Payroll & Benefits Manager

Talent Acquisition - Achev•Mississauga, ON

About The Position

At Achev, we believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to build a better life and a successful future. For more than 30 years, we have dedicated ourselves to helping diverse Canadians and newcomers achieve their full potential. Today, we are one of the largest providers of employment, newcomer, language, and youth services in the Greater Toronto Area. Our dedicated team of nearly 400 staff delivers a wide range of innovative, high-quality, and personalized programs and services that empower our clients to prosper and our communities to thrive. We thrive in a OneAchev culture where collaboration and an integrated service delivery will positively impact Achev’s resiliency, agility, success, and growth. Join us in helping diverse Canadians and newcomers achieve their full potential! Achev’s latest Impact Report: www.Achev.ca. We are seeking an experienced, highly compliance-focused Payroll & Benefits Manager to lead the organization’s payroll operations and ensure accurate, compliant administration of employee benefits programs, who will be reporting to the Head of Human Resources. This role is primarily focused on payroll execution, statutory compliance, and governance, while also owning essential benefits administration responsibilities that directly impact employees and regulatory adherence. Additionally, the successful candidate will serve as a key subject-matter expert on Ontario payroll legislation and compliance, partnering closely with HR, Finance, and external agencies to mitigate risk, support audits, and ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, or a related field
CPM (Certified Payroll Manager) designation (MUST HAVE)
5+ years of Ontario based payroll manager experience with strong compliance accountability
In‑depth knowledge of payroll legislation, CRA requirements, CPP, EI, and provincial regulations
Demonstrated experience supporting audits and managing payroll controls
Hands-on experience with enterprise payroll and HRIS systems
Advanced Excel and payroll reporting skills

Nice To Haves

Experience working in the not-for-profit, broader public sector, or government environment
Experience with complex payroll structures and multiple entities.

Responsibilities

Own and manage end‑to‑end payroll processing, ensuring timely and accurate payroll delivery for all employee groups
Ensure full compliance with CRA regulations, including Income Tax Act requirements, CPP, EI, and applicable provincial legislation
Oversee payroll remittances, statutory deductions, and employer contributions in accordance with federal and provincial requirements
Manage Records of Employment (ROEs), T4s, T4As, and all year‑end payroll processes
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll; assess impact and implement required updates proactively
Maintain strong payroll governance through documented internal controls, reconciliations, approvals, and segregation of duties
Review and validate complex payroll calculations, including retroactive pay, overtime, taxable benefits, allowances, and garnishments
Partner with Finance to reconcile payroll to the general ledger and ensure financial accuracy
Lead payroll audit preparation and response (internal, external, and regulatory audits)
Act as the escalation point for complex payroll compliance issues and corrective actions
Develop, maintain, and enforce payroll policies, procedures, and documentation aligned with Canadian legislation
Act as the payroll system owner within HRIS and payroll platforms namely Day Force/Ceridian
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance compliance, efficiency, and audit readiness
Lead payroll system configurations, upgrades, testing, and controls validation as required
Ensure strong data integrity across time and attendance, and payroll systems
Manage the accurate administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, life, disability, retirement, and statutory benefits
Ensure benefits programs and deductions comply with applicable legislation and plan rules
Oversee benefits enrollments, eligibility changes, and life‑event processing
Partner closely with payroll to ensure accurate benefit deductions, remittances, and taxable benefit reporting
Liaise with benefits providers, brokers, and third-party administrators
Resolve employee benefit issues requiring coordination with payroll, HR, and vendors
Provide payroll compliance expertise to cross-functional partners
Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, data security, and ethical payroll practices
Build effective working relationships with external agencies, auditors, and service providers