Payroll Specialist

Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Work Arrangement: On site Monday to Thursday Job Summary: Semtech Corporation is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join our Payroll Team in Richmond, BC. Under the direction of the Senior Manager, Payroll & Equity Management, the Payroll Specialist will administer the timely and accurate processing of payroll for over 400 employees across Canada using ADP Workforce Now, prepare all payroll-related journal entries, and reconcile payroll GL accounts in FloQast. The position requires strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, along with a continuous improvement mindset, to deliver exceptional service to our growing workforce in Canada. Responsibilities:

• Process and reconcile bi-weekly payroll for Canadian employees using ADP Workforce Now, including new hires, terminations and Records of Employment (ROEs), pay adjustments, deductions, garnishments, bonus payments, commissions, and equity payroll transactions (RSUs and stock options); respond to employee payroll inquiries. Own payroll end to end, resolve escalated issues, and review entries before final approval Work independently, developing solutions and adapting existing approaches where no established procedure exists, with review by the Senior Manager at critical points. Assess non-standard payroll situations (e.g., multi-province employee moves, retroactive adjustments, equity withholding on RSUs and stock options), identify the root cause, and recommend changes to payroll processes
• Audit data in Workday and ADP Workforce Now to ensure data integrity and compliance with legislation and company policies; verify that required documentation and approvals are in place and that employee files are complete.
• Work with federal and provincial labour and tax agencies (including CRA, Revenu Québec and provincial workers’ compensation boards) to prepare source deduction remittances, ensure payroll compliance, and resolve issues. Serve as the primary payroll contact for these agencies, and advise HR, Finance and managers on complex payroll matters, including taxable benefits, equity transactions, terminations and statutory compliance.
• Prepare quarterly, monthly and annual payroll reports as required.
• Complete benefit reconciliations and with remittances for Employer Health Tax (EHT) in BC and Ontario and workers’ compensation in multiple provinces, including CNESST.
• Assist with year-end activities, including updating taxable benefits, balancing T4s, RL-1s, producing T4As and T2200s, and completing the annual reconciliation of EHT and workers’ compensation premiums.
• Perform payroll accounting, including preparing payroll journals and month-end accruals, parking journal entries in SAP, performing variance analysis, investigating the cause of discrepancies and recommending a fix, coordinating with Finance to ensure accurate payroll reporting and GL interface, and reconciling payroll-related GL accounts in FloQast each month and explaining any variances.
• Participate in internal and external payroll audits and support internal controls documentation.
• Assist with payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementation projects.

• Post-secondary education in accounting, business, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience processing Canadian payroll in a multi-province environment, including Quebec (QPP, QPIP, Revenu Québec, RL-1).
• In-depth knowledge of Canadian federal and provincial payroll legislation (CPP/QPP, EI/QPIP, Income Tax Act, employment standards, workers’ compensation).
• Proficiency with payroll software and programs, including recent use of ADP Workforce Now.
• Proficiency with preparing payroll-related journal entries.
• Experience with month-end close and GL reconciliations.
• Intermediate Excel skills for reporting, metrics, and data validation (e.g., pivot tables and lookup functions).
• Solid planning and organizational skills with proven ability to manage competing priorities.
• Detail-oriented with a superior track record of achieving high-quality results.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with a flexible mindset, remain calm under pressure and manage time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to foster effective working relationships at all levels internally and with external partners, with a strong drive to collaborate and work as part of a team.
• Able to solve problems, identify opportunities, take initiative and think through future implications.
• Proven ability to work independently and to advise HR, Finance and managers on complex payroll matters.
• Proven ability to maintain sensitive and highly confidential information.

• Completed Canadian Payroll Association certification (PCP or CPM).
• Familiarity with the SAP system.
• Experience with Workday is an asset.
• Familiarity with equity payroll transactions, including RSUs and stock options.
• Experience with FloQast experience an asset.