Payroll Specialist

Jobtailor; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Houston, TX is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll for US and Canadian employees on a biweekly and semi-monthly cadence. You will ensure accurate earnings, deductions, tax filings, and timely submissions while maintaining data integrity in our payroll systems.

You will collaborate with finance and HR to resolve discrepancies, support audits, and implement improvements across time tracking, benefits, and system configurations.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of payroll experience for Canada and United States.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now for payroll processing and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian and US payroll legislation, taxation, and compliance requirements.
• Payroll certification (PCP) is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Responsibilities

• Process end to end payroll for Canadian and US employees on a biweekly / semi monthly basis.
• Ensure all earnings, deductions, and statutory remittances are calculated accurately.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity within payroll systems.
• Coordinate payroll changes including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and benefits updates.
• Administer time and attendance processes, including timesheet submission, review, and approval workflows.
• Validate employee hours, overtime, and project coding for accuracy and completeness.
• Partner with managers to resolve timesheet discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Ensure alignment between approved timesheets and payroll processing timelines.
• Support continuous improvement of time tracking processes and system utilization.
• Ensure compliance with federal, provincial, and state payroll legislation.
• Prepare and reconcile statutory filings including CRA, IRS, and relevant state agencies.
• Manage year end processes including T4, RL1, W2, and related filings.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll documentation and analysis.
• Administer employee benefits programs including enrolments, changes, and deductions.
• Reconcile benefit invoices and work closely with vendors.
• Ensure accurate processing of RRSP and 401k contributions.
• Perform regular payroll reconciliations and resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between payroll, general ledger, and financial reporting.
• Maintain strong internal controls and identify opportunities for process improvements.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Provide guidance on payroll related matters including deductions, taxation, and benefit impacts.

Skills

Payroll experience

Canada & US payroll

ADP Workforce Now

Payroll legislation

Excel proficiency

Time & attendance

Payroll implementations

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Education

Payroll certification (PCP)

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Excel

Job description

Responsibilities

• Process end to end payroll for Canadian and US employees on a biweekly / semi monthly basis
• Ensure all earnings, deductions, and statutory remittances are calculated accurately
• Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity within payroll systems
• Coordinate payroll changes including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and benefits updates
• Administer time and attendance processes, including timesheet submission, review, and approval workflows
• Validate employee hours, overtime, and project coding for accuracy and completeness
• Partner with managers to resolve timesheet discrepancies in a timely manner
• Ensure alignment between approved timesheets and payroll processing timelines
• Support continuous improvement of time tracking processes and system utilization
• Ensure compliance with federal, provincial, and state payroll legislation
• Prepare and reconcile statutory filings including CRA, IRS, and relevant state agencies
• Manage year end processes including T4, RL1, W2, and related filings
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll documentation and analysis
• Administer employee benefits programs including enrolments, changes, and deductions
• Reconcile benefit invoices and work closely with vendors
• Ensure accurate processing of RRSP and 401k contributions
• Perform regular payroll reconciliations and resolve discrepancies
• Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between payroll, general ledger, and financial reporting
• Maintain strong internal controls and identify opportunities for process improvements
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely and professional manner
• Provide guidance on payroll related matters including deductions, taxation, and benefit impacts

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of payroll experience, including Canada and United States
• Experience using ADP Workforce Now for payroll processing and reporting
• Solid understanding of Canadian and US payroll legislation, taxation, and compliance requirements
• Payroll certification (e.g., PCP) or working towards is considered an asset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Experience with time and attendance systems, including timesheet management
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations, migrations, or enhancements is an asset
• Experience in an engineering, consulting, or project-based environment is an asset
• Strong attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy and accountability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines