Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager Job Description

A Payroll Manager leads and oversees the entire payroll function, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing for all employees. This role involves managing a team, interpreting complex payroll legislation, and implementing best practices. The Manager is responsible for all payroll cycles, year-end processing, and statutory remittances. This position demands deep expertise, exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and proven leadership. Typically, 5-8 years of progressive payroll experience, with 2-3 years in management, is required. A Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) is essential; Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) preferred. A profound understanding of Canadian federal and provincial payroll laws is paramount.

Typical payroll manager duties:

Oversee accurate and timely bi-weekly/SEMi-monthly payroll processing.

Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team.

Ensure strict compliance with Canadian federal and provincial payroll legislation (e.g., ESA, Income Tax Act, EI, CPP).

Manage year-end processing (T4s, T4As, other statutory filings).

Oversee benefit deductions, garnishments, and remittances.

Optimize payroll systems and processes.

Resolve complex payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries.

Liaise with auditors for payroll matters.

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Salary for Payroll Manager

86250 - 120000

Low

86250

The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.

Mid

108500

The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferrable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.

High

120000

The candidate has extensive experience and advanced skills for the role, and may also have specialized certifications.

Projected salaries for related positions

Job title

Low

Mid

High

Payroll Administrator

58500

69500

77500

Credit Manager

83000

98250

116500

Assistant Credit Manager

62250

78750

91500

Collections/Credit Analyst

54750

64500

74750

Collections/Credit Clerk

51500

59250

66000

Bookkeeper

56500

71250

79000

AR/AP Manager

65000

86500

97500

AR/AP Clerk

47750

56750

63500

Accounting Clerk

47000

52750

58250

Billing Clerk

45000

50750

59000

Inventory Analyst

50750

64000

74750

Inventory Coordinator

43000

50250

60750

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Our starting salary projections come from a rigorous, multistep process so that our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary levels.

Starting compensation—pay for someone new to a role—can vary significantly based on a candidate’s skills, experience and certifications, as well as other factors including industry, company size and revenue, and demand for the role. To reflect this variability, we report our salary data in three levels: low, mid and high.