Payroll Specialist
Job description
About the role
Managing accurate, timely payroll for a distributed Canadian workforce defines this position. The specialist safeguards employee pay integrity while coordinating with HR and Finance partners.
Finance teams manage money, forecasts, and reporting. Analysts build models and explain variance. Controllers run accounting and compliance. FP&A professionals support decisions with budgets and forecasts. The work is precise, deadline driven, and tied to business results. Finance teams follow tight calendars, with monthly closes and annual planning cycles. Accuracy and auditability are expected on every deliverable.
Key facts
What you'll do
Timesheets and employee changes are validated to ensure input accuracy before submission. Off-cycle payments and adjustments are calculated and issued as situations require.
Payroll records are maintained in alignment with federal and provincial employment standards. Payroll reports are reconciled each period to identify and resolve discrepancies early. Month-end and year-end close activities, including T4 preparation, are supported. Employee inquiries on pay, deductions, and taxes are answered professionally. Data consistency is maintained across HR and Finance systems during key close periods. Process improvements are documented to strengthen payroll resilience.
Requirements
Multi-provincial Canadian payroll processing experience is brought to the role. ADP Workforce Now is used to run payroll operations. Knowledge of statutory deductions and provincial payroll legislation is demonstrated. PCP certification and US payroll exposure are considered assets. Accuracy is upheld while managing sensitive employee information. Multiple payroll deadlines are managed without missing a cycle. Pay, deductions, and taxes are explained clearly to employees. Excel is used to handle large data sets for reconciliation and reporting. AI-assisted tools are engaged during recruitment and day-to-day work.
Practical notes
The role requires in-office presence three days per week at the Toronto location. Mejuri offers comprehensive benefits, a hybrid model, vacation minimums, and parental top-ups. AI-assisted tools may screen applications; final hiring decisions involve human review. Typical interview steps
Finance interviews usually include technical questions on accounting or modeling, a case study, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to build a forecast or explain a variance. Spreadsheet skills are tested in most loops. Accuracy and clear explanations matter. Interviewers may give a real dataset and ask for a quick analysis. Showing your work and explaining assumptions matters as much as the final number.
Good to know
The role operates within a hybrid work environment that balances remote and in-office collaboration. General AI literacy supports effective collaboration with AI tools used in day-to-day workflows. The function relies on compliance, accuracy, and partnership with HR and Finance stakeholders. Data handling skills in Excel support payroll reconciliation and reporting. Clear communication with employees and cross-functional partners is essential.
Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.
Career growth
Finance careers move from analyst to senior analyst, manager, and controller or FP&A director levels. Some people earn certifications such as CPA or CFA. Cross-functional work with operations and leadership grows with seniority. Finance careers reward precision early and business partnership later. Learning the operations of the company beyond the numbers accelerates growth.
About the location
Canada's largest city has a strong tech and startup scene. Monthly costs around $2,600. King West and Liberty Village have coworking density. Internet is fast. Winters are cold (-10°C). Summers are warm and the city comes alive. Multicultural food scene.