Senior Pension and Benefits Specialist

CPA Canada; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 92,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accounting organization is seeking a Senior Pension and Benefits Specialist for their Toronto office. This hybrid role focuses on overseeing group benefits and pension administration for over 400 employees. Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 7 years in human resources, strong analytical and communication skills, and experience in group benefits and vendor management. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years experience in Human Resources.
• Experience in Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plans.
• Strong knowledge of pension and benefits regulatory frameworks.
• Bilingualism (French and English) is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital accumulation plans for employees and retirees.
• Develop policies and ensure accurate administration of employee benefits.
• Manage absence programs including disability and parental leave.
• Analyze key performance indicators to ensure plan effectiveness.
• Investigate escalated employee issues related to benefits.

Skills

Group benefit administration

Pension management

Disability management

Vendor management

Analytical skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Leadership

Education

Undergraduate degree with CEB or CHRL

Tools

HRIS systems (ADP / WFN or similar)

Excel

Job description

Overview

Title : Senior Pension and Benefits Specialist

About Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) is one of the most influential accounting organizations in the world. Working with the provincial, territorial and Bermudian regulatory bodies, CPA Canada supports the profession and represents Canadian CPAs at the national and international levels.

Nationally, CPA Canada acts in the public interest to promote transparency in financial markets, prepare CPAs for a rapidly evolving business environment through extensive guidance and programming, and contributes to standard setting and policy making. Globally, CPA Canada works together with international bodies to build a stronger accounting profession worldwide.

About the opportunity

Reporting to the Director, People and Culture, CPA Canada is seeking an accomplished Senior Pension and Benefits Specialist with proven success in group benefit, pension and disability management administration. The ideal candidate will bring forward human resources expertise with comprehensive experience in group benefits and capital accumulation plans including Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution and RRSP administration, and vendor management in a complex national setting.

This hybrid role will be aligned to CPA Canada’s office in Toronto. The targeted annual salary range for this position is $92,100 to $102,700 and is commensurate with experience.

What you'll do

• Lead capital accumulation plans (defined benefit plans, defined contribution pension plans and RRSP) with various suppliers providing services to 400+ employees, retirees, deferred pensioners, annuitants and affiliated organizations to ensure day-to-day and cyclical administration is accurate, timely and auditable
• Develop and implement project plans, workflows, policies and maintain a centralized schedule of activities to ensure employee benefits programs are delivered accurately and within targeted deadlines.
• Lead the absence management program including short term and long-term disability, maternity / parental leave, and other approved leaves of absence.
• Lead and develop quality relations with third-party administrators, consultants and other outside suppliers, including chairing meetings to drive strong service levels and ensure issues are resolved within contract timelines and drive service enhancements
• Investigate and resolve escalated employee issues pertaining to employee benefits programs and policies through the identification of underlying root cause.
• Interpret existing policies and practices based on an assessment of existing precedents, intent of policy and new information including current environment.
• Manage the deployment of annual group insurance renewals and re-enrolment periods
• Develop, track, and analyze key performance indicators for employee benefits and disability programs to ensure plan effectiveness, cost control, and employee satisfaction.

What we're looking for

• An undergraduate degree with a professional designation such as CEB or CHRL, with a minimum of 7 years experience as a Human Resources professional specializing in group benefit and retirement administration, preferably with administrative experience in Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plans.
• Experience managing and sustaining positive and professional relationships with a variety of vendors ensuring a positive employee experience and adherence to Service Level Agreements
• Analytical, organized with strong planning skills always striving for continuous improvement
• Ability to collaborate with other lines of business and corporate functions (e.g. Finance and IT) advising on regulatory requirements and fiduciary obligations
• Demonstration of strong leadership capabilities, proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration systems (ADP / WFN or similar).
• Strong analytics skills for modeling, costing, and reporting, with advanced proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, dashboards, and data visualization).
• Excellent customer service skills and demonstrated confidence to provide value-added advice to uphold a positive employee experience in a dynamic environment
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and a variety of projects and timelines and work well under pressure
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization
• Highly organized and driven by results, with a strong sense of accountability and follow-through
• Strong knowledge of pension and benefits regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance with provincial and federal requirements.
• Skilled at developing and communicating employee benefits programs and changes to employees at all levels.
• Familiarity with survey providers (e.g., Mercer, Willis Towers Watson) and market competitiveness analysis.
• Experience supporting change management during plan transitions or vendor switches.
• Bilingualism (French and English) is an asset

What it's like to work here

At CPA Canada, we’re proud to foster a welcoming and inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes health and wellness for all employees. We believe in offering a flexible and balanced work environment, where staff can thrive both professionally and personally. Our headquarters is located in downtown Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. As part of the CPA Canada team, you’ll enjoy competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, a robust defined contribution pension plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities. We also offer flexible hours, hybrid working arrangements, regular social events, and a strong employee volunteer program. At CPA Canada, we’re always striving for improvement, working together to build a high-performing, innovative organization that creates value for Canadian CPAs and represents the profession, nationally and internationally.

Organization values

• We create a collaborative and constructive culture by :
• Acting with Integrity
• Fostering excellence
• Respecting Others
• Working Collaboratively
• Being Accountable

CPA Canada is committed to cultivating an inclusive, accessible environment where each employee feels respected, valued and supported. All qualified individuals may apply online. If you require a disability-related accommodation to participate in our recruitment process kindly contact [e-mail] and we'll be happy to work with you to meet your needs.

Senior Pension and Benefits Specialist