Manager, Payroll Services

Job Summary

Dalhousie Financial Services strives to provide the highest quality financial services and information to ensure the effective stewardship of university assets to the benefit of students and scholarly activities.

Financial Services is a core service unit of the University, providing services in areas of financial accounting, budgeting, procurement, cash management, financial systems and policies, and the University’s endowment, pension and short-term investment programs and payroll services.

Reporting to AVP Finance & CFO, the Manager, Payroll Services is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Payroll Services Team and will provide expertise and operational oversight for the delivery of payroll services for the university community.

They will lead and inspire a team of payroll professionals to effectively manage the accurate and timely processing of payroll services.

Key Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with the Financial Services leadership team and Human Resources to develop and implement processes and procedures that ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
• As a subject matter expert, provides advice to the university community on all payroll-related issues.
• Provides strategic advice to the collective bargaining process on payroll implications of negotiated proposals.
• Directs the day-to-day operations of payroll services to ensure accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly, monthly, and off-cycle payments for all academic and support staff and faculty.
• Ensures the accuracy of all changes to statutory deductions, benefit plan premiums, and terms of collective agreement settlements.

Works collaboratively with HR and IT resources for the creation, development, and oversight of the testing of new rules or processes required for all changes.

• Oversees compliance with complex government regulations, including taxation compliance, pension plan regulations, collective agreements, and University policies.
• Leads a team of eight payroll staff. Monitors activities to ensure that payroll transactions are reviewed, validated, and properly authorized.

Note

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in business or accounting with considerable management experience in complex payroll environments (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) or Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP).
• Experience in leading business process improvement and identifying opportunities for automation.
• Proven managerial, leadership and coaching skills.
• Strong analytical and communication (verbal and writing) skills.
• Extensive knowledge of Canadian and Nova Scotia employment legislation, Canadian income tax regulations, Record of Employment (ROE) legislation, WCB, and other relevant legislation.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner and / or other comparable systems.

Assets

• Experience in a unionized payroll environment.
• Experience working with automation and other technologies that enable process efficiency

Job Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies in particular :

• Respect & Inclusion
• Adaptability
• Thinking and Acting Strategically
• Relationship Building
• Resource & Process Management

Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.

Application Consideration

Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.

We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or Human Resources.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black / African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above.