Payroll Manager - 6+ months

The Mason Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mason Group Inc. is seeking a Payroll Manager in downtown Toronto to oversee weekly and biweekly payroll for a diverse employee base. The role requires extensive experience with unions, GL reconciliations, and year-end reporting.

You will lead a payroll team, ensure compliance with legislation, and continuously improve processes and controls while coordinating with HR and government agencies. Excellent Excel skills and Pay@Work proficiency are expected.

Qualifications

• Degree or CPM designation required.
• 5–7 years payroll experience, incl. 4+ years with unionized and non-unionized staff.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Experience with GL reconciliations and year-end reporting.
• Advanced Excel for payroll analysis.
• Familiarity with Pay@Work and OMERS administration is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Oversee weekly and biweekly payroll processing with validated timesheets.
• Manage onboarding, terminations, and employee status changes.
• Ensure deductions, benefits, union dues, and pension contributions are accurate.
• Prepare government filings and reports (EI, ROEs, CPP, etc.).
• Monitor changes to payroll legislation and collective agreements.
• Liaise with employees, managers, HR, providers, and government agencies.
• Improve payroll procedures and internal controls for accuracy and efficiency.
• Supervise and mentor payroll staff.
• Develop payroll policies, procedures, and controls.
• Ensure cross-training and backup coverage for continuity.
• Prepare payroll journal entries for GL posting.
• Perform reconciliations of payroll registers and balance sheet accounts.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Payroll software

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Education

Business/Finance degree

CPM designation

Tools

Pay@Work

ezLaborManager

OMERS administration

Job description

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.

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 Pay@Work, 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