Payroll Specialist Lead - Canada

About Remote

Remote is solving modern organizations’ biggest challenge – navigating global employment compliantly with ease. We make it possible for businesses of all sizes to recruit, pay, and manage international teams. With our core values at heart and future focused work culture, our team works tirelessly on ambitious problems, asynchronously, around the world. You can find Remoters working from 6 different continents (Antarctica left to go!) and all of our positions are fully remote.

With Innovation as one of the core values, we have built Automation and AI capabilities into the requirements for every role.

We encourage every member of the Remote team to bring their talents, experiences and culture to the table to help us build the best-in-class HR platform.

If you are energetic, curious, motivated and ambitious, be part of our world. Apply now and define the future of work!

What this job can offer you

The Payroll Specialist lead ensures the accurate and timely execution of payroll processes, consistently meeting deadlines and maintaining a high standard of accuracy. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of global payroll best practices, is proactive in problem-solving, and takes full ownership of operational improvements. This role involves managing daily operations, optimizing internal resources such as SOPs and the ticketing system, and driving cross-functional projects to enhance long-term efficiency. The Payroll Specialist lead also provides training and mentorship across teams, fosters a culture of continuous learning, and is committed to delivering exceptional client support and stakeholder management on a global scale. They excel in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and are passionate about driving both operational excellence and strategic growth.

What you bring

Experience: Several years in regional or global payroll operations, with a solid understanding of global payroll best practices.

Leadership: Passionate about managing teams with a hands-off approach, empowering individuals without micromanaging while fostering a collaborative work environment.

Technical Skills: Proficient in payroll software tools such as SAP, Excel, and Google Sheets, using these tools to drive accuracy and operational efficiency.

Problem Solving: Possesses an analytical mindset with strong problem-solving abilities, capable of addressing complex challenges and finding innovative solutions.

Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced international environment, consistently delivering impactful results while adapting quickly to changes.

Efficiency: Constantly seeks opportunities to improve productivity, streamline processes, and optimize efficiency in all areas of work.

Working Method: Comfortable working asynchronously and remote in a globally distributed team.

Language Skills: Fluent in both written and spoken English.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver payroll with precision and accountability: Consistently meet >99% of deadlines for assigned tasks while maintaining an accuracy rate of >99.5%. Implement strategic checks and controls to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and continuously refine processes to meet broader business goals.

Manage and optimize the ticketing system (Zendesk): Take full ownership of the Zendesk queue with strategic oversight, ensuring tickets are assigned within 24 hours. Identify trends or recurring issues, addressing root causes to prevent future escalations and enhance long-term efficiency.

Strategically Manage SOPs and internal resources: Take ownership of SOPs, checklists, and internal resources, not only ensuring they are updated but also leading efforts to optimize and improve these documents across teams, aligning them with company goals and best practices.

Provide cross-team training, mentorship, and knowledge sharing: Proactively offer training and mentorship across teams, including Implementation and PCST, to standardize best practices and elevate operational effec