Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Vaughan, ON (On-Site)

Salary: $85,000–$100,000 + discretionary bonus

Industry: Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the HR Manager and working closely with senior leadership, including the President, you’ll own payroll and benefits administration end-to-end and serve as the go-to resource for employees on pay and benefits questions. This role suits someone who takes pride in getting payroll right every time, works independently, and wants a visible, trusted role in a stable, growing organization with real room for advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing for approximately 500+ hourly and salaried employees across multiple Ontario locations
• Administer pay in Dayforce, ensuring accurate setup, data integrity, and timely processing every cycle
• Calculate and process manufacturing-specific earnings, including production, tonnage, and target-based bonuses that vary by pay period
• Manage year-end processes, including T4 preparation, reconciliations, and statutory remittances
• Administer group benefits and group RRSP programs in full, including enrolments, changes, terminations, and carrier reconciliations
• Act as the frontline point of contact for employees on payroll and benefits questions, including in-person support for team members on the production floor
• Work through a structured knowledge transfer with the outgoing payroll lead and document processes for continuity
• Partner with HR and Finance on payroll reporting, audits, and process improvements

What You Bring

• Proven experience running full-cycle payroll independently in a standalone or lead role
• Payroll experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or unionized hourly environment, with a solid understanding of shift, overtime, and incentive pay
• Hands-on experience with an enterprise payroll/HRIS platform such as Dayforce, ADP, or UKG
• Full-cycle benefits and group retirement plan administration experience
• Strong Canadian year-end experience
• Exceptional attention to detail and organization, with the ability to deliver accurate work with minimal oversight
• Confident, approachable communication with employees at all levels, including face-to-face support
• Comfortable working on-site five days per week

Nice to Have

• Dayforce experience specifically
• U.S. payroll exposure, including working with a third-party U.S. payroll provider
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) or Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation

Next Steps

We do appreciate all interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Clarity Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and workplace. If you require accommodation, please let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Please note: We use AI-assisted tools for notetaking during the screening process.

JOB ID # 3693348

About Clarity Recruitment

Clarity is an executive search and recruitment firm specializing in Finance & Accounting talent across Canada - from accountants to CFOs. Additionally, Clarity partners with organizations to hire exceptional talent in HR, Operations, and IT, helping build the teams that power business success. Our process is designed to minimize risk, maximize alignment, and move quickly. With dedicated practices in Executive Search, Full-Time Search, and Project & Interim Consulting, we help organizations grow with confidence. Visit findingclarity.ca to learn more!