Associate Director, Pensions Operations

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Join a global workplace where employees thrive.
One that embraces diversity of thought, expertise and experience.
A place where you can personalize your employee journey to be - and deliver - your best.

We are a purpose-driven, dynamic and sustainable pension plan.
An industry leading global investor with teams in Toronto to London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and other major cities across North America and Europe.
We embody the values of our 600,000+ members, placing their best interests at the heart of everything we do.

Join us to accelerate your growth & development, prioritize wellness, build connections, and support the communities where we live and work.

Don't just work anywhere - come build tomorrow together with us.

In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to transition seamlessly by learning from the current Associate Director, Pension Accounting and Payroll, who will provide guidance and support prior to their retirement.
This mentorship will ensure you are well-prepared to lead the team and manage responsibilities effectively.

Reporting to the Vice President, Quality Assurance and Controls, the Associate Director, Pension Accounting and Payroll manages a team of eight and is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of all member and employer contributions, as well as the processing of pension payrolls, tax filing, and related controls for OMERS.
This role requires a breadth of knowledge including a full understanding the pension payments impact of the Pension Benefits Act, and the Income Tax Act.

The Associate Director, Pension Accounting and Payroll is responsible for ensuring the appropriate accounting and system processes are in place to monitor and control pension contributions and payments.
In addition, this role ensures that the information provided for the financial statements and regulatory monitoring is complete, accurate, and consistent.
This role is accountable for the performance of the entire team, ensuring that individual and team key performance objectives are met.

Key responsibilities:

1. Leading and managing the accounting, operations, and processes related to contributions and payments for our employers and members, for the OMERS Primary Pension Plan, the related Retirement Compensation Arrangement (the 'RCA'), and the Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) program.
2. Providing expertise, oversight, and support to lead the day-to-day operations, and act as a trusted subject matter expert to provide guidance and direction to the organization on contribution and payroll.
3. Ensuring employer remittances are reconciled and contributions are allocated within required timelines, and overseeing the pension payroll system processes to ensure all payments are made and reconciled on a timely basis.
4. Providing leadership, coaching and direction to the Pension Accounting and Payroll team on day-to-day operations; cultivating a positive team environment, developing staff and identifying opportunities for growth and improvement; establishing and organizing work and resources to effectively meet service delivery standards.
5. Overseeing the annual tax filings, managing the issuance of pension related tax slips, and the annual tax reconciliation process; acting as the lead contact for all pension related CRA matters on tax filings, to reconcile adjustments, and to ensure credits are processed and received as required.
6. Managing the relationship with ADP, our payroll provider, by serving as the main point of contact for one of OMERS most crucial partners.
   This includes dealing with the day-to-day operational activities required for the successfully processing of the monthly pension payroll of $500 million impacting approximately 200,000 pensioners.
   Managing the semi-annual review of the ADP SOC1 report to ensure appropriate controls by this key vendor.
7. Overseeing processes which feed information included in quarterly, semi-annual, and annual consolidated financial statements, the annual report, and financial presentations to the OMERS Board or committees; completing the quarterly forecast for pension contributions and payments, by applying a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
8. Overseeing RCA cash flows and balances to ensure appropriate funding.
9. Preparing quarterly pension cash flow forecast which impacts investment decision making to ensure liquidity for monthly pension payroll.
10. Providing input for accounting policies and reporting, regulatory reporting, and compliance processes.
11. Developing a broad understanding of OMERS business issues and their impact on OMERS financial results.
12. Working directly with Internal and External Audit teams to provide documentation for selected processes.
13. Building and maintaining strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders to provide guidance, advice, and direction on all matters related to pension contributions and payroll.
14. Managing accounting and pension projects as it relates to the Pension Accounting and Payroll team.
15. Providing support to the VP, quality Assurance & Controls in achieving yearly objectives.
16. Continuously looking for ways to improve efficiencies, enhance operations.

To succeed in this role, you have:

1. A CPA or CA designation.
2. A university degree and/or a combination of equivalent training, education and experience coupled with more than 6 years' experience in the finance, accounting, or pension industries.
3. Extensive technical knowledge of pension plan administration, governing legislation, payroll systems, payroll taxes, and income tax withholding provisions of the Income Tax Act.
4. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage change in an evolving organization, and to supervise, coach, and lead a multi-functional team with various levels of experience.
5. Demonstrated ability to solve problems by generating, evaluating, and implementing alternatives.
6. The ability to communicate complex information in a clear, concise, and structured manner.

We believe that time together in the office is important for OMERS and Oxford, the strength of our employees, and the work we do for our pension members.
Our flexible hybrid work guideline requires teams to come to the office a minimum of 4 days per week.

As one of Canada's largest defined benefit pension plans, our people-first culture is at its best when our workforce reflects the communities where we live and work - and the members we proudly serve.

From hire to retire, we are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process that extends all the way through your employee experience.
This sense of belonging and connection is cultivated up, down and across our global organization thanks to our vast network of Employee Resource Groups with executive leader sponsorship, our Purpose@Work committee and employee recognition programs.