Ariel Zolezzi
Montreal,Canada
Summary
Human Resources professional with end-to-end ownership of HR operations, payroll, benefits, and employee lifecycle administration. Operates with a high degree of autonomy, serving as the primary point of accountability for payroll, benefits, leaves, compliance, and employee advisory. Experienced in building scalable HR processes, ensuring multi-provincial labour law compliance, and improving data integrity across HRIS and payroll platforms in fast-paced, service-oriented environments. Trilingual in English, French and Spanish.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
4030
4030
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Payroll and Benefits Specialist
WPP Group (Tank Worldwide, Grey Canada and Ogilvy)
Ramore, Ontario
2023.01 - 2026.02
- Lead payroll and benefits operations, serving as the primary point of contact for employees, leadership, and external providers
- Administer the full payroll cycle, including processing payroll impacts of new hires, terminations, promotions, and compensation changes
- Manage benefits administration across insurance plans, GRSP, and stock option programs; advise employees on coverage, eligibility, and plan changes
- Independently manage all leaves of absence, including maternity, parental, short-term and long-term disability
- Plan and administer the annual benefits enrollment process, including employee communications and coordination with service providers
- Conduct payroll and benefits audits and implement process, system, and control improvements to ensure accuracy and operational efficiency
- Ensure compliance with applicable labour standards and regulatory requirements across multiple provinces
Human Resources Coordinator
Diff Agency
Montreal
2021.08 - 2023.02
- Supported recruitment by overseeing background and reference checks, the hiring process for quarterly interns, and partnerships with universities and CEGEPs, continuously monitored employee satisfaction
- Managed the internship program end-to-end, including recruitment coordination, intake cycles, and partnerships with universities and CEGEPs
- Assisted with payroll preparation and processing in collaboration with Finance
- Managed HR benefits and perks, such as health insurance and GRSP, time off, and leaves of absence
- Maintained HRIS data integrity, created contracts, proof of employment letters, compensation change letters, and supported employees’ immigration process
- Led onboarding activities and continuously improved onboarding workflows
- Contributed to HR policy development and updates, ensuring compliance with labour standards
- Served as a key point of contact for employee relations and HR inquiries; prepared and distributed internal communications
- Set up cultural activities and identified perks for employees in collaboration with the office manager
- Be the point of contact for team member inquiries and employee relations; advise employees on HR-related matters, prepare and distribute internal communications
- Set up cultural activities and identified perks for employees in collaboration with the office manager
Le Projet Inspirant / The Expand Project
Canadian Cancer Society, University of Toronto
Remote
2021.01 - 2023.01
- Collaborated with marketing and research teams to develop community-based tobacco reduction initiatives for queer and trans communities
- Contributed to campaign strategy, branding, visual identity, and messaging focused on mental health and tobacco use
- Evaluated communication methods and campaign materials to assess effectiveness with target audiences
- Designed and facilitated job search workshops for trans and queer youths and for job search advisors
- Participated in interviews and documentation of lived experiences related to tobacco cessation and broader social factors
Office Manager and Human Resources Coordinator
CloudOps Inc
Montreal
2019.01 - 2020.01
- Administered employee benefits and workplace perks, ensuring a consistent and positive employee experience
- Designed and executed onboarding plans for new hires
- Supported the implementation and enforcement of COVID-19 workplace safety measures
- Co-facilitated focus groups to develop an employee value propositions and improve employer branding
- Managed internal learning initiatives, including French language courses and lunch-and-learn sessions
- Oversaw office operations and continuous improvement of the physical workspace and company culture
- Organized and co-chaired cross-functional committees to define projects and timelines
- Planned and hosted corporate events across departments
- Collaborated on improvements to building security systems and ensured the harmonious flow of day-to-day operations
Administrative Assistant
Bombardier Aerospace
Montreal
2018.01 - 2018.01
- Provided administrative and operational support using SAP and Microsoft Office
- Processed and modified customer orders within SAP
- Collaborated with large cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality customer service
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing
Concordia University
MontrealTESOL Certificate - Teaching English to Students of Other Languages
Collège Canada
MontrealAssociate in Arts - Business
Broward College-Center for Global Education
LimaSkills
- Human Resources Operations & Employee Lifecycle
- Employee Relations & HR Advisory
- Recruitment Support & Onboarding Programs
- Total Rewards Administration (Payroll & Benefits)
- Leaves of Absence & Accommodation Management
- Labour Law Compliance (Multi-Provincial – Canada)
- HR Policies, Documentation & Internal Communications
- HRIS, Payroll Systems & Data Integrity
- Process Improvement & Operational Audits
- Workplace Culture, Engagement & Employee Experience
- Systems: ADP, Ceridian, BambooHR, Collage, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Atlassian
- Languages: English (fluent) French (fluent) Spanish (fluent) Italian (beginner) Portuguese (beginner)
INTERESTS
Painting, literature, baking, and snowshoeing
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Payroll and Benefits Specialist
WPP Group (Tank Worldwide, Grey Canada and Ogilvy)
2023.01 - 2026.02
Human Resources Coordinator
Diff Agency
2021.08 - 2023.02
Le Projet Inspirant / The Expand Project
Canadian Cancer Society, University of Toronto
2021.01 - 2023.01
Office Manager and Human Resources Coordinator
CloudOps Inc
2019.01 - 2020.01
Administrative Assistant
Bombardier Aerospace
2018.01 - 2018.01
TESOL Certificate - Teaching English to Students of Other Languages
Collège Canada
Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing
Concordia University
Associate in Arts - Business
Broward College-Center for Global Education