Human resources & payroll recruitmentPayroll administrator recruitment in Toronto and the GTA

What a payroll administrator does

A payroll administrator processes the organization's payroll from start to finish. That includes collecting hours and changes, calculating gross pay, deductions and net pay, withholding income tax, CPP and EI, remitting source deductions to the Canada Revenue Agency, issuing records of employment, handling vacation pay and final pays, and preparing T4 slips at year-end. Many payroll administrators also reconcile payroll accounts and support Ontario Employer Health Tax and WSIB reporting.

Payroll is one of the few business functions where every mistake is noticed right away by the people affected. Errors also create compliance problems, including penalties for late or incorrect remittances. Finch screens for hands-on Canadian payroll experience, the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation through the National Payroll Institute where required, and familiarity with your payroll software. We also confirm experience with your pay structure, such as hourly, salaried, unionized or multi-province employees.

Typical responsibilities

• Process regular and off-cycle payrolls accurately and on schedule
• Calculate and remit source deductions for income tax, CPP and EI
• Issue records of employment and process final pays
• Maintain payroll records, vacation accruals and employee changes
• Prepare T4 slips and year-end reconciliations
• Reconcile payroll accounts and support Employer Health Tax and WSIB reporting

Qualifications and credentials

• The Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation through the National Payroll Institute is often preferred
• Previous Canadian payroll processing experience, including year-end
• Familiarity with Ontario's Employment Standards Act as it applies to vacation pay, overtime and public holiday pay
• Experience with payroll software such as ADP, Ceridian Dayforce, Payworks or Wagepoint
• Strong Excel skills and a careful approach to numbers

Who hires a payroll administrator

• Mid-sized and large private companies
• Accounting firms that offer payroll services
• Manufacturers and construction companies with hourly or union staff
• Health care organizations and non-profit agencies
• Multi-location retail and hospitality businesses

Where we recruit payroll administrator candidates

We fill payroll administrator roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.

Interview questions to ask

1. Walk me through how you process a final pay for an employee who has resigned.
2. How do you check a payroll before it is released?
3. Tell me about a payroll error you found. How did you correct it and prevent it from happening again?