Sr. Manager, Payroll Services

 Reference Number : 701 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $102,816 - $127,008

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 03/19/2025

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility. 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Accounting Operations and Special Projects, the Senior Manager, Payroll is responsible for the operational management of Canada-wide pay for executives, managers and unionized employees. He/she manages the performance of his/her managerial and professional employees. The Senior Manager also ensures the implementation, development and documentation of improvement initiatives or projects that affect his/her sector, as well as improvement to existing systems and processes. His/her priorities include analysis and end-of-month accounting components and coordinating end-of-year and internal audit functions. He/she leads by example and is actively involved in managing change by clearly communicating to the team what is affecting his/her segment. He/she makes decisions to solve complicated problems, escalates major issues and plays a role as a resource person for all issues related to his/her segment.

Responsibilities:
 

Management role - Leadership

• Directs supervisors to fulfill the established goals and strategy. Organizes, plans and directs activities in order to provide deliverables within the required timeframes.

• Collaborates with his/her colleagues and stakeholders in the organization in the best interests of everyone to meet corporate objectives

• Manages the performance of managerial employees by setting annual individual objectives, providing regular feedback and assessing each employee’s performance at mid-year and end-of-year intervals. Shows managerial courage when addressing problem cases and makes corrective plans, if necessary.

• Implements action plans to improve employee engagement

• Delegates to his/her employees and encourages their participation in initiatives and projects

• Acts based on succession planning for his/her team. Recruits for vacant positions and onboards new employees

• Recognizes and highlights individual, team and corporate successes

• Clearly communicates strategies and decisions to the team

Sets priorities and ensures that resources are allocated in order to provide deliverables and meet set objectives

• Analyzes dashboards and other productivity statistics in his/her segment

• Resolves reconciliation discrepancies or monthly and annual account analyses in his/her segment

• Guides the implementation of initiatives or projects with varying complexity and ensures that changes are incorporated throughout his/her team

• Complies with the rules of governance and business processes in operational decisions, makes informed and effective decisions

• Approves or reviews the processes of systems and procedures in his/her segment

• Seeks quality control over his/her team’s activities and is responsible for improving its effectiveness

• Provides the support required by members of his/her team to meet objectives.
   

Improvements and Change Management

• Identifies needs for improvement and establishes action plans for solutions to complex problems. Challenges the status quo by reviewing processes and work methods. Develops solutions/improvements with his/her team.
• Demonstrates proactivity by frequently and clearly communicating ongoing changes and the progression of his/her team’s activities. Takes responsibility for his/her team’s performance and results.
• Coordinates the implementation of new initiatives by ensuring operational continuity

Resource person / support

• Advocates open dialogue and respect through his/her example

• Provides the support needed by his/her team, managers and coworkers in other segments of the corporation

• Is a resource person for all issues related to his/her segment

Requirements: 

• Have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration

• Be a member of the National Payroll Institute

• Have good knowledge of general accounting and end-of-year accounting processes

• Have a minimum of 10 years of experience managing a payroll team and supporting employee development (A combination of academic training and experience deemed to be equivalent would be considered.)

• Very good knowledge of the MS Office suite, SharePoint, and Service Now, and skills in computer systems related to accounting operations and payroll processing

• Demonstrates people skills and flexibility in interpersonal relationships and shows mediation skills

• Demonstrates an ability for making decisions and proposing solutions for complex problems

• Shows flexibility and has marked and demonstrated skills to improve processes and quality controls

• Has excellent oral and written communication skills in both official languages (English and French)

• Able to work adequately under pressure and in a changing environment

• Demonstrates clear skills for managing staff, managing operational tasks and prioritizing deliverables

• Demonstrates a developed sense of urgency

• Shows an innate sense of organization and planning, able to reorganize quickly

• Has a critical sense and is able to assess and interpret information objectively to make informed decisions

• Uses key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, assess performance and implement corrective action or make improvements

• Uses data to support recommendations and strategic decisions

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

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