Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Canadian Mental Health Association Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch; Central Ontario; On-site; CAD 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Mental Health Association Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch is seeking a Payroll and Benefits Specialist for a full-time, 1.0 FTE role based in Brantford or Simcoe, Ontario. You will manage bi-weekly payroll and support employee benefits, pension and disability programs with discretion and accuracy.

Working in our People and Culture team, you will collaborate with employees and leaders, perform payroll reconciliations, year-end activities, and participate in reporting to inform

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Payroll Administration, Accounting, Business Administration, HR, or related field.
• PCP designation strongly preferred; may consider candidates pursuing PCP.
• Experience with payroll systems and benefit programs is essential.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage bi-weekly payroll using ADP Workforce Now.
• Review inputs, changes, time and attendance, earnings, deductions and documentation.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, year-end activities (ROEs, T4s, taxable benefits).
• Administer employee group benefits and pension programs; liaise with providers.

Skills

Payroll processing

Excel

Data privacy

Education

Post-secondary education in Payroll or related field

PCP designation preferred

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

HRIS

Job description

About this position

Internal/External JOB POSTING # 1036 Payroll and Benefits Specialist We are presently accepting applications from qualified individuals to fill the following positions: Payroll and Benefits Specialist Full-Time | 1.0 FTE | Non-Union Base Location: Brantford or Simcoe, OntarioStart Date: ASAPHours of Work: 37.5 hours/weekSalary Range: $31.16-$37.28/hour Join Our People and Culture Team We are looking for an experienced Payroll and Benefits Specialist who takes pride in accuracy, enjoys solving problems, and understands the importance of getting payroll right, every time. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented payroll professional who enjoys both independent responsibility and working collaboratively as part of a People and Culture team. In this role, you will take primary responsibility for the accurate and timely administration of our bi-weekly payroll while also supporting employee benefits, pension programs, disability and workplace injury administration, and workforce reporting. You'll work with employees and leaders across the organization and serve as a trusted resource for payroll and benefits questions. Because you'll handle sensitive payroll, compensation, employee, disability and labour-relations information, sound judgment, professionalism and confidentiality are essential.

What You'll Do

• Independently coordinate and process accurate and timely bi-weekly payroll using ADP Workforce Now.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, employee changes, time and attendance information, earnings, deductions and supporting documentation.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, post-payroll audits and year-end activities, including Records of Employment (ROEs), T4s, taxable benefits and statutory deductions.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee payroll inquiries.
• Administer employee group benefits and pension programs, including enrolments, changes, terminations, reconciliations and employee inquiries.
• Liaise with benefit carriers, pension administrators, brokers and other external providers.
• Coordinate the administrative components of disability, workplace injury and illness-related claims, including applicable payroll and benefit adjustments.
• Support WSIB, leave, accommodation and return-to-work administration in collaboration with the Manager, People and Culture.
• Interpret and apply payroll-related provisions of collective agreements, employment requirements and organizational policies.
• Prepare payroll and workforce reports and provide accurate information to support People and Culture, Finance and organizational decision-making.
• Maintain strong payroll controls, accurate records and the highest standards of confidentiality and data integrity.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll, benefits and administrative processes through increased accuracy, efficiency and automation.

What You Bring

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Payroll Administration, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources Management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible payroll experience.
• Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation is strongly preferred. Candidates actively working toward their PCP may also be considered.
• Additional education or certification in benefits, pension or disability management is considered an asset.

Experience

• A minimum of three years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including direct responsibility for end-to-end payroll processing.
• A minimum of two years of experience with ADP Workforce Now, or an equivalent payroll/HRIS system.
• Demonstrated experience with payroll reconciliation, year-end processing, ROEs, taxable benefits and statutory deductions.
• Experience administering employee benefit plans and pension or retirement programs.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze, reconcile and validate payroll and workforce data.
• Experience with disability, WSIB, workplace injury or claims administration is strongly preferred.
• Experience interpreting collective agreement provisions or working within a unionized environment is preferred.
• Experience within healthcare, community mental health or the not-for-profit sector is considered an asset.

You’ll Be Successful in This Role If You…

• Have an exceptional eye for detail and take personal accountability for accuracy.
• Can independently manage a payroll cycle and meet firm deadlines.
• Enjoy investigating discrepancies and figuring out why something doesn't balance.
• Can explain payroll and benefit information clearly and respectfully to employees.
• Know how to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Are comfortable balancing multiple deadlines and changing priorities.
• Build positive working relationships with employees, leaders and external partners.
• Know when to independently resolve an issue and when something needs to be escalated.
• Look for better, more efficient ways of doing things rather than simply accepting "the way we've always done it."
• Value a respectful, inclusive, accessible and collaborative workplace.

Why This Role Matters

Payroll is more than a transaction. Employees rely on it being accurate, timely and dependable. The Payroll and Benefits Specialist plays an important role in creating that trust while helping employees navigate benefits, pension and related processes throughout their employment. The position also provides reliable payroll and workforce information that supports sound organizational decision-making. This role is well suited to someone who enjoys combining technical payroll expertise, employee service, problem-solving and continuous improvement in a position where accuracy and discretion genuinely matter.

Working With Us

This is a primarily office-based position, with occasional travel between organizational locations. The role involves regular interaction with employees and leaders and requires the ability to manage competing priorities while protecting highly confidential employee and organizational information.

Equal Opportunity

We thank all applicants; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. CMHA BHN is an equal opportunity employer, and we value the importance of diversity and dignity in the workplace. We are committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), racialized persons, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and women. We welcome applicants of all intersecting identities and experiences. If you are contacted by CMHA BHN regarding a job opportunity, please advise prior to the interview if you require accommodation, and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.