Exhibit resilience and adaptability to change, with the ability to guide others through transitions while remaining accountable and solution oriented.

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll changes/implementations: client-facing role to oversee and coordinate payroll changes and implementations tailored to client needs, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions.
• Subject matter expert: gather detailed requirements from stakeholders, analyze impact on current and future states, provide expert guidance on payroll-related changes and verify file integrity from development to post production.
• Client and vendor relationships: build and maintain strong relationships with clients and payroll vendors, establish clear payroll processes, create requirements documentation, and consult on file quality.
• Translate client needs: convert client requests into clear, actionable technical requirements supporting internal user-acceptance and client testing/implementation.
• Project meetings: participate in internal and external payroll project team meetings, contributing insights to align with project goals and client experience.
• Testing: support and participate in payroll testing to ensure compliance with guidelines and accurate delivery of client payroll requirements.

Skills

Industry knowledge

Project management

Analytical skills

Customer management

Quick learner

Adaptability

Tools

Excel

Teams

SQL

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Plan Sponsor Administration is looking for a Payroll Implementation Consultant to join our AdminAdvantage Administration team. The payroll team implements customized payroll solutions for a variety of clients. The Payroll Implementation Consultant is responsible for overseeing client-specific payroll needs and implementations, ensuring seamless transitions, and providing expert technical guidance on payroll-related changes while building strong relationships with clients and vendors.

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, influential and passionate professional who is committed to building solid relationships while delivering on initiatives in a fast-paced and changing environment.

The AdminAdvantage PAD and Payroll Team within the Manulife Group Benefits organization links people, technology and expert services to simplify benefits administration and provide a consistent, powerful member and client experience. Our vision is to be recognized as the partner of choice within the industry for benefits solutions and benefits administration services.

Our clients trust the administration of their group benefits to us and you will be part of a team that delivers outstanding results to those clients and our members.

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, changing environment where every day brings something new and innovative ideas are encouraged, you may be the candidate we are looking for!

Position Responsibilities

• Manage Payroll Changes/Implementations: Client‑facing role to oversee and coordinate payroll changes and implementations tailored to client needs, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions.
• Subject Matter Expert: Gather detailed requirements from stakeholders, including a diverse portfolio of clients, analyze the impact on current and future states, provide expert guidance on payroll‑related changes and verify the integrity of files from early development through to post production.
• Client and Vendor Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and payroll vendors, establish clear payroll processes, create requirements documentation, and consult on the file quality.
• Translate Client Needs: Convert client requests into clear, actionable technical requirements supporting both internal user‑acceptance as well as client testing and implementation.
• Project Meetings: Actively participate in internal and external payroll project team meetings. Contribute insights to ensure alignment with project goals while advocating for client experience.
• Testing: Support and participate in payroll testing to ensure compliance with guidelines and accurate delivery of client payroll requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Industry Knowledge: Previous experience administrating benefits or implementing payroll for medium to large organizations.
• Project Management Experience: Possess formal training or equivalent work experience in project management, business analysis and methodologies (such as Lean Six Sigma) to manage projects efficiently.
• Analytical Skills: Strong capability to identify and resolve root cause issues related to system investigations, data flows, and information management.
• Customer Management: Proven experience in managing customer relationships, setting clear expectations, and guiding clients through the project lifecycle with a focus on satisfaction and success.
• Quick Learner: Ability to quickly grasp new ideas, concepts, technologies, and tools, demonstrating strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, and proficient use of Office 365.
• Adaptability: Exhibit resilience and adaptability to change, with the ability to guide others through transitions while remaining accountable and solution oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Group Benefits/AdminAdvantage Knowledge: In‑depth knowledge of group benefits and AdminAdvantage is an asset, enhancing the ability to manage payroll‑related benefits.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate and negotiate with diverse global stakeholders who have competing priorities, maintaining composure and performing effectively during challenging interactions.
• Technical Expertise: Expertise in using tools like Office Suite (specifically Excel, Teams), SQL, Jira, and Confluence to manage data, track project progress, and collaborate with team members efficiently.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

When You Join Our Team

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well‑being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife And John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Waterloo, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$59,100.00 CAD - $98,500.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job‑related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short‑ and long‑term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.