Payroll Specialist

Doane Grant Thornton LLP; Toronto; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Flex days

RRSP contributions

Holiday closure

Wellness benefits

Concierge‑like benefits

Work from anywhere in Canada (summer 4

Job summary

Doane Grant Thornton LLP in Canada is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage the semi‑monthly payroll cycle across provinces using ADP Workforce Now. You’ll review benefits, RRSP reporting, and government filings while supporting month/end processes and data integrity across HRIS systems.

You’ll collaborate with a team in a fast‑paced professional services environment, applying payroll taxation knowledge and strong Excel skills, with flexibility to meet deadlines and multi‑jurisdictional

Qualifications

• Minimum PCP designation or completion of payroll courses
• At least 3 years’ hands‑on experience in high‑volume, multi‑entity payrolls across multiple provinces with month‑end/year‑end and government filings
• Publicly traded or large professional services experience; benefits administration/reconciliation is a plus
• Expertise in ADP systems and Workday HRIS; strong MS Excel skills
• Solid knowledge of multi‑province payroll taxation and employment legislation; strong research and problem‑solving
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills with a process‑improvement mindset
• Strong time‑management and multi‑tasking abilities, meeting deadlines accurately
• Flexibility to work to meet business needs and deadlines

Responsibilities

• Process full cycle of semi‑monthly payroll in ADP Workforce Now, including time entry, uploads, status changes, leave payments, year‑to‑date adjustments, termination pay and ROE.
• Review, validate and process benefit and compensation files including leave benefits and RRSP reporting.
• Process remittance and reporting for Workers’ compensation across provinces.
• Assist with payroll deductions and contributions to government agencies and other pre/post‑payroll tasks.
• Support month‑end and year‑end activities, government surveys, remittance tracking and reconciliations.
• Audit HRIS and payroll data for integrity and compliance with policies and regulations.
• Monitor National Payroll inbox and Workday case management; respond to inquiries.
• Assist senior team members with complex work and special projects as needed.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Process improvement

Education

PCP designation or payroll courses

Tools

ADP systems

Workday HRIS

MS Excel

Job description

Who We Are

You know those big cities that still feel like small towns? Where everyone’s friendly and helps each other out? That’s like Doane Grant Thornton. Except here we’re all professionals and there isn’t a mayor or a general store. What we’re trying to say is that we’re a large and growing professional services firm that still feels like a community. We employ about 3000 people across Canada, and we truly care about our colleagues, our clients and the communities where we work and live. That’s what’s most important to us. We’re building a thriving organization that’s purpose driven and still want to remember what your favourite milkshake flavour is.

Who We Are

You know those big cities that still feel like small towns? Where everyone’s friendly and helps each other out? That’s like Doane Grant Thornton. Except here we’re all professionals and there isn’t a mayor or a general store. What we’re trying to say is that we’re a large and growing professional services firm that still feels like a community. We employ about 3000 people across Canada, and we truly care about our colleagues, our clients and the communities where we work and live. That’s what’s most important to us. We’re building a thriving organization that’s purpose driven and still want to remember what your favourite milkshake flavour is.

As a Payroll Specialist your responsibilities will include:

• Process full cycle of semi-monthly payroll in ADP Workforce Now (WFN) including, time entry and uploads, status changes, various leave payments, year-to-date adjustments, termination pay and ROE issuance.
• Review, validate and process various benefit and compensation files including, leave benefits and RRSP plan reporting.
• Review and process remittance and reporting for Worker’s compensation for all provinces.
• Assist and validate the calculation and remittance of payroll deductions and contributions to various government agencies and other pre-/post-payroll processing activities.
• Assist as needed with payroll month-end and year-end activities, government surveys, remittance tracking, reporting and reconciliations.
• Audit data in HRIS and the payroll system to ensure data integrity and compliance with legislation, policies and programs and verify that the required documentation and approvals are in place and that employee files are complete.
• Monitor the National Payroll email inbox and Workday Help case management, respond to inquiries from colleagues and stakeholders.
• Assist senior team members with more complex work and with special projects and other responsibilities as required.

Doane Grant Thornton

If you’re a bit like us, you’re driven to connect with how others are feeling and thinking. Here we walk in others shoes before taking action. Just imagine being part of a team that puts “we before me”, where flexAbility is a mindset, and where you trust your colleagues to have your back. At Doane Grant Thornton, you’ll work with inspiring leaders who support your development, both personally and professionally. This is a place where your insatiable curiosity enables you to think, see and hear from a variety of perspectives, a place where every day is different and having the courage to grow is part of who you are. And when all this comes together, well that’s when the magic happens!

Want to learn more about who we are and how we live our purple every day? Read our colleagues’ stories at www.discoveryourpurple.ca

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Payroll Specialist? Like the colour purple? Great. Here’s a few more boxes we’re also hoping you can tick:

• Minimum PCP designation or completion of payroll courses
• At least 3 years’ hands‑on experience in processing high‑volume, multi‑entity, multi‑province payrolls including month‑end, year‑end processes and government filings
• Experience in publicly traded or professional services, large multi‑jurisdictional companies will be an asset as will benefits administration/reconciliation experience
• Expertise in ADP systems and other HR systems (preferably Workday HRIS) and an intermediary knowledge of MS Excel
• Strong knowledge of multi‑province payroll taxation and employment legislation; excellent research and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, customer service and a process‑improvement mindset. Great team player who is also comfortable working independently
• Proven time‑management and multi‑tasking skills; able to manage multiple competing deadlines without compromising accuracy and compliance controls
• Available to work flexibly to meet business needs and deadlines when required.

What’s in it for you?

Profit sharing, Flex days, RRSP contributions, Firmwide holiday closure, Wellness benefits, Concierge‑like benefits, Work from anywhere in Canada in the summer for 4 weeks, and more! At Doane Grant Thornton, we believe compensation should reflect more than just market data—it should reflect you. We’re serious about compensation. We benchmark regularly across a wide spectrum of roles, industries, sectors, and levels to ensure our ranges are both competitive and current. But we don’t stop there. We also consider the unique strengths, experiences, and impact each individual brings to the table. Our salary ranges are reviewed annually, and where you land within the range depends on a mix of factors—your background, your skills, and how your contributions align with internal equity. To help start the conversation, the current salary range for this role is $74,800–$84,200 in Toronto. If the role is available in other locations, the range may differ to reflect local market factors.

Our special culture shines through when we have the opportunity to connect in person. That’s why we’re working in a model where teams are required to be together in the office 4 days per week.

Are you ready to Discover Your Purple?

Doane Grant Thornton is committed to employment equity, human rights and respectful workplace principles throughout the life cycle of employment, including at the recruitment and hiring stages. We welcome applications from members of all equity deserving groups, including persons with disabilities, women, racialized and/or Indigenous applicants. Should you require accommodation in relation to the recruitment process, please notify us by emailing and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs.