Who- The Organization:
Swim Recruiting is partnering with Columbia College, a well-established Vancouver-based post-secondary institution known for its collaborative, people-focused culture and long employee tenure.
The College is currently navigating a period of transition, including organizational restructuring and a planned merger with a university that is expected to expand program offerings into bachelors degrees and strengthen long-term sustainability. While there are short-term changes, the organization is positioning itself for future growth and stability.
Leadership is looking for someone who brings reliability, accountability, and a steady presence, and who is interested in contributing to a function that is expected to evolve as the organization grows.
What — the Role
Swim Recruiting is conducting a search for a Payroll & Accounting Specialist. This is a newly restructured full-time role that blends core payroll responsibilities with accounting support. Reporting to the Accounting Manager and working closely with HR, the Specialist will play a key role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations, while supporting payroll-related accounting processes.
Key responsibilities include:
Payroll (primary focus)
- End-to-end processing of a BC-based payroll using Avanti.
- Ensuring compliance with BC Employment Standards and statutory requirements.
- Managing payroll changes including hires, terminations, ROEs, leaves, and benefits updates.
- Handling a higher volume of terminations and employee inquiries in a restructuring environment.
- Responding to employee questions in a clear, professional, and timely manner.
- Maintaining accurate payroll records and audit-ready documentation.
Accounting (secondary focus)
- Preparing payroll-related journal entries in Microsoft Dynamics.
- Supporting reconciliations and month-end close processes.
- Assisting with payroll reporting and variance analysis.
- Partnering with Finance and HR on compensation, benefits, and policy-related matters.
This is a hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys being directly involved in the work, understands payroll in detail, and can operate independently while collaborating across teams.
Who- the Candidate
We are seeking a payroll professional who is comfortable working in a changing environment and who brings both technical capability and a strong sense of ownership over their work.
Ideal candidates will bring:
- 3–5+ years of full-cycle payroll experience in British Columbia.
- Strong working knowledge of BC Employment Standards and payroll compliance.
- Experience processing payroll in a structured system environment (Avanti is an asset).
- Exposure to payroll accounting, including journal entries and reconciliations.
- Ability to clearly explain payroll processes and demonstrate hands-on ownership.
- Experience handling employee inquiries with professionalism and sound judgment.
You will stand out if you:
- Have completed or are pursuing the PCP designation.
- Bring experience in a post-secondary or similarly structured environment.
- Show interest in developing your payroll and accounting skillset over time.
- Are proactive, detail-oriented, and able to work with minimal supervision.
This role is best suited to someone who is engaged in payroll as a function and interested in growing within it over time.
Systems & Skills
- Experience with Avanti (payroll system) is an asset.
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics (ERP/accounting) is an asset.
- Strong Excel skills for data validation, reporting, and analysis.
- Ability to work with structured systems and maintain data accuracy.
How Much
- Base salary: $75,000 – $80,000.
- Potential for salary progression following initial performance review (approx. 6 months).
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits.
- RRSP matching.
Where
The role is based in Vancouver and requires regular on-site presence. Current structure is four days in office and one day from home, subject to operational needs. Candidates should be comfortable working primarily on-site and being present with the team.
When & How to Apply
Swim Recruiting is presenting short-listed candidates directly to the hiring team. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to your Swim contact or apply through our website.