Senior Payroll Specialist

Blue J; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue J is seeking its first dedicated payroll hire to own end-to-end payroll across Canada, the US, and the UK, from compliance to reconciliations, and help shape how it runs going forward as we upgrade our systems.

You will manage CAD/US/UK payroll processing, review inputs, and ensure payroll compliance while working with HR, Finance, and FP&A. This role supports a hybrid work model with potential travel to Toronto.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll experience in a Canadian environment.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now.
• Strong understanding of Canadian payroll legislation and compliance.
• PCP designation.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end CAD/US/UK payroll processing, including coordination with external providers supporting the US and UK employee population.
• Review and validate payroll inputs (new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, commissions), working closely with HR and Finance on onboarding, offboarding, and compensation updates.
• Ensure payroll compliance with federal/provincial/state regulations on deductions, taxes, benefits, working with payroll providers to reflect changes accordingly.
• Act as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries from employees and government authorities.
• Review payroll remittances and reconcile to amounts received by tax authorities on a quarterly basis.
• Review and reconcile benefits deductions and costs against benefits statements and employee/company elections.
• Prepare and review year-end reporting, including T4s, W-2s, P60s, and T2200s.
• Support ADP system enhancement, transitioning from ADP TeamPay to ADP Workforce Now.
• Own payroll-related journal entries, bonus and commission accruals, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Partner with FP&A on headcount reporting and compensation analysis.
• Ensure payroll processes are compliant with current legislation and internal controls.
• Assist with audit requests and strengthen supporting documentation.

Skills

Payroll

Canadian payroll

ADP

Regulatory compliance

Education

PCP designation

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

About Blue J

Blue J is the leading generative AI solution for tax professionals and one of Canada's fastest-growing AI companies. Headquartered in Toronto, we're a high-growth B2B SaaS company building industry-leading tax research software that helps accountants find accurate answers to complex tax questions with greater speed and confidence.

Backed by a $122M USD Series D funding round, we're scaling rapidly across North America and the UK while continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI. By combining advanced technology with deep tax expertise, we empower tax professionals to work more efficiently, make better decisions, and deliver greater value to their clients.

A Note on Location

This role is remote or hybrid. If remote, you will be required to join the company during our kick off event a couple times a year at our Toronto office. To help you get off to a great start, we bring all new team members together for their first three days of onboarding. If you’re based outside of our local commuting area, Blue J will arrange and cover your travel and accommodation.

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to be Blue J's first dedicated payroll hire. You'll own payroll end-to-end across Canada, the US, and the UK, from compliance to reconciliations, and help shape how it runs going forward as we upgrade our systems.

What You’ll be Doing

• Manage end-to-end CAD/US/UK payroll processing, including coordination with external providers supporting the US and UK employee population.
• Review and validate payroll inputs (new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, commissions), working closely with HR and Finance on onboarding, offboarding, and compensation updates.
• Ensure payroll compliance with federal/provincial/state regulations on deductions, taxes, benefits, working with payroll providers to reflect changes accordingly.
• Act as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries from employees and government authorities.
• Review payroll remittances and reconcile to amounts received by tax authorities on a quarterly basis.
• Review and reconcile benefits deductions and costs against benefits statements and employee/company elections.
• Prepare and review year-end reporting, including T4s, W-2s, P60s, and T2200s.
• Support ADP system enhancement, transitioning from ADP TeamPay to ADP Workforce Now.
• Own payroll-related journal entries, bonus and commission accruals, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Partner with FP&A on headcount reporting and compensation analysis.
• Ensure payroll processes are compliant with current legislation and internal controls.
• Assist with audit requests and strengthen supporting documentation.

What You Offer Blue J

• 3+ years of payroll experience in a Canadian environment (Bonus if you have US payroll experience)
• Hands-on experience with ADP (Workforce Now preferred)
• Strong understanding of Canadian payroll legislation and compliance
• PCP designation

What We Offer You

• A rare opportunity to be Blue J's first dedicated payroll hire.
• A mission-driven culture where your work directly advances clarity, efficiency, and accessibility in tax research.
• Competitive base salary, stock options, and benefits designed to support you and your family.
• Flexibility in how you work: remote, with occasional travel to our Toronto office or hybrid, you choose
• A collaborative, ambitious, and supportive team that values innovation, respect, and fun.
• The excitement of a fast-growing, well-funded company with clear momentum, and the resources to back bold initiatives.

The Core Values that Define Our Culture

• We are customer-focused
• We put team over self
• We are pleasant and playful
• We are open to better ideas
• We move fast and fix things

What to Expect in the Interview Process

We anticipate a high volume of applicants for this role and are excited to grow our team. A human will review each application and get back to you as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you!

Interview Process

• Chat with Bailey, Talent Acquisition Manager
• Meet Kim Tam, Hiring Manager and VP of Accounting
• Present your case study to Kim Tam, VP of Accounting, Pat Deshpande, Controller, and Lauren Mercurio-Smith, Director of People and Culture
• Meet Ben, our CEO

We believe our strength is built on diversity of thought, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.

We value inclusiveness and are an equal opportunity employer.

We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We strive to create an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates.

If you need any accommodations during the interview process, please let us know in your application.

Our team is dedicated to providing the necessary support and making reasonable adjustments to ensure a smooth process for everyone.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process

To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Blue J uses AI-enabled tools within our applicant tracking system to help organize applications and highlight profiles that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions.

Every application is reviewed by a member of our Talent team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans.

We use these tools to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment and we’re committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $85,000 - $100,000 CAD per year.

This is a Level 3 in Blue J ’s career level framework.

We use levels to define the expected scope, autonomy, impact, decision-making, and experience for each role.

Final compensation will be set fairly and thoughtfully based on experience, expertise, and alignment with the role’s responsibilities.

While all candidates are expected to bring directly relevant experience, the top of the range is typically reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional depth in the role’s core competencies, a strong track record of impact in similar environments, and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy from day one.