Manager, Payroll & Benefits

The Opportunity

The Ottawa Senators are seeking an energetic, detail-oriented professional to join our Finance team as a Manager, Payroll & Benefits. This is an excellent opportunity to join an NHL franchise at a mid-level manager position which will allow the candidate to become fully engaged in the business of a major league sports team.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Finance, you will be working as a dedicated member of the Payroll team. Leading a small team, you will be the subject matter expert on all things payroll and benefits, focusing on flawless payroll processing, ensuring accurate and timely pay for our team members across Canada and the U.S. This role is hands-on with payroll systems and compliance, requiring expertise in payroll legislation, employee data management, and customer service for team members. Experience migrating to new payroll systems is a high desired skill set as the organization is undergoing a transformation in our payroll department. The successful candidate will have a professional demeanor, a positive attitude, and will be comfortable interacting with employees at all levels.

Number of vacancies: 1. This is a replacement role.

Key Responsibilities

• Ownership and management of the day-to-day payroll cycle for up to 250+ salaried and 800+ hourly employees
• Oversee event-based payroll complexities, including federal, provincial, and local tax and league compliance across all full and part-time staff payrolls, as well as travel, expenses and per diem related items during sporting seasons, including quarterly reporting and taxation requirements
• Process wages and applicable escrow and tax withholdings for all hockey players according to their contract on a semi-monthly basis. Processes US state withholdings for travelling personnel who enter the applicable jurisdiction
• Ensure accuracy of payroll information and implementation of appropriate processes and controls to safeguard the employee and organization
• Process wages for Canadian and US-based salaried employees on a semi-monthly basis
• Ensure there is governance in place to support the accurate calculation of wages, taxes, overtime, bonuses, retroactive adjustments, garnishments, deductions, and benefit contributions to name a few
• Lead payroll transformation initiatives, implementing process automation and system integration to improve efficiency, security and compliance
• Provide payroll related metrics and analysis support needed for financial planning and maintain payroll related reporting and record keeping to support various League and external audits
• Lead NHL League & Player related pension plan maintenance, reporting and funding for various qualified and non-qualified plans
• Partner with HR and to ensure Pension Plan compliance and related data accuracy
• Responsible for the preparation and timely filing of all monthly, quarterly and / or annual employer related filings in Canada and the USA
• Ensure that eligible employees are set up with appropriate deductions for group insurance plans and group RRSP plans, as applicable, and ensures all such deductions are remitted timely and accurately

Qualifications (what we look for)

• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience. At least 5+ years of payroll leadership experience. Sports, entertainment and/or hospitality industries preferred in a multi franchise environment
• Degree in business or related field or PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) preferred
• Proficiency in HRIS/Payroll systems, ADP WFN, Dayforce and Concur experience is highly preferred
• Experience migrating Payroll to a new system is highly desirable
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrates professionalism and competence and exercises discretion in handling confidential information
• Proficiency in MS Office products including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Deep knowledge of payroll-related accounting practices and principles
• Expertise leading payroll in a complex, high volume, and seasonal environment
• Experience with Canada and US, multi-state reporting and compliance experience required
• Accounting experience preferred
• Must have very strong and proven organizational skills

Who We Are

The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club is a National Hockey League (NHL) team representing Canada’s capital city. The Club delivers world-class sport and live entertainment experiences to the Ottawa-Gatineau region while operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across hockey operations, business operations, and event delivery, with a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and community impact.

What We Offer

Employees will have the opportunity to work in a unique industry, with access to memorable fan experiences, and exclusive perks such as: staff tickets to games and events, partnership discounts (Goodlife, etc.), and free on-site parking - along with the chance to contribute to an organization that takes pride in its people, its performance, and its community.

This role is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, wellness subsidy, and retirement programs. Support for continued learning (tuition reimbursement) is available, as well as access to multiple learning platforms.

Active social committee, which hosts multiple large-scale events throughout the year.

This role falls within a base salary range of $71,800 to $110,000 annually, consistent with the organization’s established salary ranges. Salary ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to market data, internal equity, education, relevant experience, knowledge, and applicable skillset.

We would like to thank all applicants for applying; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications received will be maintained on file for a period of 6 months and may be referenced for future staffing requirements.

Senators Sports & Entertainment supports the goals of Ontario Regulation 191/11 - Integrated Accessibility Standards and is pleased to accommodate applicants who have a disability during the recruitment process. Please inform the Human Resources Department at 613-599-0250 if you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process.

SSE is committed to building an inclusive process that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

SSE confirms that it does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools in its recruitment or hiring processes. All candidate screening, evaluation, and selection decisions are conducted by human recruiters or hiring managers using predefined, job-related criteria, ensuring a fair, transparent, and human-led hiring process in compliance with applicable employment and privacy laws.

To all recruitment agencies: SSE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior agreement or request from our hiring team will not be considered. SSE is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.