Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Open Farm; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pet food company in Toronto seeks a Payroll and Benefits Specialist to manage payroll across multiple regions and ensure compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience, certification in payroll, and strong communication skills. This hybrid position allows for a flexible office presence, fostering a collaborative work culture dedicated to pet care and well-being.

Benefits

Comprehensive healthcare coverage

Discounted pet-related benefits

Company-wide wellness days

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of full-cycle payroll experience in Canada and the US.
• International payroll experience including EU and China.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle discrepancies.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll across multiple regions.
• Administer North American benefit plans.
• Maintain employee records and generate reports.
• Ensure compliance with payroll tax regulations.
• Conduct regular audits of payroll and benefits data.

Skills

Payroll administration

Benefits administration

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

National Payroll Institute Certification (PCP)

Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

HRIS systems (BambooHR)

ADP payroll platform

Job description

About Open Farm

At Open Farm we are transforming the way people feed their pets with a focus on producing premium healthy food and treats ethically sourced from farm-to-bowl. Headquartered in Toronto and with team members across the US, Open Farm is one of the fastest growing CPG companies in North America. We believe that the best foods are made with consciously sourced top-quality ingredients from farmers and fisheries who believe in doing good for all animals and the environment.

Before you embark on this journey with us, learn more about the opportunity:

Open Farm is growing and we are seeking an ambitious Payroll and Benefits Specialist to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Finance this role will be responsible for managing end-to-end payroll across Canada, the US, Asia, the UK and the EU. Key responsibilities include year-end reporting, benefits administration, tax compliance and supporting ad hoc projects as needed.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Liaise with third-party payroll providers to process accurate semi-monthly and monthly payroll across the US, Canada (multi-state/provincial), Asia (China) and EU/UK.
• Verify and reconcile time and attendance, benefit deductions, bonuses, commissions and other payroll-related components.
• Manage payroll adjustments including wages, PTO, salary changes, deductions/contributions, commissions, benefits, paid leave, retirement plans (RRSP, 401K), FSA, RSUs, LTIP/STIP stock options and off-cycle payrolls.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, federal and international payroll tax regulations including year-end processing and issuance of T4s and W-2s.
• Address and resolve payroll discrepancies in a timely and efficient manner.

Benefits Administration

• Administer North American benefit plans and ensure accurate benefit premium deductions.
• Manage the US 401K plan including enrollments, changes and year-end testing requirements.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll, benefits and related matters.

HRIS Management

• Maintain accurate up-to-date employee records (new hires, terminations, promotions and status changes).
• Generate regular and ad-hoc reports including quarterly PTO reports to support compliance and decision-making.
• Implement quality assurance measures to maintain HRIS data accuracy and reliability.
• Provide employee training on HRIS self-service features.

Compliance & Audit

• Stay current on changes in labor laws, tax regulations and compliance requirements across all operating regions.
• Conduct regular audits of payroll and benefits data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure all payroll and HRIS processes adhere to organizational policies and legal requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with People Operations to provide audit reports, resolve discrepancies and enhance processes.
• Work closely with Finance to align payroll with accounting functions, support month-end close and prepare for annual audits.
• Contribute to broader Finance and Accounting initiatives as needed.

General Support

• Support accounting team on duties such as US state sales tax reporting and inventory reconciliation.
• Perform other administrative duties as required to support a growing global business.

This is a hybrid role based in downtown Toronto and the candidate must be able to work in-person 2-3 days per week.

What we’re excited about in you

• You have minimum 3-5 years of proven payroll experience running a full cycle Canadian and US (end to end) with international payroll experience (e.g. EU and China).
• You have completed the National Payroll Institute Certification (PCP). Bonus if you also have a degree in Accounting or Finance.
• You have experience using HRIS systems (like BambooHR) and ADP payroll platform experience considered an asset.
• You are a payroll and benefits expert possessing a strong attention to detail. You can sense when things don’t look right or need a second set of eyes.
• Excellent communication & soft skills
• You have a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic and effective time management skills and skillfully balance the priorities of a busy company while masterfully planning ahead to ensure you can meet your deadlines.
• You love problem-solving. You keep a cool head in high-stress situations and can elevate and balance risk.
• You are a quick learner and can re-prioritize as needed when last-minute changes occur. Above all you’re proactive, positive and inspired by Open Farm’s mission.

What we offer you

• An opportunity to grow, develop and thrive within a mission-driven, dynamic and fast-growing company alongside thoughtful and passionate individuals dedicated to their work and community
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage and RRSP plans with company match
• Great office culture (with lots of adorable pets!) where your pet interrupting video calls or in-person meeting is the norm
• Discounted food, apparel and insurance for your furry family members
• In addition to your PTO we offer company-wide wellness days and personal days to support your wellbeing
• Volunteer days to give back to our community

Hybrid Work

Open Farm embraces collaboration, meaningful connections and enjoying work together—furry friends included. We’ve adopted a structured hybrid approach that allows you the benefit of a reduced commute while still building strong workplace relationships. Currently all employees are expected to be in the office two days per week at minimum, with Tuesday and Thursday as our anchor. Additionally, each month our Leadership team dedicates three consecutive days onsite to continue to foster alignment and connection across the team. During this time we expect everyone to join us in person to do the same. Please note: our hybrid approach may evolve over time as we adapt to the needs of our team and business.

Our Values

We Raise the Bar We Open the Barn Doors We Graze Lightly We Are Customer Obsessed We Are One Team Win-Win Partnerships

To learn more about Open Farm follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Open Farm values diversity in its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. Applicants requiring a disability-related accommodation at any stage of Open Farm’s recruitment process should contact us. As required by legislation, Open Farm will consult with applications requesting such an accommodation to ensure that Open Farm’s recruitment process takes into account their accessibility needs.

Required Experience

Unclear Seniority

Key Skills

Customer Service, FMLA, HIPAA, Microsoft Outlook, Benefits Administration, HRIS, Payroll, Employment & Labor Law, ADP, Human Resources, Phone Etiquette, Workday

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1