Payroll Specialist

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada · Waterloo, Ontario · First seen 2026-11-05

Apply on company site View on the company's hiring page (sunlife.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com)

Posted by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada on the hiring system it uses for its careers page; applications go straight to the company.

Can I apply?

  • Contract
  • Work permit not stated

15-month contract Payroll Specialist in Waterloo, ON (Sun Life), reporting to the Senior Payroll Manager; the ATS "full_time" label is overridden by the posting's contract wording.

Core duties: biweekly end-to-end payroll for 7,000+ US employees, US payroll tax compliance and year-end tax forms, reconciliations, audits and payroll inquiries.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business, HR or related field and 2+ years of HR, payroll or accounting experience; working knowledge of US payroll and taxation is needed.

Can I apply? Posted salary is 52,500 - 81,500 with no currency or pay period stated; work authorization is not specified; the posting lists an end date of 08/11/2026, which is ambiguous in format.

From the posting
locations
ATS location: Waterloo, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario
employment types
This is a 15 Month Contract Opportunity
contract length months
This is a 15-month contract position
salary
52,500/52 500 - 81,500/81 500
job function
Job Category: Human Resources
role family
Job Category: Human Resources
skills
knowledge of ADP GlobalView and Workday would be an asset
years experience min
Minimum of 2+ years HR, Payroll or Accounting experience
education required
Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources or related field
actionable
Process end-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing for 7,000+ US employees
scam risk
Reporting to the Senior Payroll Manager, Payroll Operations, the Payroll Specialist will be responsible to process biweekly payroll for 7,000+ US employees.

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

** This is a 15 Month Contract Opportunity **

Reporting to the Senior Payroll Manager, Payroll Operations, the Payroll Specialist will be responsible to process biweekly payroll for 7,000+ US employees. This is a 15-month contract position responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll, tax and benefit processing while adhering to the local policies, regulations, and compliance requirements within their mandate. The Payroll Specialist will actively participate in the process improvement, month end and year end processes. This position will also be accountable for assisting in all payroll-related audits, and payroll related inquiries.

What will you do?

- Process end-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing for 7,000+ US employees ensuring that salaries, bonuses, overtime, deductions, and other adjustments are accurately calculated and paid on time

- Reconcile payroll data against company records to ensure accuracy and completeness

- Ensure payroll processing adheres to relevant federal, state, and local tax regulations, including tax calculations, benefit deductions, and statutory filings

- Maintain database of personnel information and accurate payroll records

- Prepare US year-end employee tax slips or forms and submission of government filings within established deadlines

- Support all internal and external payroll related reporting requests

- Participate in all internal and external audits

- Handle payroll inquiries

- Perform other duties as required in support of Company objectives

What do you need to succeed?

- Effective organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills

- Working knowledge of US Payroll processes and taxation; knowledge of ADP GlobalView and Workday would be an asset

- Experience in payroll accounting (general ledger entries, reconciliations, etc.)

- Able to work in a fast-paced, high volume setting in our growing company

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources or related field

- Payroll designation or another formal payroll training would be an asset

- Minimum of 2+ years HR, Payroll or Accounting experience

What’s in it for you?

- We’re proud to be recognized as a company with a 2026 Most Trusted Executive team by Great Place to Work® Canada

- Access to short-term assignments or ‘Gigs’ across the organization, to help you develop new skills and connections

- A collaborative and interactive team environment

- Charitable giving through our You Give, We Give program lets you give back to your community – and in many cases, we’ll match your contributions

- Care Days available for self-care or care of others (i.e., family or others you may support) and Sick Days to support your well-being

*LI-NB1

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you.

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range: 52,500/52 500 - 81,500/81 500 Job Category: Human Resources Posting End Date: 08/11/2026

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