Sr. Payroll Specialist

Overview

This role supports accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations for employees across the United States and Canada. You will serve as a Workday Payroll subject matter expert and help ensure end-to-end payroll processing, compliance, audits, reporting, system enhancements, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Process end-to-end bi-weekly and off-cycle payrolls for U.S. and Canadian employees, including hourly and salaried populations
• Review and validate payroll inputs such as time records, salary changes, new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, deductions, garnishments, and manual adjustments
• Support payroll activities involving regular pay, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, commissions, severance, retroactive pay, equity-related compensation, and other special payments
• Review payroll totals and support 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 help 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, where applicable
• 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 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 help 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 with professionalism, accuracy, and urgency 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 US 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 a high level of accuracy and accountability
• Comfortable working both 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
• Ability to train others on payroll processes and develop SOPs, job aids, process documentation, and training materials
• Effective communication skills and confidence partnering with HR, Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, HRIS, Shared Services, and external vendors

Preferred Qualifications

• Hold a 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 plus incentives that align with individual and company performance
• Actual salaries vary based on work location, qualifications, skills, education, experience, and competencies
• Benefits available to eligible employees 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

Across the United States and Canada.

Work Authorization

In accordance with federal law, only applicants who are legally authorized to work in the United States will be considered for this position. Must reside in the United States or have a valid U.S. address for residence.

Application Details

• Deadline to apply: September 2, 2026
• This position is for an existing, immediate vacancy, with an opportunity to start as soon as possible.

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Regularly required to operate a computer, keyboard, telephone/headset, and/or other office equipment as essential functions of this position
• Work is generally sedentary in nature

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer promotes equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate in any phase of the employment process based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy or related condition, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other basis protected by law.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities to participate in any stage of the application or interview process. All information is treated confidentially and used solely to facilitate participation in the recruitment process.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist with screening and/or assessment of job applicants, including evaluating resumes, applications, and other submitted materials.