Payroll Specialist - North America

Key Responsibilities:

• Process accurate and timely payroll for hourly and salary employees in the United States and Canada, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Administer payroll for multiple states and provinces, ensuring proper taxation, benefits, and deductions are applied.
• Work closely with HR, finance, and management teams to resolve payroll discrepancies, address employee inquiries, and ensure data accuracy.
• Review and process employee timekeeping data, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and provincial tax laws, wage and hour laws, and other payroll-related regulations.
• Prepare and file payroll-related tax filings, including quarterly and annual reports (e.g., T4, T4A, W2, W-3, etc.).
• Assist with the year-end reconciliation process, including reviewing and distributing annual tax forms to employees.
• Support audits and respond to inquiries from external agencies (e.g., tax authorities, auditors, etc.).
• Maintain and update employee payroll records, including changes to wages, deductions, direct deposit, and other personal information.
• Provide payroll-related reporting to management, as needed, including ad-hoc reports on compensation, labor costs, and tax filings.
• Assist in the development and implementation of payroll best practices and process improvements.
• Prepare accounting reconciliation for payroll GL accounts, familiar with SAP Financial software to upload Payroll GL Files and if needed know how to look up information for reconciliation purposes.
• Run payroll reports as needed in Paylocity.
• Review non-exempt timecards for hours worked and work with supervisors to ensure timecard accuracy.
• Register the business when a new tax jurisdiction is required for payroll tax withholding.
• Manage tax tracers and tax jurisdictions notifications regarding payroll taxes.
• Manage garnishments when received by the Courts and process accurately.
• Work with the Benefits Manager very closely on leave of absence management and benefit changes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in payroll processing for North American (US and Canada).
• Strong knowledge of payroll systems, particularly with Paylocity.
• In-depth understanding of payroll taxes, benefits, and deductions.
• Familiarity with labor laws and regulations across multiple states and provinces.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work in US time zone.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification preferred, but not required.