Bob P. Constantinidis, PLP, FPC is the Director of Payroll and Benefits at Pizza Pizza Limited, where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s payroll processes and employee benefits programs. With a strong background in payroll management and a commitment to excellence, Bob holds professional certifications as a Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) and Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC). His expertise and leadership have played a crucial role in optimizing payroll operations and enhancing employee engagement / satisfaction within the organization.
Leading with Vision My career journey has been a long and diverse one. Initially, I trained as an aircraft maintenance engineer and worked in the aviation industry. This role instilled critical skills such as meeting tight deadlines, ensuring safety, and delivering excellent customer service—skills that later proved invaluable in my transition to payroll. When the airline I worked for went bankrupt, I decided to leave the cyclical nature of the aviation industry. At the time, I was employed at a bank and noticed an opportunity in their payroll division, then operated by Comcheq, which was later acquired by Ceridian. My first payroll role involved managing a set list of clients daily. I would handle their payroll over the phone, primarily for small businesses like gas stations. This involved entering employee hours, processing terminations, setting up new hires, and managing payroll details. After two years, I joined ADP in a client services role. There, I supported larger clients with tasks such as yearend processes, setting up employees, and configuring earning and deduction codes. During this time, I pursued payroll certifications through the Canadian Payroll Association (now the National Payroll Institute). I completed courses for Payroll Administrator, and Payroll Supervisor, and eventually obtained the Payroll Manager designation (now the Payroll Leadership Professional designation) Equipped with this knowledge, I transitioned to running payroll departments directly. My first such role was at Coretec, a circuit board manufacturing company with operations in Canada and the U.S. This position provided my first experience with U.S. payroll, for which I earned the FPC certification from the American Payroll Association (now PayrollOrg). At Coretec, I managed one direct report and payroll for multiple locations, advancing to the role of Payroll Supervisor and eventually Payroll Manager. Seeking broader challenges, I joined Pizza Pizza, where I’ve been for over 22 years. The company’s national presence offered the scale I was looking for. Initially hired as a Payroll Supervisor, I progressed to Payroll Manager and later assumed responsibility for group benefits as the National Payroll and Benefits Manager. During my tenure, Pizza Pizza acquired Pizza 73 in Alberta, further expanding the organization. I now oversee payroll and benefits for both brands, with two direct reports: a Payroll and Benefits Coordinator in Ontario and a Payroll Manager for Pizza 73 in Alberta. Throughout my time at Pizza Pizza, I’ve led numerous system implementations to streamline operations. We recently transitioned from ADP PCPW to their Workforce Now HCM product, consolidating nine payrolls onto the platform and integrating features like performance reviews, annual merit increases, and time-off management. Currently, we are finalizing our time and attendance system and time clocks ensuring continuous data flow for all our employees. We aim to make Workforce Now a comprehensive solution for employee engagement, from viewing earning statements to participating in surveys. In June of 2022, I was promoted to Director of Payroll and Benefits. This role reflects the hard work and the collaborative efforts of my team and the organization. Success in this field required strong support from our Leadership Team, self-motivation, and teamwork, all of which have contributed to where I am today. Streamlining Processes: From Manual Effort To Automation Currently, we are implementing a new time and attendance system for our employees, replacing an outdated system that has been in use for over 15 years. The new platform integrates effortlessly with Workforce Now, offering a modern, efficient solution. Our focus is on training employees to use the new system and highlighting its benefits. The new system provides employees with greater transparency and convenience. They can now view their punches, track upcoming vacations, and access relevant information online. This shift simplifies processes for employees and significantly reduces duplication of work. Previously, vacation requests were managed manually— employees would email their plans, which were then entered into the payroll system. With the new system, vacation requests are submitted directly through ADP, and routed to managers for approval. Managers can easily review an employee’s available days and ensure adequate workforce coverage before approving the request. This streamlined approach saves time and empowers managers with better tools to oversee their teams effectively. A Thoughtful Approach To AI Adoption We recently transitioned to a new workforce management platform to stay ahead of the curve and improve efficiency. One key benefit is the automation of GL reports. Previously, this was a manual, time-intensive process: we would receive reports from ADP, enter the data into spreadsheets, send it to accounting, and they would manually update their financial system. Now, with automation, the process takes just minutes. ADP generates a report in a format compatible with our accounting system (JDE), which the accounting team can review and import directly. What once took hours is now completed with just a few clicks.Earning A Designation Enhances Your Knowledge And Adds Credibility To Your Resume. It Demonstrates Commitment And Shows Potential Employers The Effort And Expertise You Have Invested In Your Profession.
