Payroll Accounting Specialist

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

About The Position

The Payroll Accounting Specialist is responsible for ensuring accurate payroll accounting, reconciliation, and reporting in compliance with company policies, GAAP, and regulatory requirements. This role plays a key part in bridging payroll operations and accounting, with a strong focus on maintaining data integrity within Workday and supporting financial close activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
3–5+ years of payroll accounting or related experience
Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll and/or Workday Financials required
Strong knowledge of general ledger and payroll accounting principles
Advanced proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, data analysis)
Experience with ERP systems (Workday strongly preferred)
Understanding of payroll taxes, garnishments, and benefits accounting
High attention to detail and strong analytical skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
Strong problem-solving and reconciliation capabilities
Effective communication and collaboration skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in a multi-state or global payroll environment
Knowledge of SOX controls and compliance
Experience with payroll integrations and system implementations

Responsibilities

Perform payroll-related journal entries, accruals, and adjustments in the general ledger
Reconcile payroll accounts including wages, taxes, benefits, deductions, and liabilities
Investigate and resolve discrepancies between payroll, HRIS (Workday), and financial systems
Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes
Maintain and audit payroll-related data within Workday for accuracy and completeness
Partner with HRIS and Payroll teams to ensure proper configuration of earnings, deductions, and costing allocations
Generate and analyze Workday payroll reports for accounting and audit purposes
Assist with payroll system updates, testing, and enhancements
Ensure payroll accounting complies with federal, state, and local regulations
Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and reconciliations
Prepare payroll-related financial reports and variance analyses
Ensure accurate posting of payroll tax liabilities and payments
Work closely with Payroll, Finance, HR, and Benefits teams to resolve issues and improve processes
Participate in continuous process improvement initiatives, including automation and standardization
Assist in implementing best practices in payroll accounting and financial controls