Senior Manager, North American Payroll

Location: Toronto

Final date to receive applications:09/26/2026

Address:100 King Street West Job Family Group:

Human Resources We are looking for a senior payroll professional with strong end-to-end payroll operations experience across both Canada and the U.S., ideally within a large, complex organization. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of payroll and people leadership experience, deep knowledge of North American payroll legislation, compliance, and governance, and a proven track record managing payroll programs and strategic initiatives.

Experience partnering with and overseeing a third-party payroll vendor is highly preferred, along with the ability to manage vendor relationships, drive process improvements, resolve complex payroll issues, and ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery. This person should be comfortable acting as a payroll SME, influencing senior stakeholders, leading cross-functional projects, leveraging data to support decision-making, and navigating a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on operational excellence, compliance, and employee experience.

Supports the development, implementation and ongoing delivery of payroll services across the enterprise in order to meet specific pay legislation and payroll accuracy. Delivers payroll services and related program results in alignment with overall group goals. Provides subject matter expertise and advice related to payroll platforms, operations and procedures. Supports the strategic direction, governance design, program design and execution of payroll operations for BMO.

This role:

Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.

Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.

Regularly connects work to BMO's purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through.

Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders.

Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.

Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance.

Provides strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.

Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.

Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.

May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.

Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives.

Manages resources and leads the execution of strategic initiatives to deliver on business and financial goals.

Develops the business case by identifying needs, analysing potential options and assessing expected return on investment.

Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution.

Helps determine business priorities and best sequence for execution of business/group strategy.

Conducts independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues.

Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.

Monitors and assesses industry trends, including legislation to integrate into best practices.

Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations.

Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.

Designs and produces regular and ad-hoc reports, and dashboards.

Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.

Leads the development of the communication strategy focusing on positively influencing or changing behaviour.

Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.

Executes assigned day to day payroll operational processes, program management activities & administrative tasks to achieve business results and deliver the intended employee experience.

Executes payroll services in partnership with internal & external stakeholders.

Executes various operational activities/requirements of the payroll program structure in partnership with stakeholders to support applicable legislation and ensures timely, accurate, and efficient service delivery.

Develops knowledge related to payroll…