Workday Canadian Payroll Senior Lead/Manager

Kainos; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos is seeking a Workday Canadian Payroll Senior Lead/Manager to implement and configure enterprise‑scale Workday payroll solutions for a global customer base. You will lead a project workstream, build strong relationships with customers, and deliver solutions that are fit for purpose and commercially viable.

You will guide customers, understand their business requirements, and support junior team members.

Qualifications

• Strong Workday Payroll implementation experience.
• Experience leading end-to-end payroll projects.
• Ability to build and maintain client relationships at senior levels.
• Knowledge of payroll regulatory requirements and tax regimes.

Responsibilities

• Lead Workday Payroll implementation projects for enterprise clients.
• Coordinate project workstreams and cross‑functional teams.
• Provide guidance and knowledge transfer to junior consultants.
• Engage with customers to understand needs and deliver viable solutions.

Skills

Workday Payroll

Project leadership

Client relationship

Regulatory knowledge

Canadian Payroll

Job description

Join Kainos and Shape the Future

At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators - driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting-edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people-first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

As a Workday Canadian Payroll Senior Lead/Manager in Kainos, you’ll work in a team to implement and configure enterprise-scale Workday solutions for our global customer base, typically leading a project workstream. You will build relationships with our customers, shaping and delivering solutions that are aligned to customer needs, fit for purpose and commercially viable.

You’ll provide excellent guidance to customers, understanding their business and requirements. You’ll support junior members of the team and share your knowledge with them.

Essential

• At least 5 years of Workday Payroll implementation experience.
• At least 3 years leading Workday Payroll implementation from E2E with the last 4 years.
• Certification in at least one Workday Payroll country and one additional Workday module.
• The ability to build complex payroll calculations.
• Experience with multiple positions.
• Experience with implementing multiple FEIN’s.

What we are looking for

• Strong understanding of Workday Payroll, CAN Payroll
• Experience with Payroll regulatory requirements (Tax, Garnishments, Common Pay Master), retirement benefits (401K, RRSP’s etc.), payroll processing, Unions/Collective Bargaining Agreements and payroll accounting.
• Excellent customer focus, able to assess customer needs, build relationships and manage customer expectations. You will know when to push back, when to escape, and when to go above and beyond to satisfy a customer
• Strong communicator, able to communicate with customers and colleagues with impact, credibility and empathy, including in a remote working situation. Sound ability to formally present to senior Client audiences
• Strong commercial awareness and full understanding of project and business dynamics
• Broad business and technology understanding and a good awareness of industry trends in either Human Resource management, Financials or Enterprise Resource Planning or Payroll
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and make sensible decisions under pressure taking a balanced view of Customer demands and Kainos commercials
• Ability to widen and maintain a network of external contacts
• Strong consulting skills e.g. presenting, leading workshops, demonstrating and explaining complex functionality or solutions to customers
• Able to lead a functional workstream on a prime implementation throughout the full project lifecycle
• Able to become an acknowledged subject matter expert e.g. Workday Product Lead
• Willing to participate in PATT team internal discussions and help where possible
• Willing to assist AMS with questions related to your subject area
• Willing and able to act as a role model within the capability and mentor and/or line manage more junior consultants
• Willing and able to support the sales process including the production of estimates for the delivery of work packages
• Able to implement improvements in tools and/or processes to help the practice
• Commercial understanding of utilization within a services organization and the importance of these targets
• Able to rotate through various Workday delivery services
• Able, if required, to travel to customer sites in the same region (minimal out of region travel may also be required)

Nice to have

• Workday HCM, Canadian Payroll Certified required
• Professional qualifications in your area of expertise (Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Experience in post deployment services

People Management

Your role may or may not involve managing people. Where you do have direct reports your responsibilities may include:

• Agreeing, setting and reviewing your and your team’s goals aligned to Kainos, Workday BU and your Capability
• Providing support so that your and your team’s goals can be achieved
• Reviewing and refining goals for relevance and to keep performance on track
• Reviewing performance against goals and provide feedback
• Conducting 1:1 monthly and/or project completion feedback meetings
• Requesting and providing regular feedback in Workday
• Completing End of Year reviews and agreeing the outcomes for the year
• Identifying training to support your and your team’s development
• Pursuing and supporting your and your team members’ career paths and progression
• Reviewing weekly workload forecasting (staff allocations and timesheet checks) and utilization
• Actively being involved in recruitment/interviews
• Reviewing attrition and retention metrics

Embracing our differences

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.

Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out.

We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.