Senior Payroll Advisor

Overview

This role supports US-based full-cycle payroll and related payroll and benefits administration for all US work locations. Responsibilities include ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, coordination with third-party payroll vendors, and ongoing maintenance of reliable time and attendance and benefit system data.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly/semi-monthly full-cycle payroll for all US-based employees.
• Ensure US payroll practices are effective and efficient, delivering accurate and timely payroll processing across all US work locations.
• Prepare payroll and benefits remittances; lead year-end reporting activities (e.g., W-2s, W-2Cs).
• Input data and run processing activities on the regular US payroll cycle for all work locations.
• Meet payroll processing deadlines by ensuring internal processes are effective and efficient.
• Ensure payroll processing transactions are accurate and consistent with organizational guidelines and federal, state, and local legislative requirements.
• Identify payroll processing errors and provide solutions and/or recommendations as required.
• Liaise with third-party payroll vendor(s) regarding payroll and reporting delivery; assist with review of vendor performance and services as required.
• Reconcile payroll accounts and support month-end activities.
• Ensure third-party transactions are accurate and legislatively compliant.
• Ensure time and attendance practices are reliable and effective.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll, benefits, and related matters in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain confidential employee records in accordance with organizational policies and privacy standards.
• Maintain data integrity in payroll and benefits systems and protect all payroll-related data.
• Generate custom and system-based reports for internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues and employees to address payroll, benefits, and 401(k) inquiries with professionalism and accuracy.
• Ensure accurate enrollment, maintenance, and termination of eligible employees in benefit systems, including processing changes as required.
• Support disability and leave management processes (e.g., FMLA, state leave laws), ensuring documentation is complete and aligned with current practices.
• Administer 401(k)/retirement savings plans and respond promptly to employee inquiries.
• Continually review payroll systems for efficiency and accuracy and recommend system improvements.
• Serve as the US multi-state compliance subject matter expert, partnering with the Corporate Payroll Manager on alignment with the Canadian payroll team.
• Maintain a service-oriented approach when working with management, colleagues, and employee inquiries.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of direct experience in US payroll administration with large, multi-state organizations.
• Strong knowledge of US federal, state, and local payroll legislation and tax regulations.
• Demonstrated experience in full-cycle payroll and benefit administration.
• Experience using HRIS/Payroll platforms, ideally using UKG.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to handle confidential information with discretion and diplomacy.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Very detail-oriented with extremely high attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Related education, including Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation (Payroll Org/American Payroll Association) considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation and tax regulations is an asset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Profit sharing.
• Comprehensive benefits program.

Location

• US-based employees across all US work locations.