HR & Payroll Specialist - US/Canada

Skills

About the Role

You'll manage payroll, HR operations, and benefits within the US Hub, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across multiple countries. You'll bring a practical understanding of U.S. and Canadian HR and payroll legislation to ensure legal compliance and best practices, combining payroll management expertise with a strategic HR focus. You'll support the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, benefits administration, and policy implementation, while serving as a point of contact for employees on HR and benefits related questions.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in global payroll management, with a strong focus on the US and Canada
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field
• US Payroll Certification: CPP (Certified Payroll Professional)
• Canada Payroll Certification: CPP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) or CPM (Certified Payroll Manager) and any other HR certification (PHR, CPHR)
• Deep understanding of tax regulations and employment laws in the US and Canada
• Proven ability to navigate complex payroll and HR challenges while maintaining compliance
• Demonstrated organizational skills and a strong sense of ownership
• Strong Google Sheets knowledge, analytical skills, and flux analysis
• Experience with major payroll and HR software such as Workday, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now
• Candidates must be based in the Eastern Time Zone, USA

Responsibilities

• Process multi-state payroll, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations
• Ensure accurate and timely payrolls for assigned countries in compliance with local tax and labor regulations, including variable pay, stock, supplemental pay runs, and tax deposits
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers across assigned regions
• Maintain payroll records, process adjustments, and address payroll-related queries promptly
• Identify and implement improvements in payroll systems and workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy
• Support internal and external payroll audits
• Apply knowledge of IRS guidelines and forms (W-2, W-4)
• Apply knowledge of immigration guidelines as needed
• Handle fringe benefits taxation and reporting, FLSA and overtime classification rules
• Support ACA compliance in collaboration with benefits brokers
• Ensure compliance with CRA and provincial payroll tax rules
• Administer contributions and filings for EI, CPP, QPP, T4, T4A, R1, ROE
• Oversee HR administrative tasks such as employee onboarding, health insurance setup, open enrollment, and compliance with local labor laws
• Serve as the point of contact for HR and benefits-related queries from employees
• Oversee public and private healthcare coverage, including renewals and employee communication
• Support the design and implementation of HR policies and procedures
• Assist in handling sensitive HR cases, including employee relations, contract management, and terminations
• Collaborate with global HR and finance teams to align payroll and HR practices across regions
• Maintain relationships with vendors, brokers, CSMs, and accounting firms
• Administer health and retirement benefits, including open enrollment, renewals, 401(k), ERISA, HSA, and COBRA
• Manage leave programs including PTO, sick leave, and state-specific paid leave laws
• Handle disability claims and workers' compensation
• Ensure compliance with employment regulations including I-9 verification, E-Verify, and background checks
• Support statutory leave programs including maternity, parental, sick, and bereavement leave
• Manage provincial workers' compensation programs
• Ensure compliance with employment standards acts
• Handle background checks, just cause termination, and constructive dismissal processes

Benefits

• Travel covered once per year to one of Wave's operating countries in Africa
• Yearly stipend of $1,200 to meet with coworkers
• Subsidized health insurance for you and your dependents
• Retirement contributions
• 6 months of fully paid parental leave
• Subsidized fertility assistance
• Flexible vacation, with most folks taking between 21-30 days exclusive of statutory holidays
• $10,000 annual charitable donation matching
• Equity package