Payroll and benefits specialist

Accounting Advantage; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Accounting Advantage is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist to own end-to-end payroll and benefits for Canada and the US. This on-site Scarborough role reports to the Chief People Officer and bridges HR and Finance, ensuring compliance, data integrity, and effective benefits administration.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in payroll/benefits in a cross-border context and strong HRIS experience, with a focus on accuracy and process improvement in a fast-paced office setting.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate education in HR, business, accounting, finance, or related field.
• PCP or PLP designation is highly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience managing Canadian and US payroll and benefits.
• Deep knowledge of cross-border payroll regulations including deductions, remittances, FICA, and 401(k)/RRSP setups.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS/Payroll platforms and Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for Canadian and US employees.
• Lead year-end processing and filing of T4s, T4As, W-2s, and other cross-border tax documents.
• Administer employee benefits programs including health insurance and retirement plans (RRSP/401k).
• Coordinate annual open enrollment and manage vendor relationships.

Skills

Cross-border payroll

Benefits administration

HRIS / Payroll platforms

Excel

Education

Postgraduate education in HR/Business/Accounting/Finance

PCP or PLP designation

Job description

Job Title: Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Location: Scarborough, Ontario (On-site / Office-based)

Job Type: Full-time, Salaried

hybrid 4 days in office

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Payroll & Benefits Specialist to fully own and execute our end-to-end payroll and benefits operations for both Canada and the United States.

Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal cross-functional role bridging Human Resources and Finance. This position requires deep, practical knowledge of cross-border tax regulations, benefits administration, and robust HRIS platform management. If you are a detail-oriented professional who thrives on compliance, process optimization, and data integrity, we want to hear from you!

Our Core Values

• Make a Difference Every Day
• Be Respectful Always
• Act Like an Owner

What You’ll Do

Payroll & Benefits Ownership

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for all Canadian and US employees, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of salaries, bonuses, and commissions.
• Lead year-end processing, including the flawless preparation and filing of T4s, T4As, W-2s, and other required cross-border tax documents.
• Administer employee benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement savings (RRSP in Canada, 401k in the US), and company wellness initiatives.
• Coordinate annual open enrollment, serving as the primary point of contact for external vendors and managing employee lifecycle benefit changes.

HRIS & System Optimization

• Own system reporting, running and validating routine payroll, benefit, and workforce data reports for HR and Finance.
• Maintain data integrity within the HRIS platform, reviewing data imports/exports and resolving anomalies alongside technical and IT teams.
• Lead system testing and configuration requests to continuously improve payroll operations and reporting workflows.

Compliance & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll regulations (e.g., ACA, CPP, EI, FICA).
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to reconcile payroll expenses, integrate data into financial systems, and lead internal/external payroll audits.
• Support employee relations by addressing complex tax, pay, or benefit inquiries with high empathy, discretion, and accuracy.

What You Bring

Education & Certifications

• Postgraduate education in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• PCP or PLP designation (Payroll Compliance Professional or Payroll Leadership Professional) is highly preferred.

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of relevant experience managing both Canadian and US payroll and benefits administration.
• Deep knowledge of cross-border payroll regulations, including statutory deductions, remittances, FICA, withholding, and 401(k)/RRSP setups.
• Advanced proficiency in tier-1 HRIS/Payroll platforms (experience with major workforce management systems) and Microsoft Excel (vlookups, pivot tables, and heavy data reconciliation).
• Strong communication skills, with a proven ability to explain complex compensation and tax information clearly and sensitively.
• Comfort working on-site in a professional, fast-paced corporate office environment.