Senior Payroll Specialist

About the role

The Senior Payroll Specialist is a senior individual contributor and payroll operations lead responsible for delivering accurate, compliant, and well‑controlled payroll across multiple Canadian legal entities in a modern, lean payroll operating model. This role goes beyond payroll processing, covering end‑to‑end execution, accounting, statutory compliance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement while operating with a high degree of autonomy.

Key responsibilities

• Process, validate and oversee bi‑weekly and off‑cycle payroll for multiple legal entities, ensuring alignment with calendars, policies and legislative requirements.
• Maintain payroll compliance by preparing CRA and provincial remittances, Employer Health Tax, workers’ compensation filings and Quebec payroll requirements.
• Administer benefits billing, reconcile vendor invoices and support year‑end benefits reporting.
• Prepare payroll‑related journal entries, accruals and balance‑sheet reconciliations, partnering with Finance for month‑end close and audits.
• Lead root‑cause analysis of payroll discrepancies, implement corrective actions and track recurring issues.
• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits, maintain control documentation and develop audit evidence.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert for Dayforce, support system upgrades, testing and automation initiatives.
• Act as escalation point for complex payroll inquiries, providing guidance to HR, Finance, Tax, Benefits and leadership.

Required profile

• Proven ability to work autonomously and serve as escalation point for complex payroll matters.
• Strong partnership skills with Finance, HR, Tax, Benefits, vendors and senior leadership.
• Experience delivering end‑to‑end payroll for multiple Canadian entities, including statutory compliance.

Required skills

• Dayforce payroll system