Payroll Specialist

Crédit Agricole CIB; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Crédit Agricole CIB Canada is seeking a Payroll Specialist within the Human Resources team to ensure timely and accurate compensation for employees across Canada. The role demands strong technical payroll expertise, attention to detail, and collaboration with HR to manage data, deductions, and reporting.

You will supervise semi-monthly payroll cycles, year-end processing, and compliance with CRA and Revenu Québec, while coordinating with external providers and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in Canadian payroll processing.
• Experience with T4, RL-1, and year-end processing.
• Strong knowledge of CPP, EI, and province-specific payroll regulations.
• Bilingual English/French communication skills.
• Experience designing and enforcing payroll controls and audit procedures.

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll (every 15 days) for all employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance with policies and regulations.
• Lead year-end tax documents (T4, T4A, RL-1) and related reporting, in alignment with CRA and Revenu Québec.
• Design, implement, and enforce payroll internal controls and audit procedures.
• Maintain and update employee payroll data and liaise with HR for changes.
• Coordinate with external payroll providers and software support teams to resolve system issues.

Skills

Payroll knowledge

T4/RL-1/year-end processing

Payroll controls/audits

ADP payroll software

Attention to detail

Bilingual English/French

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/HR/related field

Payroll Compliance Professional Certification (PCP)

College diploma or equivalent in payroll processing

Tools

ADP payroll software

Job description

The Canada Branch has offices in Montreal and Toronto providing financial services to Canadian Financial Institutions, Banks, Pension Funds & SSA and to large Canadian headquartered international corporations.

Crédit Agricole Services & Operations is hosting a part of all Crédit Agricole CIB’s support functions, from KYC, Back Offices, Risk, IT, Legal or Finance supporting our growing operations in the Americas and complementing our European and Asian operations platforms in a “follow the sun” approach.

When you join CA-CIB Canada, you are joining a certified Great Place to Work employer, and a highly engaged workforce.

Summary

As a Payroll Specialist within the Human Resources department, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our most valuable assets, our employees, receive timely and accurate compensation. This position requires a combination of technical proficiency, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills to effectively manage all payroll processes.

Payroll Administration:

• Process semi-monthly payroll (every 15 days) for all employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies and federal and provincial regulations.
• Manage the full payroll cycle, including timecard verification, gross-to-net calculations, statutory deductions (CPP, EI, income tax), and final pay processing.
• Reconcile payroll data each cycle and investigate and resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Ensure new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, and other employee changes are accurately and promptly reflected in the payroll system, working closely with HR colleagues.
• Calculate and process bonuses, overtime, commissions, retroactive pay, and other variable compensation.
• Maintain and update employee profiles, personal data, and payroll information in the system.
• Coordinate with department heads to verify and approve departmental payroll data prior to processing.
• Liaise with external payroll providers or software support teams to resolve system issues.

Year-End & Tax Compliance:

• Lead the preparation, reconciliation, and distribution of all year-end tax documents, including T4s, T4As, and RL-1 slips (Relevé 1) for Quebec employees.
• Ensure accurate reporting of all taxable benefits, pensionable and insurable earnings, and other required boxes in compliance with CRA and Revenu Québec requirements.
• Submit year-end filings to the CRA and Revenu Québec within prescribed deadlines, including T4 Summary and RL-1 Summary transmittals.
• Manage Records of Employment (ROEs) and ensure timely submission through Service Canada.
• Stay current on changes to federal and provincial tax legislation, payroll regulations, and year-end reporting requirements.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding T4s, RL-1s, and other tax-related matters.

Payroll Controls & Compliance

• Design, implement, and enforce payroll internal controls, including segregation of duties, authorization levels, and pre/post-payroll reconciliation procedures to ensure data integrity and mitigate risk.
• Conduct regular payroll audits, maintain process documentation, and collaborate with Finance and internal audit teams to support regulatory reviews and ensure ongoing compliance with federal and provincial requirements.

Other Tasks

• Assist employees with payroll queries in a professional and timely manner.
• Maintain records of paid leave, sick days, and other necessary deductions.
• File and archive payroll documentation in accordance with retention policies.
• Verify and reconcile billing statements from payroll vendors and third-party suppliers against contracts and payroll data, resolving any discrepancies with the relevant parties.
• Coordinate with the Finance/Accounts Payable team to ensure timely payment and proper cost center coding of all approved invoices.

Bachelor Degree / BSc Degree or equivalent

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, HR, or a related field is an asset; at minimum a College diploma or equivalent training in payroll processing
• Payroll Compliance Professional Certification (PCP) – Mandatory

Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in Canadian payroll processing

Required skills

• Strong understanding of accounting principles and practices related to payroll
• Demonstrated experience with T4, RL-1, and year-end processing
• Proven ability to design and enforce payroll controls and audit procedures
• Knowledge of payroll software (ADP preferred — please indicate which system(s) you have used)
• Strong attention to detail and analytical and problem-solving skill
• Verbal and written communication skills in English and French required (You will need to service Anglophone clients and work with Anglophone colleagues)