Payroll and benefits specialist

Job Title: Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Location: Scarborough, Ontario (On-site / Office-based)

Job Type: Full-time, Salaried

hybrid 4 days in office

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Payroll & Benefits Specialist to fully own and execute our end-to-end payroll and benefits operations for both Canada and the United States.

Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal cross-functional role bridging Human Resources and Finance. This position requires deep, practical knowledge of cross-border tax regulations, benefits administration, and robust HRIS platform management. If you are a detail-oriented professional who thrives on compliance, process optimization, and data integrity, we want to hear from you!

Our Core Values

• Make a Difference Every Day
• Be Respectful Always
• Exceed Expectations
• Foster Collaboration
• Act Like an Owner

What You’ll Do

Payroll & Benefits Ownership

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for all Canadian and US employees, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of salaries, bonuses, and commissions.
• Lead year-end processing, including the flawless preparation and filing of T4s, T4As, W-2s, and other required cross-border tax documents.
• Administer employee benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement savings (RRSP in Canada, 401k in the US), and company wellness initiatives.
• Coordinate annual open enrollment, serving as the primary point of contact for external vendors and managing employee lifecycle benefit changes.

HRIS & System Optimization

• Own system reporting, running and validating routine payroll, benefit, and workforce data reports for HR and Finance.
• Maintain data integrity within the HRIS platform, reviewing data imports/exports and resolving anomalies alongside technical and IT teams.
• Lead system testing and configuration requests to continuously improve payroll operations and reporting workflows.

Compliance & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll regulations (e.g., ACA, CPP, EI, FICA).
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to reconcile payroll expenses, integrate data into financial systems, and lead internal/external payroll audits.
• Support employee relations by addressing complex tax, pay, or benefit inquiries with high empathy, discretion, and accuracy.

What You Bring

Education & Certifications

• Postgraduate education in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• PCP or PLP designation (Payroll Compliance Professional or Payroll Leadership Professional) is highly preferred.

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of relevant experience managing both Canadian and US payroll and benefits administration.
• Deep knowledge of cross-border payroll regulations, including statutory deductions, remittances, FICA, withholding, and 401(k)/RRSP setups.
• Advanced proficiency in tier-1 HRIS/Payroll platforms (experience with major workforce management systems) and Microsoft Excel (vlookups, pivot tables, and heavy data reconciliation).
• Strong communication skills, with a proven ability to explain complex compensation and tax information clearly and sensitively.
• Comfort working on-site in a professional, fast-paced corporate office environment.

This is currently for an active job opportunity. By applying, you will be part of our trusted network, ensuring our recruiters can match you with suitable roles. Let us help you take the next step in your career journey. A.I. may be used in the recruitment and selection process.