Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager

Finance Department

Onsite/Hybrid

Full Time, Permanent

Level 10

Requisition Number: FIN

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada's largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth's immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community

For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Overview:

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the overall management of CHT's payroll functions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in all processes. This role requires an individual with extensive payroll and accounting knowledge, strong management skills, and the ability to streamline processes to support the organization's mission and strategic objectives. This role involves managing the payroll team, implementing best practices, adhering to current legislation and providing recommendations to senior management.

We are currently recruiting for 1 Full-time, Permanent Payroll Manager. This is a new position within the organization. 

Responsibilities:

Payroll Management 

• Supervise the day-to-day payroll operations to ensure accurate and on-time bi-weekly payroll processing.
• Review the accuracy of payroll data for new hires, salary change, transfers, promotions and payroll adjustments, including retroactive pay, taxable benefits, deductions and garnishments. 
• Calculate termination payments –vacation pay; severance pay, etc.
• Preview payroll register before payroll submission and approve payroll submission
• Perform post payroll review including Gross and Net Pay report (identify and flag issues and errors).
• Review bi-weekly journal entries and ensure that they are recorded accurately to the correct GL accounts and post the journal entries in a timely manner.
• Review the bi-weekly RRSP remittance report and EHT reconciliation; monthly WSIB payment; quarterly withholding remittance report.
• Review the reconciliation of month end schedules and other payroll-related accounts.
• Review vacation accrual report on a quarterly basis. 
• Verify annual salary increases input by P&C into the payroll system and reconcile corresponding changes to Sun Life benefits.
• Maintain data integrity, information accuracy, and data reconciliation across systems. 
• Coordinate SharePoint maintenance and updates. 
• Manage internal controls to meet compliance with applicable legislation and internal payroll & benefits policies.
• Key contact for all internal and external inquiries, provide technical expertise and advice on all matters relating to payroll and benefits.
• Implement payroll policies, procedures, and systems to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Lead payroll-related projects, including system implementations and process improvements.
• Liaise with external auditors and provide necessary documentation for year-end audits.

Team Leadership

Manage and supervise payroll team performance.

• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching, and support professional development for team members.
• Participate in payroll position interviews and coach new payroll staff.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payroll professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Handle sensitive employee data with integrity and discretion.
• Communicate payroll guidelines to all employees of the organization.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and address employee concerns professionally.
• Bring forward recommendations to senior management as required

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with federal and provincial payroll, accounting and tax legislation, including CRA, Ministry of Finance, WSIB, and other regulatory requirements.
• Mitigate risks by maintaining accuracy and confidentiality in payroll data.
• Conduct payroll reviews and implement controls to prevent errors or fraud.

Strategic Contributions

• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll and accounting processes in order to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Collaborate with other departments to support organizational goals and initiatives.

Budget & Projection

• Prepare annual payroll for budgets and projections, including tax and benefit calculations.
• Provide headcount information for various reporting.

Other Responsibilities

• Prepare GL entries on a monthly basis for prepaid, accruals, deferred revenue, adjustments, and reclassification entries based on analysis and review.
• Analyze reasonableness of the fundraising printing and postage expenses and obtain explanations for significant variations from budget.
• Review and post journal entries created by Payroll Accountant on cell charges, postage meter, and petty cash.
• Prepare month/year-end schedules and files, ensuring compliance with audit requirements.
• Backup Associate Director, Finance for bank EFT/CMO/Transfer/E-transfer approval.
• Other additional duties as assigned 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business and CPM designation
• Minimum of 5-6 years of progressive experience in payroll and accounting including at least 5+ years in a managerial or leadership role
• CPM Designation: At least 5+ years of Canadian payroll work experience in a managerial or leadership role
• Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation is required
• Preferred: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation
• Experience in leading the team to complete month end/year end requirement. 
• Proficiency with payroll software (e.g., Payworks) and accounting software (e.g., Sage, or similar). 
• Advanced in Microsoft Excel, Word, Team, working knowledge of Adobe and familiar with SharePoint
• Strong knowledge of federal and provincial payroll legislation, tax regulations, and accounting principles.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management skills.

Don't meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. If you are excited about the role but your resume doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the description, apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this or other roles.

 What we Offer:

• Meaningful work.
• Competitive compensation. 
• Benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, Personal Days, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.  
• Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.

Interested candidates are welcome to apply directly to this posting on or by December 3, 2025. Only those selected to move forward in our recruitment process will be contacted. No agencies or phone calls please. 

Use of AI and Technology in the Hiring Process

Covenant House Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make or inform hiring decisions. However, we do use an external applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage applications efficiently.

While our ATS may apply automated filters or sorting functions, all applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters. No hiring decisions are made by AI.

Commitment to Equitable Recruitment

At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.

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