Sr. Payroll Specialist

Overview

This role is for a Senior Payroll Specialist responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for employees across the United States and Canada. The position requires expertise in Workday Payroll and involves supporting end-to-end payroll operations, compliance, audits, reporting, system enhancements, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly and off-cycle payrolls for U.S. and Canadian employees, including hourly and salaried staff
• Review and validate payroll inputs such as time records, salary changes, new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, deductions, garnishments, and manual adjustments
• Manage payroll activities including regular pay, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, commissions, severance, retroactive pay, equity-related compensation, and other special payments
• Review payroll totals and coordinate accurate hand-off to Treasury and Accounting
• Ensure payroll data is prepared, validated, and transmitted accurately and on time to internal partners and external payroll providers
• Support manual checks, voids, stop payments, reversals, and reissues as needed
• Ensure compliance with applicable U.S. federal, state, and local payroll laws as well as Canadian federal and provincial payroll legislation
• Support payroll compliance activities related to tax withholding, garnishments, third-party remittances, pension and benefit deductions, and wage and hour requirements including FLSA
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll in the U.S. and Canada and implement required process or system updates
• Support year-end payroll activities, including reporting and filings such as W-2s, W-2Cs, T4s, T4A, and RL1s
• Perform pre-payroll and post-payroll audits to validate payroll results, deductions, tax treatment, and gross-to-net accuracy
• Investigate payroll variances, identify root causes, and resolve discrepancies before payroll finalization and financial close
• Serve as a Workday Payroll subject matter expert (SME) for North American payroll operations, supporting system integrity, testing, validation, and payroll-related changes
• Partner with HRIS, Tax, Finance, and vendors on system enhancements, upgrades, integrations, issue resolution, and testing cycles
• Run standard and ad hoc payroll reports in Workday and ensure data accuracy across payroll, timekeeping, and related interfaces
• Support payroll processing for equity-based compensation transactions, including restricted stock, stock options, and employee stock purchase plan activity
• Respond to payroll escalations professionally and accurately while communicating clearly with stakeholders
• Identify trends in payroll tickets, recurring issues, control gaps, and opportunities for automation and process improvement
• Maintain and update payroll documentation, standard operating procedures, training materials, and process guides
• Provide guidance, knowledge sharing, and training to peers, junior team members, and new hires on U.S. and Canadian Workday payroll processes

Requirements

• 4–5+ years of progressive Canadian and U.S. payroll experience in a large, multi-state and multi-provincial environment
• Demonstrated experience processing payroll for both the United States and Canada
• Strong hands-on experience with Workday Payroll (required)
• Experience managing complex payroll scenarios involving taxes, garnishments, deductions, audits, reconciliations, and year-end processing
• Strong understanding of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll requirements and Canadian federal and provincial payroll legislation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex payroll issues with high accuracy and accountability
• Comfortable working collaboratively in a team environment and independently with minimal supervision
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, macros, data validation, and reconciliation analysis
• Effective communication skills and confidence partnering with HR, Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, HRIS, Shared Services, and external vendors
• Ability to train others on payroll processes and develop SOPs, job aids, process documentation, and training materials

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP, FCP, or PCP certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field
• Experience with ADP Smart Compliance and related support tools
• Experience supporting payroll-related system enhancements, integrations, and testing cycles
• Exposure to equity-based compensation payroll processing in Workday

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $72,000 - $85,000 USD / $61,600 - $79,700 CAD, plus incentives aligned with individual and company performance
• Actual salary varies based on work location, qualifications, skills, education, experience, and competencies
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, comprehensive employee assistance program, 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid time off and holidays, and paid learning days

Location & Work Authorization

• This position requires legal authorization to work in the United States
• Candidates must reside in the United States or have a valid U.S. address for residence

Additional Information

• The role involves regular use of computer, keyboard, telephone/headset, and other office equipment; work is generally sedentary
• Candidates may be required to undergo background screening and identity verification, including biometric verification where permitted by law
• The employer is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, promoting equal opportunity without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy or related condition, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected basis
• Reasonable accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities during the recruitment process
• Artificial intelligence tools may be used in the screening and assessment of applicants

Application Deadline

• Applications are accepted until July 27, 2026
• This is an immediate vacancy with a preference for candidates who can start as soon as possible