Payroll & Benefits Manager

Location: Nakusp, BC

Position Summary

The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for delivering accurate, compliant, and timely full-cycle payroll and benefits administration for 100+ employees. This role ensures the integrity of payroll processing, maintains up-to-date employee records, and manages benefits eligibility, accruals, and reporting. While work may be completed locally or remotely, extensive onboarding and training will require periodic onsite stays in Nakusp, BC.

About Our Client Our client believes people are the foundation of their success. They foster a positive and inclusive work environment, offer competitive compensation and benefits, and encourage innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Employees enjoy a stable career in one of British Columbia's most scenic regions, offering unparalleled access to skiing, snowmobiling, biking, hiking, and outdoor recreation.

Our client is a privately owned ferry operator based in Nakusp, British Columbia. As contractors to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, they provide safe and reliable ferry services to communities surrounding the Arrow Lakes. Ferry crews are fully Transport Canada trained and certified, and the organization takes pride in supporting local communities and regional economies.

Who You Are

You are a highly detail-oriented payroll professional with a passion for precision and accountability. You take pride in ensuring every employee-hourly and salaried-is paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with all applicable requirements. You bring deep expertise in unionized payroll environments and are confident navigating collective agreements, tax legislation, pension rules, statutory deductions, and federal and provincial regulations.

You combine strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a service-focused mindset. You are comfortable leading a payroll and benefits team, collaborating closely with HR, Finance, union representatives, and external partners (benefits providers, pension administrators, auditors), and communicating complex information clearly to employees at all levels.

Key Accountabilities

Payroll

• Manage the complete bi-weekly payroll cycle for hourly and salaried employees, including time and attendance collection, wage and salary calculations, overtime, statutory deductions, union dues, and direct deposit payments.
• Ensure compliance with collective agreements, employment standards, and payroll legislation.

Benefits Administration

• Administer benefit enrollments for new hires, mid-year life events (marriage, birth, etc.), and terminations.
• Coordinate and manage annual open enrollment, including employee communications and deadlines.
• Track benefit eligibility and maintain accurate, confidential records in compliance with PIPEDA.
• Administer benefits during leaves of absence (maternity/parental, medical, workers' compensation, unpaid leaves), including coordination with EI and other programs as required.

Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare payroll and benefits reports, analyses, and recommendations related to costs, trends, and optimization opportunities.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of BC Employment Standards, CRA payroll regulations, WorkSafeBC, and federal/provincial tax and benefit legislation.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in full-cycle payroll and benefits administration within a unionized environment.
• Proven experience interpreting and applying collective agreements, union deductions, and pension reporting.
• Experience implementing or supporting payroll software systems is highly valued.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas and reporting (competency testing required).
• Payroll certification (PCP - Canadian Payroll Association) or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Typing speed of 30-40 WPM (competency testing required).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex information clearly.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, pension contributions, and paid vacation
• Stable, full-time permanent employment

Hours of Work

• Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (40 hours per week)

Job Details

• Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
• Benefits: Dental care, extended health care, paid time off
• Work Location: Primarily in person