Payroll Support Specialist

The University of British Columbia; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 58,000 - 67,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus is seeking a Payroll Support Specialist to provide strong customer service and payroll expertise to the campus community. This role contributes to the Okanagan Payroll team by delivering timely support and resolving issues while maintaining service levels.

Reporting to the Payroll Lead, you will handle payroll administration, liaise with HR and Finance teams, troubleshoot ServiceNow and Workday inquiries, and contribute to process improvements

Qualifications

• High school graduation with a two-year post-secondary diploma in accounting, finance or business and related experience.
• Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) certification is required.
• Strong customer service, problem solving and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide payroll services for the Okanagan campus and ensure timely processing.
• Act as front-line liaison to resolve payroll and technical issues, reports, and transactions.
• Troubleshoot ServiceNow tickets and Workday Notifications; escalate complex issues to Payroll Lead.
• Collaborate with Okanagan HR and Vancouver Payroll teams to resolve issues promptly.
• Support payroll training, documentation, and process improvements.

Skills

Customer service

Workday payroll

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

High school graduation

Post-secondary diploma in accounting

Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) certification

Tools

Workday

ServiceNow

Job description

Staff - Union Job Category BCGEU Okanagan Support Staff Job Profile BCGEU OK Salaried - Support Services Coordinator I Job Title Payroll Support Specialist Department UBCO | Payroll | Finance Operations | Finance Compensation Range $5,202.00 - $5,963.00 CAD Monthly Posting End Date September 2, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date Ongoing Please note: This is a part-time position at 0.8 FTE. The salary will be 80% of the posted range.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position provides strong customer service and payroll expertise to the Okanagan campus community. This role contributes to the Okanagan Payroll team by providing support and problem resolution while ensuring that customer service levels are met at all times.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Payroll Lead and interacts directly with the Vancouver Payroll Team, Integrated Service Centre (ISC), UBCO Human Resources, Finance Operations and Strategies stakeholders, and other UBCO client units.

Work Performed

Provides payroll services for the Okanagan campus:

• Administers payroll and manages individual work schedule to meet priorities and deadlines.
• Acts as the front-line liaison for various staff on campus to solve technical problems, missing reports, status of transactions, etc.
• Liaises with members of the Okanagan Human Resources team to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Provides support for the Payroll and Benefits module, policies and process inquiries; including troubleshooting and resolving ServiceNow tickets and Workday Notifications.
• Escalates highly complex issues to Payroll Lead.
• Liaises with the Leave of Absence Desk regarding Okanagan staff and faculty leaves.
• Analyzes incidents and provides recommendations for business process and system improvements to reduce payroll user problems and to improve data.
• Provide recommendations for efficiency gains in existing processes and works with members of the community to implement changes.
• Contributes to business process documentation and maintains standard operating procedures of all Workday payroll processes.
• Distributes output such as reports, etc. to appropriate recipients; maintains accuracy of distributions lists for confidential reporting distribution in adherence with current Privacy Laws.
• Ensures correctness of payroll data for production of tax forms (T4A and T4A’s) as part of the calendar year-end requirements.
• Provides communication to appropriate groups, advising of critical dates reflecting system events, down-time, cut-off dates and scheduled deadlines to ensure accurate processing of information.
• Processes payroll related journal entries on behalf of departmental financial staff, researchers, and research finance.
• Supports development of payroll related training for campus events. Provides information about payroll and benefits at informal sessions across campus.
• Liaises with members of the Okanagan Human Resources team to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Carries out other related duties and assignments as directed.

Other Requirements

• May be required to work certain evenings, weekends and holidays due to strict deadlines and process restrictions.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position is responsible for ensuring maximum accuracy, efficiency and reliability of input and output data for Workday Payroll Module. Loss of data, scheduling errors, and missed cut-offs will result in incomplete or incorrect employee payments, potential under or over remitted taxes, inaccurate financial and budget reporting, some of which may result in UBC being subject to grievances, penalties or fines. It may also cause departments to make incorrect assumptions regarding their financial status, internally and externally, as well as affect budgets. Employees not being paid or being paid late resulting in loss of employee loyalty, grievances, and ultimately employee turnover with the University.

Supervision Received

Reporting to the Payroll Lead, the Payroll Support Specialist works in collaboration with the UBC Vancouver Payroll team, the Financial Operations Customer Support Centre (CSC0, and the Okanagan Human Resource team.

Supervision Given

Adopts a coaching and mentoring approach within the Okanagan team to foster a cooperative and respectful working environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduation, plus a two-year post-secondary diploma in accounting, finance or business, over four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) certification required.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) certification preferred.
• Aptitude for understanding of accounting, finance and business functions required.
• Expertise with computers and the ability to understand Workday systems, complex material such as training manuals and business process documents.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task and prioritize work.
• Ability to solve complex problems and recommend solutions, take initiative and work under pressure of deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and within a team environment.
• Demonstrated reading, comprehension, and communication skills (oral & written) and interpersonal skills, including a solution focused attitude coupled with a focus on delivering a high level of customer service to all stakeholders.
• Ability to work as a team player as well as an individual contributor.
• Proven ability to adapt and to work effectively in a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment.
• May be required to work certain evenings, weekends and holidays due to strict deadlines and process restrictions.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].