THE OPPORTUNITY
Western Forest Products are currently seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist at our Columbia Vista Division in Vancouver, WA.
What You’ll Do: As the Payroll Specialist, you are responsible for all aspects of the US payroll at Western Forest Products. This includes ensuring compensation is paid to all WFP US employees in accordance with company policy and employment laws while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality, accuracy, and efficiency.
Who You Are: You have a minimum of 5 years of experience in US payroll, with a focus on the state of Washington, and preferably have utilized ADP. It is desirable that you hold a Certified Payroll Professional certification from PayrollOrg or are actively working towards it, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning. Customer service is a top priority for you, and you have a track record of successfully building collaborative relationships.
Our total rewards offering includes:
- Salary range of $60,000 - $75,000 based on your skill level, qualifications, and experience
- Performance Bonus
- Dental and Medical Benefits; employee premiums for base plan are 100% paid for by WFP
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Basic life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Paid time off (PTO) and Paid holidays
Work Environment: This position is based out of our Columbia Vista Sawmill Operation. As we have multiple locations, occasional travel will be required to our worksites in Vancouver, Washougal, and Arlington.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform payroll end-to-end processing, including payroll calculations, deductions, and tax withholdings, ensuring accuracy and timeliness;
- Administer benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, leaves, and other employee benefits;
- Administer leaves of absence, including FMLA, WAPFML, disability, and other applicable leaves, ensuring compliance with company policies and regulations;
- Work with internal and external stakeholders with various annual audits, 401k audits, by preparing payroll-related documentation as needed;
- Provide support and guidance to employees regarding payroll inquiries related to inquiries;
- Perform quarterly and year-end reconciliations, including responding to tax notifications, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations;
- Validate W2 and ACA forms, ensuring accuracy and compliance with reporting requirements;
- Act as the first line of contact for payroll system issues, troubleshooting and resolving issues in a timely manner;
- Monitor and support the management of the payroll and time system in our US operations, identify any issues, and make recommendations for improvements;
- Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on payroll process improvements and system conversion projects;
- Develop and maintain payroll procedures and policies to ensure compliance with corporate policies, along with federal, state, and local regulations;
- Other duties that may be assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education And Experience
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred;
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in payroll processing and payroll management.
Skills, Knowledge and Required Competencies
- Proficiency in payroll software (e.g., ADP WFN) and MS Office suite, especially Excel;
- Strong understanding of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements;
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and calculations;
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines;
- Self-starter with the ability to problem-solve and bring forward solutions;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
YOUR CAREER
At Western Forest Products, we believe our most significant asset is our people. Investing in our people brings value and success to our business, ensuring a safe, engaged, productive and continuously improving workplace. We offer challenging opportunities working alongside the best in the industry to meet your career and professional development goals while providing competitive total rewards and recognition.
We provide a variety of on-the-job training and continuing education in many areas at Western to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed. Our promote-from-within culture recognizes high performance and we offer diverse career paths across the organization for those with the talent and will to advance.
Our total rewards offering including competitive pay, performance bonus, 401(k) plan, extended health and dental benefits and other programs designed to support our employees.
WESTERN OVERVIEW
Western Forest Products is a leading forest products company that sustainably manages forests and manufactures high-quality wood products. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with operations in the coastal region of BC and Washington State, Western meets the needs of customers worldwide with a specialty wood products focus and diverse product offering.
Our commitment to health and safety, environmental stewardship and community engagement is core to how we do business at Western Forest Products.
Our approach to responsible business practices in all aspects of our business is multi-faceted. We adhere to and employ the most stringent environmental practices in the world. The steps we take to ensure the forests in which we operate are renewed and remain healthy and viable for future generations are mirrored in the care we take to make certain our communities continue to grow and prosper. This includes investing in communities where we operate and continuing to forge mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations in respect of their local and cultural interests.