Job Title: Senior Payroll Administrator
Full-time Opportunity | Hybrid in the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area | Salary: $69,000–$94,000/annum, commensurate with experience | Must hold a valid Canadian Work Visa
Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Administrator for a permanent, full-time opportunity based in Vancouver.
Reporting to the Controller within the Finance department, the Senior Payroll Administrator will oversee the organization's full-cycle, bi-weekly payroll operations, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with applicable legislation, collective agreements, and organizational policies.
This role encompasses payroll processing, benefits and pension administration, employee expense reimbursements, statutory remittances, year-end reporting, payroll reconciliations, and HRMS administration. The successful candidate will also play an important role in improving payroll processes, strengthening internal controls, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and data integrity.
Working collaboratively with Finance, IT, Operations, and external service providers, the Senior Payroll Administrator will serve as a key payroll subject matter expert, providing guidance on complex payroll matters and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
The ideal candidate brings 5–7 years of progressive Canadian payroll experience, strong knowledge of payroll legislation and compliance, and demonstrated experience administering payroll within a unionized environment. A recognized payroll certification, strong HRMS proficiency, and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills are essential.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and administer full-cycle, bi-weekly payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accurate and timely payments
- Review, validate, and process payroll entries, timesheets, overtime, allowances, and employee expense reimbursements
- Ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of expense submissions, including employee allowances and reimbursements
- Prepare and complete payroll reconciliations, payroll journal entries, registries, and supporting financial documentation
- Calculate, prepare, and remit statutory and other payroll deductions to applicable government agencies, pension administrators, and other third parties
- Ensure compliance with applicable Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, collective agreements, organizational policies, and procedures
- Interpret collective agreement provisions and apply appropriate payroll rules to ensure accurate compensation and deductions
- Administer and validate taxable benefits, pension contributions, and employee benefit deductions
- Lead payroll year-end processing, reconciliations, reporting, and statutory filings
- Prepare, reconcile, distribute, and file annual T4 slips and related CRA reporting
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee payroll records in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and organizational requirements
- Review and audit employee timesheets to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with payroll policies
- Respond to and resolve employee inquiries regarding payroll, timesheets, deductions, benefits, and expense reimbursements
- Ensure payroll processes and records meet internal and external audit requirements, providing supporting documentation and reports as needed
- Manage relationships with external payroll service providers, monitoring performance and ensuring agreed service levels are maintained
- Serve as a payroll and HRMS subject matter expert, supporting system functionality, data integrity, troubleshooting, and user inquiries
- Collaborate with Finance, IT, and Operations leadership to identify opportunities to improve payroll services, reporting, and system capabilities
- Translate organizational payroll requirements into effective HRMS processes, system configurations, and operational procedures
- Review existing payroll controls, workflows, and procedures to identify opportunities for automation, efficiency improvements, and reduced manual processing
- Recommend and implement payroll best practices, internal control enhancements, and process improvements
- Develop and maintain accurate payroll procedures, process documentation, and supporting reference materials
- Define and monitor relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure payroll service quality, accuracy, and operational effectiveness
- Provide training and guidance to employees and internal stakeholders on HRMS functionality and expense submission systems as required
- Support ongoing payroll-related projects, system enhancements, and organizational change initiatives
Qualifications:
- 5–7 years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including comprehensive knowledge of Canadian payroll administration and compliance
- Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation, or Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification with progress toward the CPM designation, or equivalent qualifications
- Completion of relevant professional payroll courses and membership in good standing with a recognized Canadian payroll association
- 3–5 years of experience working with Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS)
- Experience with Ultimate Software (UltiPro/UKG Pro) is considered an asset
- Demonstrated experience administering full-cycle payroll for both salaried and hourly employees
- Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, statutory deductions, taxable benefits, pension administration, and year-end reporting requirements
- Proven experience with T4 preparation, payroll reconciliations, statutory remittances, and payroll-related financial reporting
- Experience working in a unionized environment is required, including interpreting and applying collective agreement provisions
- Strong understanding of payroll systems, methods, internal controls, compliance requirements, and audit procedures
- Experience managing payroll-related employee expenses, reimbursements, allowances, and benefit deductions
- Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and confidential employee information in accordance with applicable privacy requirements
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and resolve complex payroll issues
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications
- Experience identifying and implementing payroll process improvements, automation opportunities, and system enhancements
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with a strong commitment to accuracy, compliance, and timely completion of work
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll-related information clearly to employees and stakeholders
- Excellent client service skills, with experience responding to employee inquiries and resolving sensitive or complex issues professionally
- Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, management, and external service providers
- Strong collaboration and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments
- Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently
- Adaptable and proactive, with a willingness to support organizational changes and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ability to commute to the Vancouver office on Tuesdays and Thursdays as part of the hybrid work arrangement
NOTE: Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications are encouraged to apply directly. Due to the volume of applications, only those shortlisted will be contacted.
