Senior Manager, Head of Payroll
Department: People Team
Type: Full-Time - Permanent
Location: Toronto (Hybrid)
Posting Date: May 7, 2026
At OPTrust, paying pensions today, preserving pensions for tomorrow is our mission and business.
When you choose OPTrust, you join a team of smart, talented people who fuel our success and have a passion for pensions. Everyone at OPTrust – in Toronto, London and Sydney – makes a meaningful impact. Our culture is driven by team members with different backgrounds and perspectives creating an inclusive and fulfilling place to work for everyone. We work in a fast-paced environment, but we find time to have fun and give back to the community.
What OPTrust offers you
Unique culture rooted in our core values – collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence and continuous improvement.
A purpose-driven environment where we all work towards the common goal of paying pensions today and preserving pensions for tomorrow.
Comprehensive benefits focused on your health and wellness, including dental, vision and extended health benefits, as well as membership in our world-class defined benefit pension plan.
A flexible, hybrid work model.
A dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity strategy with meaningful opportunities to participate, including our employee-led resource groups.
Extensive professional development opportunities and learning initiatives including access to LinkedIn Learning, guest speakers, tuition reimbursement, professional association memberships, leadership development programs, a mentorship program, monthly professional development time and more.
A competitive vacation package with additional work-life balance day.
About the role
The Senior Manager, Head of Payroll is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for OPTrust’s payroll function for all jurisdictions in which OPTrust has employees, ensuring compliance, financial reporting and data security. The Senior Head of Payroll is a strong leader within the People Team, collaborating to ensure data, metrics and reporting are accurate to assist with strategic planning. This role requires an aptitude for continuous improvement including developing and implementing processes and policies. The incumbent will work closely with the HR Business Partner and Service Delivery teams to align technology and practices to ensure timely, accurate pay to boost employee morale and overall job satisfaction. The is a continual focus on providing accurate and reliable payroll services to enhance the OPTrust’s reputation both internally and externally.
What you’ll do
Payroll Operations Leadership & Regulatory Compliance
Provide both strategic and operational management of employee payroll operations in three jurisdictions (Canada, UK and Australia) considering union and non-union employees
Responsible for leadership, support, and oversight of all year-end payroll processes for all employees globally, including creation and distribution of statutory documents such as ROE/P45, T4s, T2200s, T4As, P11D(b)s and AUS FBT reporting. Work with the Member Experience team to reconcile pension reporting for accurate T4 processing
Research and implement tax, legislative, administrative pay related regulations to ensure OPTrust maintains compliance
Lead and maintain accountability for necessary changes/deductions such as pension, supplementary and buy-back plan contributions are accurate and support the benefits team to reconcile applicable benefits related deductions
Work with the Cybersecurity team to continually review and test all BCP procedures and policies
Address inquiries from the People Team, Managers and employees about pay-related questions or issues
Review and maintain internal control documents related to payroll
Meet requirements for financial reporting, including GL entries & reconciliation, tax reporting and budget analysis for all jurisdictions. Work with the Treasury team on payroll & benefits related bank reconciliations
Manage the payroll team by providing guidance and opportunities for growth and development
Act as back up for payroll processing in all jurisdictions when required
Technology & Vendor Management
Collaborate with the HRIS/Workday team to establish and maintain payroll-related compliance and processes in Workday. Identify opportunities for process improvement including auditing and reporting
Continually carry out learning and development by attending technology related seminars, network sessions and general research via Workday Community, etc.
Serve as primary contact for third party payroll providers in Canada, UK and Australia, managing the relationships with these critical service suppliers
Ensures payroll processes and codes are set up compliantly for payroll for employees in international offices
Identify opportunities to simplify processes and to enhance security
Stakeholder Engagement and Advisory
Provide leadership and advice to the People Team related to the payroll and personal income tax implications of the implementation of new programs
Provide guidance to the People Team related to the proper method for testing and processing unusual situations and general efficiencies.
Collaborate with other OPTrust teams, including Finance, IT, Risk, Security and Member Experience & Pension Operations, to address one-off requests and cyclical requirements in a timely, secure manner
Lead changes related to on payroll trends and best practices, as well as future legislative changes
Support responses to audit requests
Liaise with third party providers as required such as accounting firms, payroll associations and government entities for all jurisdictions
Standard Requirements:
Ensure clear understanding and adherence of all OPTrust’s policies, procedures, guidelines as well as living our values and fostering an inclusive culture
Build, engage and retain a diverse, high-performing team and foster an inclusive culture where team members are empowered to do great work on behalf of our members
Also ensures employees adherence to current and future employment policies, procedures and compliance guidelines and takes necessary steps to mitigate operational risks. This is inclusive of but not limited to, the Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Impairment at Work Policy, Information Security Policy, Personal Trading Policy, Privacy Policy, Respectful Workplace Policy and any future employment related policies
Performs other duties as assigned
What you bring
Minimum of 10 years of increasing responsibility and experience as a payroll professional, including experience with payroll, benefits, payroll tax and related financial reporting
Experience managing the payroll operations for a small to medium company, particularly with employees covered by a collective agreement
Experience processing international payroll would be an asset
Experience with implementing and configuration of payroll systems
Workday Payroll experience would be preferred
Strong analytical capabilities with attention to detail
CPA Designation, Payroll Leadership Professional Certification (PLP) or Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP)
Effective communication skills (verbal and written), with demonstrated ability to communicate and partner effectively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders
Proven ability to lead and develop a team, plan, organize and manage workloads
Ability to work collaboratively and across disciplines for a common goal
Proven ability to aggregate and analyze information and data for effective problem solving and utilizes sound judgment
Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills
Exemplify OPTrust’s values: collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence, and continuous improvement.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Please submit your application via Workday by May 20, 2026.
Serving a membership as diverse as ours and investing in a global market means cultivating an environment that embraces inclusion, diversity, and equity in everything we do. OPTrust is an organization engaged in building on our unique and diverse strengths. We know a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and perspectives are critical to achieving our shared goals.
If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please send a message to careers@optrust.com, or discuss your needs with the Talent Acquisition Consultant during the telephone screening. We will do our best to work with you and provide appropriate accommodation.
As an organization we’re seeking ways to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92. We are working with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to build bridges with Indigenous communities and partners, and we have created an employee-led Reconciliation Working Group that will work with Indigenous experts to identify a path to reconciliation for our organization.
We thank all interested applicants, however only those under consideration will be contacted.