Payroll Data Analyst

Overview

The Payroll Data Analyst is responsible for supporting the accuracy, integrity, and analysis of payroll data through reporting, reconciliation, audit support, and process improvement. This role bridges payroll operations and analytics, transforming complex payroll and benefits data into reliable insights that support compliance, internal controls, and informed decision-making. With strong analytical and technical expertise, the Payroll Data Analyst plays a critical role in maintaining payroll data integrity, identifying trends and variances, and supporting continuous improvement across payroll operations.

In addition, the Payroll Data Analyst provides contingency support to payroll operations by maintaining working knowledge of payroll administration processes and assisting during peak periods, absences, or business continuity events.

This is a full-time position based out of our Waterloo Corporate office.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive benefits package including Life Insurance
• Matching RRSP contribution
• Paid time off
• Leadership development programs
• Access to exclusive employee deals and discounts
• This position offers a competitive compensation range. The salary range is $55,000 to $70,000, and placement within the range will be determined in accordance with company policies and procedures, as well as the candidate’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, and relevant experience.

What The Role Involves

• Analyze payroll data to identify trends, discrepancies, and anomalies across pay periods.
• Support payroll variance analysis including earnings, deductions and retroactive pay.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations including payroll to GL, benefits, pension, and statutory remittances.
• Validate payroll outputs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legislative and collective agreement requirements.
• Investigate payroll data issues and partner with Payroll Manager, HR, and Finance on root cause resolution.
• Support payroll audits, internal controls, and compliance reviews by preparing data, reconciliations, and documentation.
• Prepare regular and ad-hoc payroll reports for Finance, HR, and management teams.
• Develop and maintain standardized payroll reporting tools and dashboards.
• Conduct data audits to ensure consistency across payroll, HRIS, and financial systems.
• Support union and regulatory reporting requirements as needed.
• Translate complex payroll data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Build and maintain Excel-based reporting tools using advanced formulas, pivot tables, and Power Query.
• Support payroll system reporting and data extracts.
• Assist with payroll system implementations, upgrades, testing, and data validation.
• Identify opportunities to streamline, automate, and improve payroll reporting and data processes.
• Maintain documentation related to payroll data flows, reports, and controls.
• Maintain working knowledge of payroll administration processes to support operational continuity.
• Provide backup support for payroll administrative functions during peak processing periods, planned absences, or unplanned coverage needs.
• Assist with year-end processes including T4 preparation, reconciliations, and audit support.
• Assist with payroll data entry validation, reconciliations, and issue resolution as required to ensure timely and accurate payroll execution.
• Support knowledge transfer, documentation, and cross-training to strengthen payroll team continuity.
• Escalate risks, capacity gaps, or operational concerns impacting payroll delivery.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• College or university diploma in Analytics, Accounting, Business, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a data analyst or similar analytical role, ideally within a payroll, benefits, HR or healthcare environment.
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) is an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise in data analysis, validation, and reconciliation with the ability to interpret large, complex datasets with a high degree of accuracy.
• Expert knowledge in Microsoft Excel.
• Advanced knowledge of data validation and automation techniques such as PowerBI, PowerQuery or equivalent reporting and analytics platforms.
• Proven experience developing recurring and ad hoc reports, reconciliations, variance analysis and audit ready documentation.
• Knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation and statutory requirements preferred with the ability to apply legislative context to data analysis and reporting.
• Experience working with payroll and/or HRIS systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Experience in a unionized or multi-entity payroll environment considered an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for HR, Finance, and senior leadership.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including requirements gathering, presenting findings, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with data governance principles, including data quality controls, documentation, access controls, and privacy standards, metadata documentation, security controls, and data privacy standards.
• Proven ability to conduct ad hoc analysis in response to urgent or complex payroll, compliance inquiries.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve data discrepancies, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance process controls.
• Strong partnership mindset with HR, Finance, and Payroll Operations to align analytics with business and compliance needs.

CarePartners In Your Community

In addition to providing home-based personal support, rehabilitation, therapy, nursing and palliative care across Ontario, CarePartners also serves the community through clinics, transitional care units, and provides relief in nursing homes and shared care settings. Through our Community Nursing Services outreach program, we’ve been organizing medical care and clinics in countries with poor access to health care since 2009.

Accessibility

CarePartners welcomes and encourages applicants from people with disabilities. Candidates can request accommodations at any time in the hiring process.

Artificial Intelligence

CarePartners uses iCIMs as part of our recruitment and hiring process. While we incorporate select Artificial Intelligence (AI) features to enhance process efficiency, we remain committed to human-led decision making. All AI-generated outputs are subject to human review to ensure accuracy and fairness.

This job posting is available due to an existing vacancy.