Director, Payroll and Accounting

Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. We have more than 6,400 employees and associates in our partner dental practices and operate nationwide.

Visit our website to discover how Sun Life is making life brighter for our customers, partners and communities.  

Sun Life embraces a hybrid work model that balances in-office collaboration with the flexibility of virtual work.  Our team members and leaders are expected to foster connection and teamwork by being present in the office at least 2 days per week.

Join Sun Life as a Manager of Payroll & Employee Benefits Accounting, where you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring financial accuracy and compliance for our entire US workforce. This high-impact position offers the opportunity to lead critical financial operations, mentor a talented team, and drive operational excellence across multiple benefit programs and pension plans. Reporting directly to the AVP of Product Accounting, you'll oversee essential financial processes that directly support our employees' compensation, benefits, and retirement security.

How you will contribute:

Strategic Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a small team of accounting professionals, fostering their growth and technical expertise

• Drive continuous process improvements and eliminate exceptions across all payroll and benefit accounting operations

• Partner with cross-functional teams including Payroll Processing, Treasury, Corporate Tax, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, and Total Rewards

Financial Stewardship & Compliance

• Oversee bi-weekly ADP payroll accounting for all Sun Life US employees

• Manage complete accounting lifecycle for Sun Life Pension Plan, 401(k), and RIA Savings Plans

• Ensure accurate GL accounting for all company-sponsored employee benefit plans

• Approve payroll and employee benefit wires through the Web Series banking system

• Serve as Business Unit Control for critical SOX compliance processes

Audit & Reporting Excellence

• Lead annual audits of Pension and 401(k)/RIA Savings Plans

• Prepare comprehensive NAIC employee benefit footnotes and disclosures

• Coordinate with external actuarial consultants on quarterly and annual plan valuations

• Prepare Form 5500 tax filings and audited financial statements for retirement plans

• Support US Corporate Tax return preparation with accurate financial data

Month-End & Close Leadership

• Direct daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes

• Perform GL account reconciliations and resolve material variances

• Prepare and/or approve corporate audit workpapers for Canadian parent company reporting

• Provide insightful financial analysis and reporting to senior management

What you will bring with you:

• BS/BA in Accounting or Finance (CPA strongly preferred)

• 7-10 years private accounting OR 5-7 years combined public/private experience

• 2-3 years supervising and developing accounting professionals

• Strong command of GAAP; working knowledge of NAIC and IFRS

• Proficiency with SAP, Workday, Hyperion, and Tableau

• Advanced Excel skills (including VBA)

• Experience with multi-entity reporting structures and monthly close processes

• Exposure to ADP Global View and ADP Payroll processes

• Knowledge of federal and state tax preparation and reporting

• Understanding of NAIC accounting rules for employee benefits

• Experience with pension plan and 401(k) accounting and audits

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines

• Strong delegation and workload management capabilities

• Continuous improvement mindset with strategic thinking ability

Salary Range: $139,000 - $208,500
At our company, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The salary range for this role is competitive nationwide, and we strive to ensure that compensation is fair and equitable. Your actual base salary will be determined based on your unique skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to your base salary, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award based on your individual performance as well as the overall performance of the business. We are dedicated to creating a work environment where everyone is rewarded for their contributions.

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We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel they belong, are supported and empowered to thrive.  We are dedicated to building teams with varied experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and ideas that benefit our colleagues, clients, and the communities where we operate.  We encourage applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Life is brighter when you work at Sun Life

At Sun Life, we prioritize your well-being with comprehensive benefits, including generous vacation and sick time, market-leading paid family, parental and adoption leave, medical coverage, company paid life and AD&D insurance, disability programs and a partially paid sabbatical program.  Plan for your future with our 401(k) employer match, stock purchase options and an employer-funded retirement account.  Enjoy a flexible, inclusive and collaborative work environment that supports career growth.  We’re proud to be recognized in our communities as a top employer.  Proudly Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the U.S., we’ve also been recognized as a "Top 10" employer by the Boston Globe's "Top Places to Work" for two years in a row.  Visit our website to learn more about our benefits and recognition within our communities.

We will make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please email [email protected] to request an accommodation.

For applicants residing in California, please read our employee California Privacy Policy and Notice.

We do not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Sun Life will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including applicable fair chance ordinances.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.