Payroll Specialist

People Store Staffing; Milton; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

People Store Staffing is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join its People & Culture team in Acton, Ontario. The role handles biweekly payroll for ~200 employees, across provinces, ensuring accuracy and timeliness with PayWorks and strong compliance knowledge.

Ideal candidates will have PCP designation progress, union payroll experience, and proficiency with Excel and HRIS, focusing on confidentiality and data integrity while supporting month-end tasks.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll administration across multiple provinces.
• Experience in unionized payroll environments and related agreements.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation and filings.
• Proficiency with PayWorks and Excel for payroll processing.

Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle biweekly payroll for hourly and salaried staff across provinces using PayWorks.
• Maintain accurate payroll records including hires, changes, terminations and deductions.
• Prepare and file remittances and year-end documents (ROEs, T4/T4A, RL-1).
• Support unionized payroll processes and handle related inquiries and changes.
• Process Quebec payroll and CNESST requirements in line with Revenu Québec.
• Ensure compliance with payroll laws and internal policies; assist month-end close.

Skills

Payroll administration

Multi-provincial payroll

Union payroll knowledge

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation

Tools

PayWorks

Microsoft Excel

HRIS systems

Job description

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Payroll and Benefits

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to join their People & Culture team at their head office in Acton, Ontario.

This role is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of biweekly payroll for approximately 200 hourly and salaried employees across multiple provinces. The ideal candidate brings strong technical payroll knowledge, sound judgment, discretion, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely full-cycle biweekly payroll for hourly and salaried employees across multiple provinces across Canada using PayWorks.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records, including employee hires, changes, terminations, benefit deductions, and other payroll-related updates.
• Prepare, reconcile, and submit statutory remittances, filings, and year-end documents, including ROEs, T4 and T4A slips, T2200 forms, Quebec RL-1 slips and the RL-1 Summary, and WSIB/WCB reporting.
• Support unionized payroll processes in accordance with applicable collective agreements. Experience handling union inquiries, audits, grievances, collective bargaining costing, and implementation of negotiated changes is required.
• Process Quebec payroll and manage source deductions, employer contributions, RL-1 slips, and the RL-1 Summary in accordance with Revenu Québec requirements.
• Calculate and remit CNESST occupational health and safety insurance premiums through Revenu Québec; complete the annual CNESST Statement of Wages, reconcile assessment and account information, and respond promptly to agency inquiries and notices.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, collective agreements, and internal policies.
• Provide payroll backup support for an affiliated business during vacation and sick-leave coverage, including occasional travel as required.
• Assist with month-end payroll reporting and reconciliations, including investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Contribute to People & Culture initiatives and provide other payroll and administrative support as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of three years of payroll administration experience; multi-provincial payroll experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience processing payroll in a unionized environment, including responsibility for a British Columbia bargaining unit and the ability to interpret and apply collective agreement provisions.
• Strong knowledge of union payroll requirements, including wage grids, premiums, overtime, seniority-based entitlements, retroactive pay, union dues, and benefit and pension contributions.
• Strong working knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, taxation, employment standards, and statutory requirements across multiple provinces.
• Hands-on experience processing Quebec payroll and working directly with Revenu Québec and CNESST, including Quebec income tax, QPP, QPIP, employer contributions, RL-1 and RL-1 Summary filings, CNESST premiums and Statements of Wages, account reconciliations, and resolution of notices or discrepancies.
• Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation from the National Payroll Institute, or active progress toward completion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and payroll/HRIS systems; PayWorks experience is an asset.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and data integrity.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and consistently meet payroll deadlines.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the discretion and professionalism to work effectively with employees, union representatives, management, and external agencies on sensitive payroll matters.

AODA / Accessibility Statement

Our client is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the recruitment and selection process