Hughes Collective is pleased to present an exciting opportunity on behalf of our client.
Role: Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Reporting to: Office Manager
Our Client
Our client embodies a commitment to community empowerment as a forward-thinking Indigenous-owned enterprise holding a portfolio that spans across various industries including real estate, insurance, manufacturing and forestry. Driving economic and community growth on behalf of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, they are actively influencing a prosperous future for Saskatchewan and beyond.
Under the overarching partnership, this division is on the quest for economic development through vegetation management with its services ranging from ariel tree trimming, dangerous tree removal and labour services, they are at the forefront of providing innovative solutions. At the heart of their services is dedication to creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities. Establishing themselves as a trusted partner for municipalities, utilities and industrial clients, they infuse traditional knowledge with modern practices to create solutions that respect the land and its people.
The Opportunity
As the Payroll & Benefits Specialist your days are never entire predictable, some days could start quiet while others might quickly fill with employee questions, last-minute changes and time sensitive issues that require good judgement. Payroll is high-impact and highly visible, and this role exists to bring stability, accuracy, and confidence to one of the organization’s most critical functions. Along the way, you handle benefit changes and ROEs, paying close attention to the details because employees depend on them. Every decision you make affects someone’s pay, and that responsibility is taken seriously here.
There are systems in place, but the reality is human. Information doesn’t always arrive on time, plans change, and questions come up without warning. You stay calm, work through what’s in front of you, and figure things out. Over time, employees start coming to you first when something doesn’t look right, and you help make sense of payroll when it feels confusing or overwhelming.
Key Responsibilities
As the Payroll & Benefits Specialist, you will work collaboratively and are responsible for:
1. Payroll Administration
- Process regular payroll accurately and on time for a mixed workforce, including hourly, salaried, seasonal, and project-based employees.
- Manage frequent employee changes such as new hires, terminations, recalls, wage changes, and project-based employment.
- Review, validate, and reconcile hours, earnings, vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, and payroll adjustments, often with late or incomplete submissions.
- Prepare and submit ROEs, payroll remittances, and required government reporting, including ongoing interaction with CRA and EI processes.
- Ensure payroll records align with CRA requirements and internal policies.
- Support year-end payroll activities including T4s and reconciliations.
2. Benefits Administration
- Administer group benefits and pension programs, including enrollments, changes, leaves, and terminations.
- Act as a point of contact for employee benefits questions, providing clear and respectful support.
- Coordinate with external benefits administrators and providers to resolve discrepancies, claims issues, and coverage changes.
- Maintain accurate benefits and deduction records and ensure alignment between payroll and benefits systems.
3. Employee Support & Communication
- Respond to employee questions regarding pay, deductions, benefits, and employment status with patience, professionalism, and discretion.
- Proactively follow up with employees and internal stakeholders to resolve missing information, late submissions, or payroll discrepancies.
- Maintain a high level of discretion and professionalism when working with confidential employee information.
- Demonstrate sound judgment when handling sensitive information, maintaining confidentiality even when faced with pressure or informal requests for details.
- Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, documentation, and workflows over time to support accuracy and efficiency.
Qualifications
As the Payroll & Benefits Specialist, you will possess the following qualities:
The Essentials (Hard Skills):
- Demonstrated experience in payroll administration, ideally within a high-volume, hourly, seasonal, or project-based workforce.
- Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation is ideal: candidates with formal payroll training or those who are currently enrolled in or working toward, a PCP designation will also be considered. A genuine interest in continuing payroll education is highly valued, and support for training and certification is available.
- Working knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, CRA requirements, and statutory deductions.
- Experience administering employee benefits and pension plans, including enrollments, changes, leaves, and terminations.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and frequent payroll changes.
- Comfort working in Excel and payroll systems, experience with Payworks and/or Sage 300 considered an asset.
The Intangibles (Soft Skills):
- Exceptionally patient, steady, and composed, with the ability to remain professional and respectful in a demanding and sometimes imperfect payroll environment.
- Naturally solutions-focused and resourceful, with the initiative to investigate issues, follow up persistently, and take ownership of finding answers.
- Comfortable working through incomplete information, late submissions, and evolving processes without becoming frustrated or rigid.
- A clear and approachable communicator who is willing to engage directly with employees to explain pay, deductions, and benefits in a calm, respectful way.
- Discreet and trustworthy, with a high level of integrity when handling confidential employee information.
- Respectful of Indigenous cultures and communities, with a genuine interest in working within an Indigenous-owned organization and building trusted relationships.
What Our Client Offers
- Competitive Compensation – A thoughtfully structured salary and paid vacation offering that reflects the responsibility, complexity, and impact of the role.
- Health & Wellness Support – A 100% employer-paid benefits program, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, designed to support your overall well-being.
- Retirement & Financial Security – A generous 7% RRSP matching program to help you plan for the future with confidence.
- Collaborative Culture – Encouragement and financial support for payroll education, certifications, and ongoing learning, including PCP coursework and related training.
About the Collective
At Hughes Collective, we don’t just recruit, we revolutionize how talent meets opportunity. We’re not in the business of filling roles; we’re in the business of transforming careers and powering businesses with bold, game-changing hires.
For candidates, this isn’t just about your next job, it’s about uncovering your passions, amplifying your strengths, and unlocking your potential. We’re here to connect you to a career that excites, inspires, and fuels your future.
This isn’t recruitment as usual, this is Hughes Collective. Bold. Authentic. Unapologetically different. Your next move starts here.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
