Job Description
The incumbent delivers specialized payroll accounting and compliance support for Canadian payroll operations. This role is responsible for validating and processing time entries, gross earnings, statutory deductions, and vendor remittances, while ensuring accurate payroll execution for unionized and management employees. The position demands precise and timely payroll disbursements under strict deadlines. In addition, the incumbent prepares financial data and reports for internal stakeholders, supporting cross-functional collaboration and aligning with CN's financial reporting objectives. The role also ensures full compliance with regulatory reporting requirements set by governing bodies such as tax authorities.
Execution of Employee Payroll Requirements
Deductions and Third-Party Vendor Management
Reporting and Audits
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management.
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).
Senior Specialist Payroll-CA
Req Id:
1305
Job Location:
Montreal - QC
Business Unit:
Finance
Highest Level Division:
Accounting
Posting Start Date:
10/28/26
Posting End Date:
11/11/26
French/English Bilingual Requirement:
No
Hiring Salary Range: $ 97000 - 106000
This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience. You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.
At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.
Join us today and get your career moving!
Job Summary
The incumbent delivers specialized payroll accounting and compliance support for Canadian payroll operations. This role is responsible for validating and processing time entries, gross earnings, statutory deductions, and vendor remittances, while ensuring accurate payroll execution for unionized and management employees. The position demands precise and timely payroll disbursements under strict deadlines. In addition, the incumbent prepares financial data and reports for internal stakeholders, supporting cross-functional collaboration and aligning with CN's financial reporting objectives. The role also ensures full compliance with regulatory reporting requirements set by governing bodies such as tax authorities.
Main Responsibilities
Execution of Employee Payroll Requirements
- Carry out all processes related to unionized and management payroll processing and off-cycle runs, including special payments
- Ensure accuracy of data transfers between Time system and Payroll system
- Ensure quick resolution of all employees pay disputes
- Investigate employee overpayments and coordinate recovery of funds
- Manage resources to ensure that all employee inquiries are handled on a professional and timely basis
Deductions and Third-Party Vendor Management
- Perform all payroll gross-to-net tasks and third-party remittance processes including final payments to vendors
- Ensure timely issuance of all payments to individual tax authorities and be responsible for tax remittances and audits through adherence to current tax regulations
- Maintain various employee deductions
Reporting and Audits
- Carry out all gross to net Ad Hoc reporting requests from CN stakeholders
- Ensure compliance with Federal, Provincial and state regulations and guidelines.
- Improve queries, report and develop cross-functional reporting solutions
- Continuously identify and recommend improvements for systems, technology, and processes to improve efficiency
- General ledger account analysis and reconciliation
- Coordinate, review and validate year end tax slips
- Ensure timely filing of year end summaries and tax slips
- Coordinate all external audits as requested by Federal and local tax authorities
- Introduce controls that proactively identify errors for both pre- and post-payroll execution and ensure accurate posting of results to CN's General Ledger.
Working Conditions
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressive payroll and accounting experience
- SAP knowledge in using Human Resources, Payroll and Time modules*
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).
Education/Certification/Designation
- Bachelor's Degree Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Human Resources, or similar
- National Payroll Institute Certification and American Payroll Association Designation or equivalent payroll experience*
- Professional Accounting Designation (CPA)*
- Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered.
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).
Competencies
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Vision and strategic thinking
- Impactful and inclusive leadership
- Performance and value delivery
- Empowerment and talent development
- Strategic communication and influence
- Managerial courage and decisiveness
- Listening
- Process optimization
- Compliance
- Stakeholder management
- Build trust
Technical Skills/Knowledge
- Excellent knowledge of Canadian Payroll rules and legislation
- SAP knowledge in Human Resources and Payroll Modules
- Excellent knowledge of accounting practices and procedures, Canadian payroll disciplines and taxation
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)
- Fluently Bilingual, both written and verbal (English, French)
Additional Information (If Any)
About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,800-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
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