Pay and Benefit Specialist

Edmonton Catholic School Division; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Vision, and Dental benefits

Wellness Spending Account

EFAP – Employee and Family Assistance

Paid Time Off and holidays

Pension plan

Job summary

Edmonton Catholic School Division is seeking a Pay and Benefits Specialist to join our Pay and Benefits Services team. You will ensure accurate, timely payroll and benefits administration across the division, supporting staff with complex transactions and inquiries.

You will administer premiums, deductions, and compliance while maintaining confidential records and contributing to service excellence. This role emphasizes accuracy, teamwork, and continuous improvement within a faith-based

Qualifications

• Diploma in Business Administration or related field.
• PCP designation through the National Payroll Institute.
• Experience with payroll and benefits administration.
• Experience in a K-12 school division preferred.
• Knowledge of POPA and ATIA beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Process monthly payroll in line with policies and applicable legislation.
• Prepare T4s, benefits, garnishments, and year-end requirements.
• Analyze payroll data to identify discrepancies and reconcile records.
• Process terminations and ROE within required timelines.
• Administer benefit premiums, deductions, and coverage changes.
• Provide payroll and benefits support and respond to inquiries.

Skills

Payroll administration

Benefits administration

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Customer service

Communication

Education

Diploma in Business Administration

PCP designation

Tools

HRMS/PeopleSoft

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Department of Human Resource Services at Edmonton Catholic Schools is seeking a Pay and Benefits Specialist to join our team!

We are looking for a detail-oriented and service-focused payroll professional who is committed to accuracy, compliance, and delivering exceptional employee support. In this role, you will provide accurate, timely, and compliant payroll and benefits administration services that support Division staff and contribute to equitable and efficient employee service delivery.

As part of the Pay and Benefits Services team, you will play an important role in ensuring payroll accuracy, administering employee benefit plans, resolving issues, and supporting consistent service across employee groups. The work has Division-wide impact and directly supports the department's operational and strategic priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Administration

• Process monthly payroll in accordance with Division policies, collective agreements, the Alberta Education Act, and applicable federal and provincial legislation;
• Complete complex payroll transactions, including retroactive salary adjustments, teacher payout adjustments, hourly pay calculations, supplemental unemployment benefit payments, salary overpayments, manual cheques, and retirement bonuses;
• Prepare and process T4s, taxable benefits, garnishees, WCB reporting, and other year-end payroll requirements;
• Analyze payroll data to identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and support accurate payroll processing;
• Maintain accurate payroll records through the entry, verification, and reconciliation of payroll adjustments, deductions, and benefit-related changes;
• Process employee terminations and issue Records of Employment accurately and within required timelines;
• Collaborate with Human Resource Services to support accurate employee classifications and compliance with applicable employment legislation;
• Prepare monthly remittance statements, submit payment requests to Financial Services, and electronically submit required payroll data to banks and other agencies within established timelines;
• Generate annual, monthly, and ad hoc reports through data extraction from payroll and related systems;
• Provide support during peak payroll periods, special projects, staff absences, and other operational requirements, including flexibility to work outside core hours when necessary to maintain service delivery.

Benefits Administration

• Ensuring benefit premiums, deductions, and coverage changes are accurate, compliant, and administered according to plan requirements;
• Updating benefit coverage information and submitting benefit deductions and related data electronically to carriers and financial institutions;
• Administering Wellness Spending Account reimbursements;
• Researching benefit discrepancies, adjustments, and errors and coordinating appropriate resolutions;
• Supporting employees with benefit-related inquiries and processes in a timely and professional manner;

Communication, Consultation, and Continuous Improvement

• Interpret and respond to inquiries regarding payroll, benefits, collective agreements, legislation, policies, procedures, and employment terms and conditions;
• Provide timely, accurate, and professional support to employees, department staff, external agencies, insurance carriers, Financial Services, and other stakeholders;
• Provide help-desk support and assist employees in navigating self-service tools and payroll-related systems;Develop and maintain information resources that communicate updates affecting pay, earnings, benefits, and related processes;
• Participate in employee orientation sessions and support employees through clear and consistent guidance on payroll and benefit administration;
• Develop, maintain, and review payroll and benefits procedures, documentation, systems, and reporting practices to support consistency and continuous improvement;
• Research opportunities to streamline administrative processes through emerging technologies and recommend improvements to reporting functions, procedures, and service delivery;
• Build positive and collaborative working relationships that support service excellence, effective problem-solving, and strong HR practices;
• Maintain current knowledge of payroll and benefits legislation, trends, and best practices through ongoing professional development and collaboration with industry partners and professional organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Diploma in Business Administration or a related field; and a minimum of four years of directly related payroll and benefits administration experience;
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation through the National Payroll Institute (formerly the Canadian Payroll Association);
• Direct experience administering payroll in a K-12 school division, which is strongly preferred;
• Knowledge of payroll, benefits, pension administration, related policies, procedures, and processes;
• Experience working with Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS); experience with PeopleSoft is considered an asset;
• Knowledge of records management principles, the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA), and the Access to Information Act (ATIA);
• General knowledge of Division operations and an understanding of the Division's mission and vision within a faith-based environment.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong knowledge of payroll administration, benefits processes, payroll legislation, collective agreements, and applicable regulatory requirements;
• Proven ability to process complex payroll transactions with a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and numerical proficiency;
• Proficiency with HRMS/payroll systems, reporting tools, Microsoft Office applications, and electronic records management systems; PeopleSoft experience is an asset;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies, reconcile data, and identify practical solutions;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet critical deadlines, and adapt to changing operational demands;
• Exceptional customer service, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll and benefits information clearly and professionally;
• Sound judgment, discretion, and integrity in handling confidential employee, payroll, and financial information;
• A collaborative, continuous improvement mindset with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and identify opportunities to enhance payroll, benefits, reporting, and service delivery processes.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Make a real difference: Your expertise directly impacts the success of the division’s administrators, teachers, students, and parents.
• Be part of a dynamic team: Be part of a collaborative team that works with many diverse groups and builds meaningful connections.
• Continuous learning: Embrace new technologies and challenges, growing your technical skillset through provided training opportunities.
• 100% employer-paid benefits, including: Health, Vision, and Dental.
• A Health/Wellness Spending Account.
• EFAP – Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Paid Time Off, including vacation time, personal days, and Christmas break.
• Additional Paid Time Off (PTO) – Personal Days.
• 7-hour workdays, 35 hours per week for a 1.0 FTE.
• Competitive salary and pension