Payroll Technician

Realterm; Dorval; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Realterm is seeking a Payroll Specialist to join our team in Dorval, Quebec. You will manage full payroll cycles for Canadian and US employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

You will review inputs, coordinate with providers, handle expatriate and cross-border payments, and maintain records for audits. Strong English/French communication and Dayforce/Excel skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of payroll experience, entering payroll data and reporting.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, or equivalent.
• Dayforce experience preferred; Microsoft Excel proficiency required.
• Experience with international payroll is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process full payroll cycle for Canadian and US semi-monthly payroll accurately and on time.
• Review inputs, source documents, and changes for completeness and accuracy before deadlines.
• Coordinate with external providers for international payroll processes.
• Assist expatriate and cross-border payroll administration and year-end adjustments.
• Maintain payroll records in line with policy and audit requirements.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and escalate complex issues as needed.
• Support payroll audits, month/quarter/year-end activities, and journal entries.

Skills

Deadline-driven

Detail-oriented

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

French proficiency

English proficiency

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/Finance/Economics

Canadian or US Payroll Association cert preferred

Tools

Dayforce

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Summary

The Payroll Specialist supports payroll operations by accurately keying payroll data, maintaining payroll records, and assisting with payroll-related inquiries. The Payroll Specialist is a key contributor to ensuring payroll accuracy, providing compliance support, and delivering employee payroll services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Process full payroll cycle for Canadian and US semi-monthly payroll accurately and on time, including earnings, deductions, adjustments, bonuses, reimbursements, taxable benefits, and other payroll-related entries.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, source documents, and employee payroll changes for completeness, accuracy, and proper approval before payroll deadlines, including direct deposit, tax forms, garnishments, benefit deductions, compensation updates, and employment status changes.
• Coordinate with external providers during the monthly international payroll process, including providing employee changes, leave calculations, calendars, and required country-specific payroll supporting documentation.
• Assist with expatriate and cross-border payroll administration, including coordination of travel calendars, shadow payroll inputs, hypo tax adjustments, and year-end payroll adjustments.
• Coordinate with Human Resources to resolve payroll data issues, missing approvals, timekeeping discrepancies, and employee record updates.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies, audit requirements, and applicable payroll regulations.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries related to pay statements, deductions, direct deposit, tax withholding, benefits, and payment timing; **escalate** complex issues to HR/Payroll Manager and/or Accounting Manager as needed.
• Support payroll compliance activities, including routine payroll audits, payroll variance reviews, year-end validation, and preparation of payroll-related reports.
• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end accounting payroll activities, including payroll journal entries, bonus accruals, payroll reconciliations, and balance sheet reconciliation related to payroll accounts.
• Process and review HR, payroll, and benefit-related invoices in accounting software, including invoice coding, approval follow-up, and wire/check requests.
• Support payroll audit requests by gathering, organizing, and validating payroll records, reports, and backup documentation.
• Assist with documenting payroll procedures, checklists, and process improvements to support consistent and audit-ready payroll operations.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee payroll information and sensitive records.
• Perform other HR and payroll-related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Accountability
• Character, Trust, Integrity
• Planning, Decision-Making & Initiative
• Development & Learning
• Collaboration, Communication & Teamwork

Qualifications

• Deadline-focused, detail-oriented, organized, able to prioritize and manage concurrent demands
• Effective communicator (both oral and written) with ability to communicate with all staff and executive levels within the organization
• Team-oriented, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with other employees
• Ability to effectively solve problems through the use of analytical skills
• Proficiency in French and advanced written and spoken English are required. English is required for this role because the incumbent will regularly support and communicate with managers, employees, payroll providers, auditors, and other third parties located outside Québec, including English-speaking Canada, the United States, Europe, and APAC.

Education and/or Experience

• 2-3years of payroll experience, entering payroll data and reporting
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, or equivalent work experience
• Canadian or US Payroll Association certification preferred
• Experience with international payroll is a plus
• Functional knowledge of payroll software required, Dayforce experience preferredProficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel

Work Environment

The position will work in a general office setting and may require travel, up to 5% annually, to remote office locations based on organizational/business needs.

Physical Demands

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for most of the workday, sitting at a desk, consistently operating a computer. The person in this position must be able to access file cabinets and office machinery (to include a computer, copier, and fax machine). On occasion, may need to lift boxes weighing up to 10 lbs.