Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Homestead Co-op is hiring a Payroll and Benefits Specialist to join our team. The Payroll and Benefits Specialist can be based out of either of our Administration Offices in Carman or Portage la Prairie, MB. 

Are you a passionate Payroll and Benefits Specialist? Homestead Co-op has an exciting opportunity to support different unionized groups, a dynamic HR team to collaborate with, and the chance to take a diverse organization’s payroll and benefits practices to the next level. Join us!

What you’ll do:

• Process bi‑weekly payroll and ensure compliance with legislation, accurate deductions, government reporting, and timely remittances. 

• Investigate and resolve payroll and benefits discrepancies, manage reconciliations, journal entries, and year‑end reporting (e.g., T4s, WCB), while maintaining accurate records. 

• Provide payroll expertise and support, including handling terminations and ROEs, improving processes, ensuring confidentiality, and communicating updates to HR and employees.

• Be the key contact for employee payroll and benefits inquiries, maintain and update employee records, coordinate with providers to ensure accurate deductions, and administer pension plan enrolment and changes in compliance with requirements.

• Deliver time and attendance training, communicate attendance issues to management, and support WCB reporting and compliance in partnership with Safety and Asset Protection teams.

• Prepare and analyze HR reports and workforce data, maintain accurate employee records, and provide wage and benefits cost estimates to support planning, negotiations, and data‑driven decision‑making.

• Other duties as assigned.

Who we are:

Homestead Co-op serves more than 27,000 members — and many more customers — in Austin, Carman, La Salle, MacGregor, Oakville, Portage la Prairie & Treherne. We have 17 locations including Food Stores, Gas Bars, Car Washes, Pharmacies, Liquor Stores, Cardlocks, Home Centres and an Agricultural site. Last year, we contributed over $154,000 to community organizations and initiatives.  

Who you’ll work with:
The Team: You will work closely with a team of HR and health and safety professionals, and report directly to the HR Manager. This team strives to cultivate a culture of innovation, community, and collaboration.

Why it matters:

Our commitment to our members and the community means that we strive to make a positive impact every day. We believe that our success should be shared, and we work hard to create value for our communities.

Who you are:
You are looking to take your expertise to the next level with a high level of client service and:

• Have a post-secondary certificate in Payroll Administration or Accounting. 

  • A Diploma in Accounting & Payroll or Business Administration with a focus in Finance would be considered an asset.

  • Having your PCP or CPM Designation would be considered an asset.

  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. 

• Have 5+ years full-cycle payroll experience, reconciliations and reporting is required, preferably in a unionized setting. 

• Have 3 years administering employee benefit programs including: enrollment, termination, coordination with providers, reconciling deductions, submitting remittances. 

• Have 3 years of experience handling employee payroll and benefit inquiries. 

• Are familiar with payroll and HRIS systems such as Oracle, UKG, People Forward, or similar platforms.
• Solid understanding of Canadian payroll and benefits related legislation. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve payroll and benefit discrepancies on behalf of the employer while demonstrating sound independent judgement, attention to detail and accuracy in high-volume data environments.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills that demonstrate professionalism and protection of confidentiality. 
• Strong interpersonal skills that are customer service–oriented with a collaborative, team-focused approach that exhibits and maintains positive relationships while demonstrating Co-ops values: Integrity, Excellence and Responsibility. 
• Ability to present options and recommendations related to cost of wages and benefits while planning and negotiating in the collective bargaining process. 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment while managing competing priorities and adapt to changing demands. 
• Ability to clearly explain payroll and benefits information to employees.

What we offer:

• Competitive salaries, short-term incentives, a comprehensive benefits package, and an employer-contributed pension plan.
• Encouragement to take advantage of learning opportunities to grow and develop as a Team Member. 
• As a co-operative, we do business differently. We believe in working together to serve Western Canadians, delivering profits back to our communities and investing in sustainable growth. To learn more about who we are and what we offer, visit www.homesteadco-op.crs. 

Homestead Co-op is committed to accessible employment and to ensuring that our hiring processes are barrier free. If you require information in an alternate format, or if you require an accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact HR@homestead.crs.

We thank all candidates for their interest, however only those selected to continue in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Please note that this position will require a criminal record check and driver’s abstract in accordance with our policies.

At Co-op, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and we’re working to create a workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve.  We support and provide an environment that allows all team members and guests to feel at home.