Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Job type: Administrative

HERE

Posted: May 25, 2026

Location: Waterloo, ON

Work Arrangement: In Office

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Employment Term: Full Time

Position Start Date: July 6, 2026

Position Reports To: Financial Controller

Existing Position with one (1) vacancy

The starting salary range for this position is $64,800 to $68,400, with opportunities for advancement and growth within the full base salary range as you progress in your role. Salary will increase over time based on performance, experience, and contributions to the organization.

Perimeter’s compensation approach is designed to promote fairness and transparency, ensuring alignment with internal equity and external market benchmarks.

Perimeter's Finance team is inviting applications for a Payroll and Accounting Specialist to join a collaborative and detail-driven team. In this role, you will play a key part in the accurate and timely processing of payroll, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, internal policies, and reporting requirements.

The position supports end-to-end payroll operations—including data validation, reconciliation, and reporting—while offering opportunities to contribute to process improvements and strengthen audit readiness.

What You'll Do

Payroll

• Process bi-weekly payroll accurately and on schedule
• Review and validate payroll inputs
• Work collaboratively with the People and Culture team to ensure completeness and accuracy of payroll data prior to final processing
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely, professional manner
• Enter journal entries in NetSuite ERP to recognize payroll activities and funding sources
• Resolve payroll system issues, seeking support from external service provider as required

Controls, Audit and Process Improvement

• Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll legislation, taxable benefits, pension regulations and statutory compliance
• Maintain strong internal controls over payroll processing
• Monitor legislative updates and recommend process or policy changes to maintain compliance
• Document payroll procedures and ensure consistency of execution
• Lead payroll audit working papers and audit requests
• Identify and implement process improvements, including automation opportunities
• Participate in payroll system upgrades, testing, implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives

Tax Filings and Compliance Reporting

• Prepare year end payroll related government filings (T4, T4A & T4A-NR, EHT, PSSDA, etc.) with corresponding reconciliations
• Completion of annual filings related to Perimeter’s registered pension plan

General Accounting and Other Duties

• Oversee the accounts receivable cycle including the preparation of invoices, collection and allocating of payments.
• Responsible for retrieving financial data from various Perimeter systems to record transactions into NetSuite
• Process adjusting journal entries
• Prepare month-end reconciliations and year-end working papers
• Maintain proper documentation to support audit and compliance reviews
• Conduct quarter-end salary variance analysis and forecasting

What You Bring

• Completed college diploma in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in a similar role
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) required
• Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) considered an asset
• Strong knowledge of Canadian tax provisions and provincial/federal programs including CPP, EI, and provincial healthcare
• Experience with NetSuite and Dayforce an asset
• Strong Excel skills (data validation, reconciliation, analysis)
• Professional judgment in handling sensitive/confidential information
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze data for discrepancies
• Ability to manage deadlines in a recurring processing environment
• Clear and professional communication skills

Please submit your resume and expression of interest by June 11, 2026 in order to ensure full consideration of your application. The posting will remain live until the position is filled. We appreciate your interest in supporting Perimeter Institute’s mission. While we thank all applicants, only select individuals will be contacted.

We are committed to creating an exceptional workplace where innovation, growth, and well-being thrive.

Here’s how we do it

Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment: We offer the flexibility you need to balance work and life, with options for hybrid arrangements.

Comprehensive Health and Dental Benefits: Your well-being matters to us. We provide extended health benefits that support you and your family in maintaining a healthy and balanced life.

Employer-Matched Pension Plan: We invest in your future by offering an employer-matched pension plan, ensuring financial security for the years to come.

Generous Time-Off Policy: We provide ample vacation, personal time, and other leave options so you can recharge and focus on what matters most.

Personal and Professional Development: We support your growth with dedicated funding for training, certifications, and professional development tailored to your goals.

Dynamic, One-of-a-Kind Facility: Work in a cutting-edge facility unique to Canada, designed to produce scientific breakthroughs by fostering collaboration, creativity, and a vibrant workplace culture.

If you're looking for a place where your contributions are valued, your development is supported, and your work environment inspires you, Perimeter is the place for you.

Perimeter Institute is committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Perimeter Institute provides support throughout the application process for applicants with disabilities. We work with you to understand the impact of your disability to appropriately accommodate you during the application/interview process. Please contact accessibility@perimeterinstitute.ca for assistance.