Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

WHY WORK FOR THE YMCA?

The YMCA of Niagara is a mission-driven organization committed to fueling a healthy, connected, and engaged Niagara. Our presence in over 100 program sites has been impacting the community with dedication and purpose for over 150 years.

Our legacy in the community is a testament to the transformative work we do. We serve a diverse range of individuals and families, with a commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and the wellbeing of all. As we move forward, we are embracing a revitalized approach to meet the evolving needs of the community and actively contribute to transforming lives across Niagara.

Guided by our shared values – caring, health, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, advocacy, and responsibility - the YMCA provides our employees with meaningful opportunities to make a positive impact on individuals and the health of our communities.

Our dynamic team is dedicated to maintaining our growth trajectory though continuously adapting and innovating our services and programs to meet the changing landscape in Niagara.

NATURE & SCOPE

• The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for all payroll and workforce management software configurations, ensuring integrity and optimization.


• The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is accountable for supporting the bi-weekly payroll for both salaried and hourly staff ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, and in compliance with all legal and contractual requirements


• The Payroll & Benefits Specialist ensures timely remittance of government source deductions, taxes, reconciliations, reporting and all other associated requirements are completed within deadlines


• The Payroll & Benefits Specialist ensures that all contractual requirements are met for pension and benefit plans


• Leads and supports system release management, including reviewing vendor updates, testing configuration changes, validating impacts, and implementing updates in coordination with HR and Finance.


• The Payroll & Benefits Specialist works closely with the HR and Finance departments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support biweekly payroll and all changes, new hires, terminations, premium payments, manual adjustments, allocations, garnishments, calculation of statutory holiday pay.


• Ensure the payroll system and processes are current, reflecting all updates and legislative changes.


• Ensure payroll software configuration is updated as per latest releases


• Supports all configuration changes to payroll, WFM (work force management, scheduling), reporting and any applicable modules of the payroll software


• Ensures configuration is aligned and supports HR processing and Finance reporting requirements


• Supervise, maintain, process, add and remove all applicable staff in benefits and pension plan as per guidelines and reconcile all benefits for hourly & salary staff


• Support and review calculations, balancing, closing of the payroll; submission of the EFT file to bank for processing; follow up on deposits rejected due to incorrect banking information.


• Support and reconcile reporting that includes Generate Payroll Summary, Payroll Exceptions and Payroll Salary Reports for pay period; generate and reconcile General Ledger reports.


• Reconcile and Remit Government source deductions and taxes, remit payroll garnishments, process seasonal wage grant submissions.


• Maintain Business Structure for organization, through HMC Profiles, Organizational Sets, Employee Group Profiles, adding new job’s structure.


• Calculate employee payroll advances; submit cheque requests.


• Configure, maintain and process annual salary rate increases and other exceptional changes to benefits or salaries such as the Seasonal Holiday benefit.


• Process T4’s and T4A’s.


• Ensure accurate up-to-date, employee documentation; ensure confidentiality and appropriate custody of payroll information.


• UKG Workforce Management Advanced Scheduling – monitor employee schedules, assist managers with issues/concerns. Create pattern/shift templates when requested.


• Maintain Employee Accruals, reset accruals, create new accrual profiles and policies, and Self- service functions.


• Manage payroll documentation flow within the Association; educate supervisors and managers about payroll procedures; train employees both in and outside the department in payroll systems.


• Process terminations in accordance with all legal and contractual requirements.


• Process ROEs for terminations and cyclical payroll swings around such events as Christmas, March Break, Camp, and summer Childcare layoffs, in accordance with legislative requirements.


• Respond to information requests from employees, leadership, staff, HRDC, insurers, and others.


• Monitor compliance issues (e.g. overtime) in conjunction with HR; monitor hours worked to ensure staff categories are appropriate.


• Process employee benefits in payroll; enrollments, changes, terminations; ensure correct rates in accordance with entitlement and family status; generate premium reports and submit payment to insurers.


• Ensure contractual requirements for the pension plan are met; determine eligibility dates for voluntary and mandatory enrollment, and special or voluntary contributions and notify staff.


• Process pension enrollments in payroll, terminations, transfers, voluntary and special contributions.


• Generate all pension contribution reports and submit payment to plan administrator.


• Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Payroll Practitioner or Certified Payroll Manager designation (Canadian Payroll Association) or equivalency


• 5-7 years' experience in Payroll for an organization with a minimum of 200 staff


• Strong interpersonal skills


• Strong detail orientation


• Ability to work effectively independently under strict, ongoing deadlines


• Upon hiring, applicants 18 years of age and older must submit a clear and satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) issued for the YMCA of Niagara.

COMPETENCIES

Integrity
Demonstrates responsible behaviour at all times and maintains high ethical standards

Teamwork
Actively builds teams and encourages open relationships for maximum organizational effectiveness.

Problem Solving
Identifies an issue and works towards a solution.

Planning and Organizing
Establishes a clearly defined and effective course of action for self and others to accomplish short- and long-term work goals.

Conflict Resolution
Facilitates appropriate and timely solutions to conflict.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants are invited to submit an application by noon on February 4, 2026

Internal applicants are encouraged to apply on our internal job board by logging into their UKG portal and navigating to Myself > My Company > View Opportunities. Internal applicants are also encouraged to notify their supervisor before applying.

All applicants are thanked for their interest. Only those applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted by email.

Accessibility accommodations and materials in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities can be arranged upon request.

For more information on other opportunities at the YMCA of Niagara, please visit: ymcaofniagara.org