PAYROLL OPERATIONS LEAD

About the Opportunity

Location: Peterborough, Ontario
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

A growing healthcare organization with multiple sites across Ontario is looking to bring on a Payroll Operations Lead to support its corporate team. This role is a good fit for someone who enjoys digging into the details, improving processes, and acting as a go-to resource for payroll across a multi-site environment.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Controls, the Payroll Operations Lead oversees payroll activities across several locations, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with internal policies, collective agreements, and legislative requirements. This role works closely with site leadership and corporate teams to resolve issues, support audits, and keep payroll operations running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee full-cycle payroll for multiple sites, ensuring payroll is processed accurately and on time
• Ensure compliance with employment standards, payroll regulations, and internal policies
• Interpret and apply collective agreements, employment contracts, and pay structures
• Review and approve payroll adjustments, corrections, and off-cycle payments
• Conduct regular payroll reviews to identify discrepancies, risks, or trends
• Validate timekeeping data, including overtime, premiums, vacation, sick time, and statutory holiday pay
• Ensure proper documentation and approvals are in place for payroll transactions
• Support internal and external audits with reporting, reconciliations, and explanations
• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related questions between site leadership, HR, and finance
• Provide guidance to site teams on payroll processes, timelines, and requirements
• Handle escalated payroll issues and ensure they are resolved in a timely manner
• Share updates on policies, process changes, and best practices

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• Payroll certification (e.g., PCP) is an asset
• 3–5 years of payroll or finance experience, ideally with increasing responsibility
• Experience working in a unionized environment
• Background supporting multi-site operations, preferably in healthcare or long-term care
• Experience with payroll audits and compliance requirements
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Solid problem-solving and analytical skills
• Comfortable interpreting collective agreements and complex pay structures
• Clear communication skills and ability to work with different stakeholders
• Proficient with payroll systems and Microsoft Excel
• Able to handle sensitive information with discretion

Working Conditions

• Remote role, with occasional travel to sites if needed
• Periods of higher workload during payroll cycles, audits, and year-end

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for the next step will be contacted.

Accommodation is available upon request throughout the recruitment process.

All applicant information will be kept confidential and used solely for hiring purposes.