Payroll and Benefits Manager

Payroll and Benefits Manager

Hamilton, ON – Onsite – Full-Time – Senior Position

We are seeking a top-level Payroll and Benefits Manager for our heavy manufacturing client in Hamilton Ontario.

The Payroll and Benefits Manager is responsible for the effective administration of payroll, employee benefits, pension programs and HR processes for Canadian and U.S. employees.

This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President of Human Resources, this role ensures accurate payroll processing, regulatory compliance, financial reporting, and exceptional employee support.

The successful candidate will work closely with Finance, Human Resources, external consultants, benefit providers, pension trustees, and government agencies to manage payroll operations, benefit programs, pension administration, HR systems, and related compliance requirements.

This is a unionized environment with over 2,000 employees.

Payroll Administration

• Administer Canadian and U.S. salaried payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and confidential processing.
• Oversee Canadian hourly payroll administration in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and applicable legislation.
• Review payroll registers, coordinate payroll funding, and maintain accurate payroll records.
• Prepare and file annual payroll reporting, including T4s, T4As, and U.S. Forms W-2.
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, tax requirements, employment standards, and company policies.

Benefits Administration

• Manage the day-to-day administration of Canadian and U.S. employee benefit programs, including health, dental, life, disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) plans.
• Administer short-term and long-term disability claims, including coordination of return-to-work programs.
• Lead annual benefit renewals, carrier negotiations, and cost-containment initiatives.
• Liaise with benefit providers, consultants, legal counsel, and employees regarding plan administration.
• Maintain accurate benefit records and reconcile eligibility files, carrier invoices, and management reports.
• Administer Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plan requirements and regulatory filings.

Pension Administration

• Serve as a member of the Company's Pension Committee.
• Administer defined benefit, defined contribution, and SIMPLE IRA pension plans.
• Process pension transactions, including retirements, enrolments, pension adjustments, lump-sum payments, and benefit calculations.
• Maintain pension records and ensure compliance with applicable legislation and filing requirements.
• Prepare pension reports, funding schedules, benefit forecasts, and regulatory filings, including:
• Annual Information Returns (AIR),
• Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF) Returns.
• Form 7
• Pension Adjustments (PA),
• Past Service Pension Adjustments (PSPA),
• Pension Adjustment Reversals (PAR), and
• GST Selected Listed Financial Institutions (SLFI) Returns.
• Monitor pension funding requirements and support ongoing process improvements.

Payroll Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Prepare and reconcile payroll, benefit, and pension-related journal entries.
• Reconcile payroll liabilities, source deductions, benefit premiums, and pension contributions.
• Process statutory remittances, including EHT, WSIB, and other regulatory statutory obligations.
• Calculate monthly insurance premiums (i.e., life insurance, long-term disability and AD&D) and prepare related payments.
• Prepare weekly funding requirements for the Administrative Services Only (ASO) account.
• Support monthly and year-end financial reporting activities.
• Provide payroll, pension, and benefit information for financial statement preparation.

Human Resources Administration

• Support the administration of HR policies, procedures, and employment documentation.
• Manage HRIS administration, including system maintenance, reporting, and data integrity.
• Prepare employment and consultant agreements and maintain employee records.
• Provide workforce reporting and HR support to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with applicable employment legislation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, human resources, business administration, or a related field
• Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation required.
• Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) designation is considered an asset.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressive payroll and benefits administration experience.
• Experience administering both Canadian and U.S. payroll is preferred.
• Experience with defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.
• Experience in a manufacturing and unionized environment is considered an asset.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, pension regulations, and payroll accounting principles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now required; AS400 or ERP experience considered an asset.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package, including:

• Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience - $120,000+- depending on experience + annual bonus of 10-15% of annual salary based on performance metrics.
• Comprehensive health, dental, life, and disability benefits.
• Company-funded defined contribution pension plan.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

We value candidate experience. This is a real job. Our system uses AI to suggest good matches, but a human will read and assess (screen) each application. At times, you will be asked to do an initial recorded video interview but a human will watch, listen and assess this recorded video interview and do the subsequent interviews.