Position Summary
The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant processing and review of full-cycle payroll for multiple clients and payroll schedules.
This position requires an experienced payroll professional who can independently manage assigned payrolls, identify and resolve discrepancies, apply payroll legislation appropriately, manage CRA and WCB requirements, maintain accurate employee records, and support continuous improvement within the payroll function.
The Specialist will work within established company procedures and client-specific requirements. They are expected to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and accuracy while recognizing that client processes may differ for legitimate business reasons. Changes to established client-specific processes require appropriate review and approval.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll
- Prepare and review full-cycle payroll for multiple compensation structures and payroll schedules
- Prepare and/or review timecards, payroll inputs, deductions, benefits, vacation, overtime, statutory holiday pay, and other payroll information for accuracy.
- Investigate and correct discrepancies and unusual results before payroll is submitted for final approval.
- Prepare payroll adjustments, corrections, bonuses, terminations, vacation payouts, and other special payments.
- Reconcile payroll and related reports and ensure required documentation is complete.
- Apply and maintain working knowledge of Alberta and Saskatchewan Employment Standards; experience in other provinces is an asset.
- Prepare and file ROEs, T4s, payroll amendments, and other CRA requirements.
- Maintain an active CRA Representative Number and communicate with CRA when required.
- Administer WCB payroll reporting, estimates, annual reviews, reconciliations, and incident reporting for applicable provinces.
- Research, administer, and maintain compliance with government-funded employment and wage subsidy programs, including the Canada Summer Jobs and other applicable grant, ensuring accurate reporting, documentation and funding requirements are met.
- Stay current with changes to payroll legislation, CRA regulations, WCB requirements, employment standards, and payroll best practices, ensuring payroll processes remain accurate, compliant, and aligned with organizational and client policies.
HR Administration
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee and payroll records.
- Assist with employment documentation, onboarding/offboarding, benefits information, and other HR administration.
- Prepare payroll and HR-related reports.
- Handle confidential employee, compensation, banking, tax, and HR information with discretion.
Process Improvement & Client Requirements
- Review existing payroll processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
- Investigate recurring errors and recommend solutions.
- Develop and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, templates, and process documentation.
- Understand and follow client-specific payroll requirements, reporting preferences, deadlines, and established processes.
- Ask questions before changing established processes and obtain appropriate approval for client-impacting changes.
- Implement approved process improvements.
Team Support & Mentorship
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior payroll technicians.
- Assist junior staff with payroll calculations, legislation, compliance requirements, and problem-solving.
- Promote accuracy, accountability, and continuous learning within the payroll team.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 5 years of full-cycle payroll experience.
- Demonstrated experience independently processing payroll from start to finish.
- Experience with hourly and salaried employees and bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payrolls.
- Active CRA Representative Number.
- Experience with ROEs, T4s, CRA remittances, and payroll amendments.
- Strong working knowledge of Alberta and Saskatchewan Employment Standards.
- WCB experience in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and/or British Columbia, including payroll reporting, estimates, reviews, and incident reporting.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience with payroll software and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Experience maintaining confidential HR and employee records.
- Demonstrated ability to identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies.
- Experience mentoring or training junior payroll staff is an asset.
Payroll experience primarily limited to timecard entry or preparing payroll for another person to complete does not meet the requirements of this position.
Core Competencies
- Payroll Judgment: Understands that payroll requires analysis and judgment, not simply data entry.
- Attention to Detail: Identifies discrepancies and potential errors before payroll is finalized.
- Problem Solving: Investigates the cause of issues and determines appropriate solutions.
- Independence: Manages assigned responsibilities with limited day-to-day supervision while knowing when to escalate.
- Client Awareness: Understands and respects that each client may have unique requirements and processes.
- Continuous Improvement: Looks for better ways to work without assuming every existing process needs to change.
- Organization: Consistently meets payroll deadlines and manages competing priorities.
- Confidentiality: Exercises sound judgment when handling sensitive employee and financial information.
- Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, employees, management, government agencies, and team members.
Work Conditions:
This position is in a climate-controlled office environment and works Monday to Friday, scheduled. Schedule amendments or work outside of regular hours may be required to satisfy business needs. Providing support to internal and external clients is an essential component; work from home and/or hybrid work arrangements do not satisfy the essential duties of this role and therefore are ineligible.
Will require sitting for extended periods of time, (34%-100%). There are considerable psychological and cognitive demands which occur on a frequent to constant basis. Delivery within tight deadlines, detail and accuracy, cross functional collaboration, exposure to confidentiality are cognitive demands occurring on a frequent to constant basis (34%-100%). Computer work is a prominent component, on frequent to constant basis (34%-100%), requiring established sensory functionality, manual dexterity and upper limb ease of function.
Pay: $58,240.00-$66,560.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Payroll: 5 years (required)
Language:
Location:
- Lloydminster, AB (preferred)
Work Location: In person
