Business Analyst - Payroll Systems

This role focuses on supporting payroll-related change initiatives by capturing, documenting, and validating payroll processes and requirements across global operations. You will work closely with Payroll subject matter experts, Project Managers, and delivery partners to ensure that requirements are clear, testable, and delivered in line with agreed scope, governance, and Finance PMO frameworks. The position is delivery-focused and plays a key role in the implementation and improvement of global finance systems and payroll processes, offering exposure to a challenging project and the possibility of a 9‑month contract.

Responsibilities

• Capture and document end-to-end payroll processes, including current-state and agreed future-state scenarios.
• Elicit, analyse, and document payroll requirements using agreed standards such as process maps, functional requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Identify process gaps, risks, and dependencies across payroll, HR, and Finance, and escalate issues where clarification or decisions are required.
• Document payroll system and integration requirements, including interfaces with HR and Finance systems such as General Ledger, Treasury, and banking files.
• Support data-related activities including data analysis, migration preparation, reconciliation, and validation in complex systems environments.
• Prepare detailed test scenarios, test data, and expected results aligned to payroll calculations and statutory requirements.
• Support business-led testing by coordinating user acceptance testing (UAT), logging defects, and tracking issues through to resolution.
• Maintain requirements traceability to support solution design, testing, and overall assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support and facilitate payroll workshops and working sessions, capturing outputs, decisions, and actions in a clear and structured manner.
• Work collaboratively with Project Managers, Payroll SMEs, and delivery teams, following agreed governance, PMO standards, and delivery processes.
• Support prioritization of work by ensuring clarity on functional and non-functional requirements, and by helping the project team plan and sequence analysis activities.
• Use workflow analysis and process modelling techniques to analyse and improve payroll and related finance processes.
• Interpret payroll and finance transactional data to support analysis activities such as reconciliations, data mapping, and validation.
• Contribute to change management activities by supporting the development of training materials and communications where required.
• Collaborate with multiple payroll teams globally, managing competing priorities in a delivery-focused environment.
• Use requirements and project tools to support requirements capture, planning, reporting, and progress tracking.
• Contribute to complex change programmes by adapting analysis plans and activities to meet evolving business needs.
• Support vendor-led payroll system implementations, ensuring alignment with business requirements and integration needs.
• Contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives across payroll, finance, and related systems, including ERP implementations and process optimisation.

• Proven experience working as a Business Analyst on payroll-related initiatives such as operational payroll, system implementation, or process improvement.
• Practical understanding of end-to-end payroll processes and relevant statutory requirements.
• Ability to produce clear and comprehensive analysis artefacts, including process maps, requirements documentation, and test materials.
• Experience working in project delivery environments under the direction of a Project Manager and/or transformation lead.
• Experience supporting workshops and working sessions with Payroll SMEs and stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Working knowledge of how payroll integrates with wider finance processes and systems, including journal posting, funding, and banking files, with the ability to identify risks and dependencies.
• Experience with workflow analysis and process modelling techniques.
• Experience interpreting payroll and finance transactional data to support reconciliations, data mapping, and validation.
• Awareness of change management considerations, including the ability to support training materials and communications.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple payroll teams globally and manage competing priorities in a delivery-focused environment.
• Hands-on experience with business analysis activities such as as-is analysis, process mapping, and process improvement.
• Experience with system implementation and ERP implementation in a payroll or finance context.
• Proficiency using tools for process mapping and analysis, such as Microsoft Visio or equivalent.
• Experience using requirements and project tools to support requirements capture, planning, and reporting.

• Exposure to multi-country or global payroll environments.
• Experience supporting vendor-led payroll system implementations.
• Experience working in complex change programmes and adapting plans to meet evolving business needs.
• Background in finance, payroll, or related disciplines, supporting the understanding of integrated HR, payroll, and finance processes.
• Strong analytical mindset with a focus on accuracy, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Comfort working with data and complex systems environments, particularly in relation to payroll and finance integrations.

The role is based in a hybrid work environment in Toronto, Ontario, with an expectation of three days per week in the office (with flexibility on which days). The standard work week is 37.5 hours, with a typical start time between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and no regular overtime expected. You will join a team of approximately 11 people and work within established Finance PMO frameworks in a structured project delivery environment. The position involves collaboration with region-based contacts and global payroll teams but does not require travel. You will work with modern payroll, finance, and ERP systems, using tools for requirements management, process mapping, data analysis, and testing in a professional office setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Toronto, ON.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $55.00/hr.

This is a hybrid position in Toronto,ON.

Aston Carter fournit des solutions de talent de classe mondiale à des milliers de clients à travers le monde. Spécialisés dans la comptabilité, la finance, les ressources humaines, l'acquisition de talents, la chaîne d'approvisionnement et certaines professions administratives, nous étendons les capacités des entreprises à la pointe de l'industrie. Nous nous appuyons sur notre profonde expertise en matière de recrutement et sur notre réseau expansif pour répondre aux besoins évolutifs de nos clients et de notre communauté de talents avec agilité et excellence. Avec des bureaux aux États-Unis, au Canada, en Asie-Pacifique et en Europe, Aston Carter est au service d'un grand nombre d'entreprises du Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers d'avoir remporté le double diamant ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® pour notre service aux clients et aux talents.

Aston Carter est un employeur souscrivant au principe de l'égalité des chances et accepte toutes les candidatures sans tenir compte de la race, du sexe, de l'âge, de la couleur, de la religion, des origines nationales, du statut d'ancien combattant, d'un handicap, de l'orientation sexuelle, de l'identité sexuelle, des renseignements génétiques ou de toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi.

Si vous souhaitez faire une demande d'accommodement raisonnable, tel que la modification ou l'ajustement du processus de demande d'emploi ou d'entrevue à cause d'un handicap, veuillez envoyer un courriel à [email protected] pour connaître d'autres options d'accommodement.

Ordonnance sur l'égalité des chances de San Francisco: Conformément à l'Ordonnance sur l'égalité des chances de San Francisco, pour tous les postes situés dans la ville et le comté de San Francisco, nous examinerons les candidatures des personnes qualifiées ayant un casier judiciaire ou des antécédents criminels.

Utilisation de l'intelligence artificielle (IA): Nous pouvons utiliser l'intelligence artificielle (IA) pour soutenir certaines étapes de notre processus d'embauche, notamment la recherche, la présélection et l'évaluation des candidatures. L'IA aide à analyser les candidatures et les qualifications, mais les décisions finales sont prises par notre équipe de recrutement. En soumettant votre candidature, vous reconnaissez et acceptez que celle-ci puisse être examinée à l'aide d'outils d'IA.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.