Payroll & Benefits Coordinator

West Point Grey Academy is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Coordinator to join our Finance team beginning in November 2026. This is a 0.6 FTE hybrid position (approximately three days per week) and is eligible for benefits.

At WPGA, we know that every employee relies on receiving accurate pay, timely benefits support, and responsive service throughout their employment journey. While payroll and benefits administration often happens behind the scenes, it plays an essential role in building trust, supporting employee wellbeing, and ensuring the smooth operation of the school.

This role is best suited to someone who enjoys bringing structure to complexity, values precision and confidentiality, and takes pride in helping others. Working at the intersection of Finance and Human Resources, the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator supports employees through every stage of their employment experience while ensuring the integrity of the school's payroll, benefits, and Group RRSP programs.

The Impact of This Role

In this role, you will help:

• Ensure employees are paid accurately and on time through the effective administration of semi-monthly payroll.
• Support a positive employee experience by providing responsive and knowledgeable payroll and benefits support.
• Strengthen operational excellence by supporting accurate records, strong internal controls, and effective collaboration between Finance and Human Resources.
• Build trust by handling highly sensitive employee information with professionalism, discretion, and care.

In your first year at WPGA, you'll be directly involved in:

Payroll Administration & Accuracy

• Process accurate and timely semi-monthly payroll for approximately 200 employees.
• Support payroll administration for faculty, staff, school leaders, coaches, casual employees, and other employee groups working under a variety of employment arrangements.
• Review and process new hires, departures, salary adjustments, leaves, additional assignments, stipends, and benefit deductions.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies while maintaining a high level of employee service.
• Lead the preparation, reconciliation, filing, and distribution of year-end tax slips (including T4s and related reporting requirements), ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory deadlines.
• Support compliance with payroll legislation, Canada Revenue Agency requirements, and internal policies and procedures.

Benefits & Group RRSP Administration

• Administer employee benefit and pension programs throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Coordinate enrolments, changes, leaves, retirements, and terminations.
• Work with providers and employees to resolve administrative issues.
• Maintain accurate records and reconcile related deductions and invoices.
• Support annual benefit renewals and ongoing program administration.

Partnership Between Finance & Human Resources

• Work under the direction of the Director of Finance to support payroll administration, reporting, reconciliation, and internal controls.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Human Resources on employee lifecycle events, compensation changes, leaves, and benefits administration.
• Ensure payroll transactions align with approved employment documentation and organizational requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls, and enhance the employee experience.

About You

I understand that...

• Payroll is one of the most personal and important aspects of the employee experience.
• Accuracy and confidentiality are essential to building trust.
• Employee questions about pay and benefits deserve timely, respectful, and thoughtful responses.
• Strong payroll administration requires both technical expertise and sound judgment.
• Independent schools are dynamic environments that require flexibility, collaboration, and attention to detail.

I bring experience in...

• Payroll administration within a medium-sized organization.
• Benefits and Group RRSP administration.
• Applying payroll legislation and best practices through a Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working with payroll, HRIS, reporting systems, and confidential employee records.
• Supporting employees and leaders with payroll and benefits-related inquiries.

I am able to...

• Administer payroll accurately and consistently while meeting critical deadlines.
• Apply payroll legislation, policies, and procedures appropriately.
• Manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Investigate discrepancies and exercise sound judgment in resolving sensitive matters.
• Communicate effectively and build productive working relationships across the organization.

In my work, I want to...

• Contribute to a positive employee experience.
• Deliver payroll and benefits services that employees can trust.
• Support operational excellence in a values-centred organization.
• Build strong partnerships across Finance and Human Resources.
• Continue developing as a payroll and benefits professional.

About Us

Founded in 1996, West Point Grey Academy is an independent co-educational day school in Vancouver, British Columbia serving approximately 940 students and supported by nearly 200 faculty and staff.

Guided by our vision of Bold Thinkers and Compassionate Leaders, we provide an exceptional educational experience that challenges students to think critically, lead with empathy, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Our dedicated faculty and staff foster a culture of curiosity, belonging, and excellence, where every student is nurtured to achieve their full potential.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada. West Point Grey Academy is unable to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Our Process

At West Point Grey Academy, we cherish diversity in our staff and our greater community. We are committed to fostering a fair and thoughtful recruitment process as part of our commitment to strengthen inclusion, diversity, and equity across all areas of the school.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested candidates to apply early, as interviews may begin before the posting closes. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified and the role is filled.

1. Screening

You will be asked to submit your résumé and provide thoughtful responses to three scenario-based questions. Your responses should demonstrate how you align with the About You section and how you would approach the responsibilities of this role.

Applications will be reviewed holistically, with particular attention paid to the competencies, judgment, knowledge and character required for success in the position. The scenario responses will form an important part of this assessment and help us understand how candidates think through real-world situations related to payroll, benefits administration, confidentiality, employee service, and professional judgment.

AI-assisted submissions are permitted. Please include a brief note describing how AI was used and how you ensured authenticity of your response.

2. Initial Conversation (Reverse Interview) (30 minutes)

Successful candidates selected move forward in the process and will be contacted to arrange an informal conversation. This is an opportunity for us to answer your questions about WPGA, the role, and our community.

3. Competency & Community Interview (60 minutes)

Short-listed candidates will participate in a structured interview designed around the competencies required for success in the role. This conversation will explore your experience, judgment, approach to service, and how you see yourself contributing to the WPGA community.

4. Practical Payroll Exercise (30 minutes)

Final candidates will complete a brief payroll and benefits administration exercise designed to assess problem-solving, accuracy, judgment, and communication.

5. References

Professional reference checks will be conducted for the successful candidate prior to an offer of employment.