Compensation Administration Specialist (Contract)

Conestoga College; Kitchener; Hybrid; CAD 76,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Conestoga College is seeking a Compensation Administration Specialist to join the Total Rewards Team. This full-time temporary contract role focuses on accurate payroll processing, data input, and government reporting, with a hybrid schedule and on-site days in Kitchener, Ontario.

You will balance payroll, administer pension-related calculations, and support year-end activities while maintaining strict confidentiality in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Two-year diploma in Business Administration or Accounting required.
• PCP designation required; PLP designation considered an asset.
• Five years of full-cycle payroll experience required; Ontario knowledge essential.

Responsibilities

• Handle daily payroll processing and confidential compensation data.
• Balance payroll data with deductions and prepare pay for staff.
• Collaborate with HR Systems to balance authorizations and run previews.
• Prepare ROE forms and respond to Service Canada requests.
• Support year-end reconciliation and reporting activities.

Skills

Confidentiality

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Two-year diploma in Business Administration or Accounting

Tools

ADP payroll system

Microsoft Excel (Advanced, Macros)

Job description

Job Title: Compensation Administration Specialist (Contract)

Requisition #: 26-0104R1

Payband: 09

Payband Range: $76,029.00 - $95,038.00

Hours/Week: 37.5

Posting Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Closing Date: Monday, October 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

Vacancy Type: Administration - Full-time Temporary Contract

Position Summary

Full-Time Administration, new contract position (immediate need to January 31, 2028)

As part of the Total Rewards Team and working in collaboration with the broader HR Department, the Compensation Administration Specialist will ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time and will perform confidential and sensitive administrative duties related to compensation administration. This involves the input and import of employee data into the payroll system, balancing the gross pay and deductions generated, and supporting end-to-end payroll processing, including year-end and government reporting activities.

Successful candidates will be required to conduct work within Ontario and must be available to work on campus as required. It is anticipated that this position will meet the needs of the department through a hybrid work arrangement, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with two days on-site at Conestoga’s 3065 King Street E office in Kitchener, and three days remote.

Responsibilities

• Interacts daily to handle requests from employees, colleagues, or other stakeholders, including inquiries of a confidential nature
• Interprets and implements Collective Agreement requirements related to full-time status, leaves of absence, sick leaves, resignations, layoffs, retirements, reclassifications, promotions, etc., in conjunction with the Total Rewards Team
• Processes regular pay for full-time employees, plus additional payments such as retroactive pay, overtime, shift premiums, parental leave top-ups, medical absences, ad-hoc payments, special allowances, and expense reimbursements
• Administers pension-related calculations and completes applicable forms related to the CAAT pension plan
• Completes manual payroll calculations, as required, and updates payroll registers for manual pay adjustments
• Collaborates with the HR Systems team to balance Payroll authorizations and utilizes the payroll previews generated from the system to balance prior to transmission of payroll
• Reviews and confirms all reconcilable deductions generated by the system are correct (Sun Life benefits, CAAT Pension, parking, donations, etc.) based on the payroll preview function
• Processes payroll distribution changes, as required, ensuring accurate processing to the General Ledger
• Completes Record of Employment forms for Employment Insurance purposes
• Responds to Service Canada (HRSDC) requests for information (e.g. termination inquiries)
• Monitors and responds to employee inquiries in the team’s shared mailboxes
• Supports with year-end reconciliation and reporting activities

Qualifications

• A two-year diploma in Business Administration or Accounting is required
• National Payroll Institute PCP designation is required; National Payroll Institute PLP designation will be considered an asset
• Five years of related payroll experience is required; five years in a full-cycle payroll function is preferred
• Thorough and current knowledge of Canada Revenue Agency payroll regulations, with a demonstrated commitment to compliance and integrity in payroll administration, is required
• Payroll processing experience using an HRIS or payroll system (ADP preferred)
• Must be well versed in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook; Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including experience using Macros, are considered an asset
• Experience in a unionized environment, interpreting collective agreements, is preferred
• Knowledge and experience with accounting principles, mathematical calculations, and general ledger cost accounting and distributions are assets
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and developed interpersonal and organizational skills are essential
• Must be professional, able to maintain strict confidentiality regarding pay and Human Resources matters and thrive in a fast-paced team environment

Conestoga College is a leader in polytechnic education. Our career-focused education, training, and applied research programs prepare students for success, support industry, and workforce needs and promote economic prosperity throughout our region and across Ontario.

We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Conestoga College is committed to workplace diversity and provides accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources via the Contact page.