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Payroll & Rewards Operations Lead


Job Location:

Toronto - Canada

Yearly Salary: CAD 105000 - 125000
Posted: 8 October 2026 (3 days ago)
Application Deadline: 7 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

ABOUT APPLY
APPLY is the Agentic Customer Experience (ACx) partner for the worlds most ambitious consumer and entertainment brands. We bring together deep domain expertise across Retail CPG Sports and Media with AI-native delivery capability designing and delivering agentic solutions that turn CX vision into commercial reality. We are the partner of choice for brands like Arcteryx NFL Lululemon and Kraft Heinz. For more information visit .
LOCATION:APPLY is hybrid/remote friendly.The preferred candidateshouldbe basedin the GreaterTorontoArea ofCanadaworking in hours that align toET.
THE ROLE:

As a Payroll & Rewards Operations Lead youll be a cornerstone of our global People Operations function sitting at the intersection of global rewards and people analytics. You will drive the processes around payroll benefits HR system administration and support the programs that keep our People function running accurately and at scale. This is a high-ownership detail-driven role for someone who thrives on compliant execution data integrity process optimization and delivering a seamless experience across the entire employee lifecycle in a fast-growing global organization.
RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Execution:

  • Oversee day-to-day payroll administration and processing acting as an advisor to People & Culture Leads for life cycle events with complex payroll implications.

  • Take full accountability for overall payroll compliance and accuracy validating all inputs and outputs across Canada USA UK Chile and EoR ahead of each cycle.

  • Provide backup payroll processing coverage to ensure uninterrupted on-time payroll.

  • Monitor and improve data quality and speed when generating new employee profiles to seamlessly trigger the HRIS onboarding processes.

  • Partner with Finance to perform monthly general ledger reconciliations and ensure accurate accruals and cost forecasting for payroll and benefits-related expenses.

  • Collaborate on month-end close reporting providing variance analysis and resolving discrepancies.

Total Rewards & Benefits

  • Serve as a subject matter expert across the global benefits programs (Canada USA UK EoR) interfacing with benefits brokers managing renewal dates producing regular reporting and executing reconciliation processes.

  • Manage employee health benefits and retirement plan administration.

  • Collaborate with the People & Culture Director to evaluate benefit plan composition utilization and renewal strategies.

  • Own total rewards communication and employee education programs that drive awareness and engagement.

  • Serve as the tier-2 escalation point for employee inquiry cases resolving complex or sensitive issues.

  • Collaborate with People & Culture Leads to initiate manage and track leave of absences aligned to global policy and compliance requirements.

  • Support recurring pay equity analysis in partnership with the People Operations Lead.

HRIS & Systems Administration:

  • Manage the day-to-day relationship with Deel holding the vendor accountable for product enhancements and support levels.

  • Monitor day-to-day HiBob and Deel administration performed by People Operations Specialists including regular data quality audits and ongoing system integrity monitoring.

  • Design and build HiBob and Deel workflow enhancements administer complex edge-case scenarios and leverage system data to deliver actionable Business Insights to leadership.

  • Support audit readiness and respond to internal and external audit requests with accurate timely documentation.

  • Partner with People Operations and cross-functional teams to identify design and implement AI-enabled automations (e.g. using Claude) that streamline payroll benefits and HRIS processes reduce manual effort and improve data accuracy.

Analytics & Insights

  • Own the development and tracking of key People & Culture metrics creating dashboards and data models that translate raw HRIS data into strategic analytics and insights for the global team.

REQUIREMENTS
  • 7 years of progressive experience in Payroll and People Operations with at least 3 years at a lead level within a fast-growing global organization.

  • Experience with Canada and USA payroll (UK and Chilean experience an asset).

  • Proven track record of managing and supporting finance and payroll audits ensuring accurate general ledger reconciliations and full audit readiness.

  • Proven experience administering payroll and total rewards across the employee lifecycle for a global employee base (compliance benefits and leave management).

  • High-ownership mentality with the ability to evaluate business opportunities and risks to make sound decisions independently and communicate to stakeholders.

  • Expert-level administration experience with HiBob (strongly preferred) or a comparable modern global HRIS (e.g. Workday Rippling BambooHR) including building complex workflows and automations.

  • Advanced proficiency with spreadsheets (VLOOKUPs Pivot Tables Index/Match) with experience translating raw HR data into dashboards and executive insights (Google Sheets preferred).

  • Experience managing sensitive payroll escalations or complex leave/benefits cases with empathy and discretion.

  • Compliance and audit mindset with a strong attention to detail to identify anomalies and investigate root cause ahead of audit cycles.

  • Fluent in Spanish an asset.

Nice to Have
  • Experience working in a global People & Culture team supporting workers across many countries.

  • Familiarity with employer of record models and tools like Deel Remote or Oyster.

  • Exposure to DEI wellness or internal communication initiatives.

  • Hands-on experience using generative AI tools (such as Claude) to build or improve workflows reporting or process documentation.

$105000 - $125000 a year
The salary range for this role is $105000 - $125000. We conduct regular benchmarking across various roles similar industries and levels to ensure fair compensation packages for all. We are committed to acknowledging each individuals unique strengths and contributions while rewarding the value that they deliver to the team.
LIFE AT APPLY
People are at the core of everything we do at APPLY. We provide you with modern tools systems and approaches value your time safety and health and strive to build a work community where you can thrive and grow. Here are a few benefits we offer to support you:
Agentic Delivery: Our people work in a modern way to deliver client outcomes. Broaden your skills on a range of engagements with international brands that have a global impact.
An inclusive and safe environment: Were truly committed to building a culture where you are celebrated and everyone feels welcome and safe.
AI & Strategic Upskilling: Accelerate your professional growth with generous training budgets and mentorship with a specific focus on Agentic AI expertise and the critical human skills required for the future of work.
Generous vacation policy: Work-life balance is key to our teams success so we offer flexible personal time off (PTO); allowing ample time away from work to promote overall well-being.
Customizable benefits: Tailor your extended health and dental plan to your needs priorities and preferences.
Flexible work arrangements: We work in a variety of ways from remote to in-office to a blend of both.
APPLY is a safe respectful and inclusive community where differences are celebrated. We are committed to equal opportunity and fostering a workplace where everyone belongs. Learn more in our Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) section. For recruitment accommodations please email emailprotected.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.

Required Experience:

Manager


About Company

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LIFE AT APPLY DIGITAL At Apply Digital, people are at the core of everything we do. We value your time, safety, and health, and strive to build a work community that can help you thrive and grow. Here are a few benefits we offer to support you: Great projects: Broaden your skills on a ... View more

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