Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Ontario Securities Commission•Toronto, ON

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is seeking a Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist to join its Human Resources team. This role is responsible for processing and delivering accurate remuneration, pension, and benefits to the organization, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legislation. The specialist will act as a subject matter expert in payroll administration, identify process improvements, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders. This is a business-critical role supporting the HR Department, with a focus on ensuring accurate payroll distribution, T4/T4A remittance, and year-end statements using the Workday Human Capital Management System.

Requirements

5 to 7 years of progressive payroll administration experience.
Current payroll compliance expertise in both federal and provincial environments, preferably within a government agency or midsize corporate organization.
Minimum 3 years direct experience with Workday payroll system.
Post-secondary diploma or degree in Payroll, Accounting, or Human Resources.
National Payroll Institute (formerly the Canadian Payroll Association) PCP certification completed or working towards.
Experience administering a Defined Benefits Pensions plan is an asset.
Solid communicator, both written and verbal.
Excellent team collaborator who can influence and build strong business partner relationships.
Proven ability to manage numerous competing priorities and commitments with extremely high attention to detail in an organized manner.
Experience partnering and being part of a Human Resources Team.
Proficient in technical skills, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Workday payroll (or similar payroll system).
Strong analytical and mathematical skills.
Solid understanding of Year End processes in payroll.
Self-starter, able to work independently, prioritize workload, make informed decisions, and respond to inquiries within a reasonable time frame.
Strong sense of urgency with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
Proactivity in identifying issues, proposing solutions, and driving improvements.
High levels of personal motivation and personal accountability.
Eagerness to learn with a demonstrated growth mindset.
Excellent attention to details, particularly in payroll, benefits, and compliance-related work.
Comfortable and confident interacting with staff at all levels of the organization.
Continuous improvement mindset towards processes and systems.
Ability to work with a high degree of independence of action while knowing when to escalate issues appropriately.
Strong project management skills, including planning, execution, and follow-through.
Intermediate to advanced skills in Excel, including the ability to analyze and manage data effectively.

Nice To Haves

PLP designation is an asset.
Experience administering a Defined Benefits Pensions plan is an asset.

Responsibilities

Oversee the timely and accurate payroll processing of the biweekly payroll using the Workday Human Capital Management System.
Liaise with insured benefits and defined pension benefits providers for administration and issue resolution.
Ensure compliance with Ontario payroll legislation, CRA requirements, and Employment Standards Act (ESA).
Implement internal and external auditor's control requirements and perform audits on payroll, time, and attendance output.
Reconcile government remittances regularly, handle inquiries from CRA and other government tax offices, and investigate discrepancies.
Provide feedback to ensure compliance with federal and provincial legislation and company policies.
Manage day-to-day benefit administration and provide recommendations for a sustainable benefits program.
Support the Payroll & Benefits Lead in preparing pension adjustments, processing T4s, analyzing Public Sector Salary Disclosure, and reconciling vacation liability and insured benefits.
Review and update payroll and benefits related internal process documentation and intranet content.
Lead biweekly, monthly, and quarterly reconciliation of payroll, benefits, and pension accounts, coordinating with Finance for provider invoices and government remittances.
Provide monthly severance accrual updates to Finance for accurate general ledger postings.
Develop and deliver standard and ad hoc reporting for compliance reviews, audits, and executive decision-making.
Monitor system data integrity in Workday HCM, ensuring reconciliation processes are audit-ready and compliant.
Provide specialist-level support and guidance to the Payroll and Benefits Administrator.
Oversee statutory reporting (T4s, pension adjustments, EHT, CPP, EI, etc.) ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely submission.
Provide guidance to HR team members on escalated issues through problem recognition, research, and analysis.
Troubleshoot and oversee issue resolution for all OSC employees regarding payroll, benefits, and pension functions.
Collaborate with business partners to support various programs, including recommendations for direction, alignment, and approval.
Manage escalated cases and complex employee inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and high service standards.
Contribute to policy updates and internal guidelines related to payroll and benefits operations.
Build strong relationships across the organization and represent the HR team at meetings, acting as a technical payroll resource.
Liaise with external vendors to coordinate and deliver employee workshops and seminars.
Support the technical set-up and accurate maintenance of payroll functions in Workday, including system integrations.
Act as a subject matter expert to ensure HR policies align with payroll legislation.
Support the preparation of monthly activity reports for the HR dashboard.