Team Lead, Payroll

SPE - Serruya Private Equity; Markham; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Serruya Private Equity is seeking an experienced Team Lead, Payroll to manage hands-on payroll processing across SPE and portfolio companies in Canada. The role includes day-to-day guidance, training, and support for a two-person Payroll Team, handling multiple entities and provinces while ensuring timely, accurate payroll.

The successful candidate will oversee payroll data accuracy, remittances, and year-end activities, collaborating with HR and Finance to maintain compliant payroll practices

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on Canadian payroll experience across multiple entities and provinces.
• Experience guiding and mentoring a payroll team is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll requirements, including ROEs, tax, and year-end processing.

Responsibilities

• Perform end-to-end payroll processing across multiple legal entities and provinces.
• Review payroll data, reconciliations, and employee changes to ensure accuracy.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and training to the Payroll Team of two.
• Support payroll remittances, year-end activities, and related audits.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance to maintain payroll data integrity.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Mentorship

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Accounting/Finance degree or diploma

HR/Business Admin background

PCP/PLP designation (preferred)

Tools

Dayforce

ADP Workforce Now

HRIS systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About Serruya Private Equity

Serruya Private Equity (SPE) is a multi-portfolio organization with a diverse group of brands across the retail, food service, franchising, consumer, and real estate industries.

Our portfolio includes approximately 1,500 employees across multiple legal entities, provinces, locations, and business units. As our organization continues to grow, we are focused on maintaining accurate and efficient payroll processes across the portfolio while continuing to improve our payroll systems and practices.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Team Lead, Payroll to join our Payroll Team and support payroll operations across SPE and its portfolio companies.

This is a hands-on payroll processing role with additional team lead responsibilities. The Team Lead, Payroll will be directly involved in processing payroll while also providing day-to-day guidance, training, and support to a two-person Payroll Team.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working with multiple payrolls, legal entities, and Canadian provinces and will play an active role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Perform hands-on, end-to-end payroll processing across multiple legal entities, locations, business units, and Canadian provinces, ensuring payroll cycles are completed accurately and on time.
• Process and review payroll transactions, including earnings, overtime, vacation pay, bonuses, commissions, taxable benefits, deductions, adjustments, and employee changes such as new hires, terminations, leaves, transfers, and compensation changes.
• Review time and attendance data, complete payroll reconciliations, investigate discrepancies, and make necessary corrections prior to payroll finalization.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation, prepare ROEs, respond to payroll-related inquiries, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and provincial payroll legislation and employment standards.
• Support payroll remittances and year-end activities, including T4s, T4As, EHT, WSIB/Workers' Compensation, and other applicable requirements.
• Support U.S. payroll and payroll requirements related to new entities, locations, and acquisitions, where applicable.

Payroll Systems & Process Improvement

• Utilize payroll and HRIS software to support day-to-day payroll processing, reporting, employee data management, reconciliations, and troubleshooting.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel, AI, and other technology tools to analyze payroll data, improve reporting, streamline workflows, and increase payroll accuracy and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and assist with system updates, testing, integrations, transitions, and other payroll-related projects.
• Work closely with Human Resources and Finance to maintain accurate employee and payroll data and support consistent payroll practices across SPE's portfolio companies.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, training, and mentorship to a two-person Payroll Team while remaining actively involved in payroll processing.
• Work alongside the Payroll Team to coordinate payroll cycles, deadlines, priorities, and workload across multiple entities.
• Review payroll work as required and support team members with discrepancies, system issues, and more complex payroll matters.
• Help maintain payroll procedures, controls, and documentation and support payroll audits, projects, and organizational initiatives as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on Canadian payroll experience, including high-volume payroll across multiple legal entities, locations, and Canadian provinces.
• Previous experience providing day-to-day guidance, training, or mentorship to payroll team members is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll requirements, including statutory deductions, taxable benefits, vacation pay, overtime, employment standards, taxation, ROEs, remittances, and year-end processing.
• Hands-on experience with payroll and HRIS platforms, such as Dayforce, ADP Workforce Now, or similar systems, is highly preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and comfort using technology, automation, and AI tools to support payroll processing, reconciliations, reporting, and process improvements.
• U.S. payroll experience and experience supporting payroll system integrations, transitions, acquisitions, or new entities are considered strong assets.
• PCP or PLP designation through the National Payroll Institute is strongly preferred; a degree or diploma in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is considered an asset.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple payroll deadlines and resolve discrepancies in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive payroll and employee information with professionalism and discretion.

Commitment to Equity & Accessibility

Serruya Private Equity is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process and during employment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.