Senior Payroll Specialist

Senior Payroll Specialist

Location: Toronto, ON

Humani HR is your modern-thinking team of HR professionals. We are passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses with their People and Culture. We take the stress out of HR by providing fractional HR support and consulting services. Our solutions are customized, on demand and scale with our clients' changing needs. We are more than just strategic advisors – we do the work, so our clients can focus on building their business.

Humani is a dynamic, fast‑moving environment where every day looks a little different. Humani HR is a primarily remote-first organization; however, HR Business Partners and Generalists are expected to attend client visits periodically (typically up to 15% of the time, but could be more frequent), as well as company events. These onsite requirements may be local or, on occasion, outside your province of residence or internationally. To learn more about us and our team, visit our website.

About The Role

As a Payroll Specialist with Humani, you will provide comprehensive payroll support across multiple client accounts, serving as a trusted subject matter expert and strategic partner in the delivery of payroll operations. While HRBPs and Sr. HRBPs maintain overall accountability for client relationships and people strategy, you will lead the execution of payroll along with benefits programs with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and exceptional employee experience. You will work collaboratively with HRBPs, Sr. HRBPs, clients, and external partners to identify opportunities for process improvement, drive operational efficiencies, and implement sustainable solutions that enhance service delivery. Leveraging your expertise and sound judgment, you will proactively recommend and implement improvements, navigate complex payroll and benefits matters, mitigate risk, and deliver excellent outcomes for our clients. With a strong commitment to continuous improvement, you will contribute to compliance initiatives, operational excellence, and the evolution of Humani's payroll and benefits offerings.

What You Will Do

• Process accurate and timely payrolls across multiple clients across multiple Canadian jurisdictions, including Québec.
• Administer complex payroll transactions, including new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, bonuses, commissions, retroactive pay adjustments, and taxable benefits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and provincial payroll legislation, employment standards, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Calculate, validate, and reconcile employee earnings, deductions, remittances, and statutory contributions.
• Manage payroll activities across multiple payroll platforms and support system maintenance, testing, implementations, and enhancements as required.
• Coordinate and administer employee benefits and pension deductions, enrollments, changes, and terminations.
• Lead payroll for year-end activities, including the preparation and distribution of T4s, T4As, RL-1s, and other required reporting.
• Perform payroll audits, reconciliations, and quality checks to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Research and resolve complex payroll inquiries from employees, managers, and clients in a professional and timely manner.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure the confidentiality and security of employee information.
• Collaborate with Humani HRBP’s, clients’ Finance teams, benefits providers, and external vendors to ensure seamless payroll administration.
• Monitor legislative changes and recommend updates to payroll processes, policies, and system configurations.
• Support payroll implementations, process improvements, system upgrades, and special projects as required.
• Develop and maintain payroll Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process documentation, and best practices to promote consistency, compliance, knowledge sharing and operational excellence.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.
• Act as a trusted payroll and benefits resource for assigned clients, providing guidance, recommendations, and proactive support on payroll-related matters.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Canadian payroll legislation and payroll best practices.
• Review and validate payroll work completed by other team members, providing guidance and support as needed.
• Lead the payroll aspects of organizational changes, acquisitions, system transitions, or workforce restructuring initiatives.
• Analyze complex payroll issues and recommend practical, compliant solutions to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Support HRBPs and Sr. HRBPs in the development, review, and maintenance of HR policies, procedures, and employee documentation, ensuring alignment with payroll, benefits, legislative, and operational requirements.

Your Experience:

You are a seasoned Payroll Specialist with a strong understanding of payroll legislation, payroll administration, and benefits practices. You combine sound judgment, strong execution skills, and a client-focused mindset to deliver accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services. You proactively identify opportunities for improvement, champion operational efficiencies, and drive solutions that deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and employees alike.

• 7-10 years of progressive experience administering payroll and benefits
• Demonstrated experience processing payroll across multiple provinces, including, but not limited to a strong understanding of Ontario, BC and Québec payroll legislation, deductions, remittances, and year-end requirements.
• Proven ability to manage payrolls of varying sizes and complexity, including multi-provincial, multi-entity, and salaried/hourly employee populations.
• Experience administering payroll through multiple payroll platforms (e.g., Dayforce, ADP Workforce Now, UKG, Workday, or similar systems).
• Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, taxable benefits, statutory deductions, and employer remittance requirements.
• Experience processing and reconciling payroll-related transactions, including benefits, pensions, bonuses, commissions, retroactive payments, and termination payments.
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll audits, reconciliations, and year-end activities, including T4, T4A, RL-1, and related reporting requirements.
• Experience supporting payroll implementations, system upgrades, process improvements, and testing activities is considered an asset.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential employee information with professionalism and discretion.
• Proven ability to prioritize competing deadlines and manage multiple payroll cycles in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong client relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to effectively support employees, managers, and external stakeholders.
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation required. Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation, active membership with the National Payroll Institute, or a demonstrated commitment to ongoing payroll professional development are considered assets.
• Post-secondary education in Payroll Administration, Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related fields is preferred.

Why Join Humani – A workplace designed for your growth

We recognize the level of expertise this role requires, and we offer a comprehensive compensation package and benefits in return, some of which include:

• Opportunity for meaningful career growth and client impact, where your unique background and experience are welcomed and valued.
• Base salary $85,000-$95,000 with potential to earn up to 10-25+% of base salary through our annual performance-based bonus program (Total compensation up to $93,000-$118,000+).
• Paid time off (4 weeks' vacation, 5 wellness days and public holidays observed).
• Health Benefit Plan and Retirement Savings/Match program.
• Primarily remote work with opportunities for in-person relationship building through company-wide retreats and local team events.
• Your Professional HR association fees are reimbursed.

What you can expect during our Recruitment Process:

Our hiring process is designed to give all candidates a realistic preview of what it is like to work in a consulting environment. The full process typically takes 3-4 weeks (often sooner), and we maintain clear, timely communication at each stage. Successful candidates will move through:

• An initial screening interview
• A take-home exercise
• A secondary interview
• A final case study discussion

Humani HR is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, provincial, or local law.

Our recruitment process is human-led, supported by AI tools, with all hiring decisions made by people.