Payroll Manager

AMA - Alberta Motor Association; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Health spending accounts

Professional development

Paid vacation and personal days

Job summary

AMA - Alberta Motor Association seeks a Payroll Manager to lead the payroll function for about 2,000 employees across multiple entities. This in-office role partners with Finance, HR Technology and leadership to ensure compliant, timely payroll with a focus on accuracy and service excellence.

You will drive process improvements, oversee audits, and mentor payroll staff while maintaining data confidentiality and strong stakeholder relations across the organization.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or a related field.
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification required; Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation is preferred.
• Experience with Workday HRIS would be an asset.
• Progressive payroll experience, including demonstrated leadership responsibility within a complex organizational environment.
• Thorough knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, income tax regulations, statutory remittances, pension legislation and payroll compliance requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, stakeholder management skills, and the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• Expertise in critical decision-making, project management and process improvement.
• High level of discretion and commitment to confidentiality when handling sensitive payroll and employee data.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end payroll process for a Canadian workforce of approximately 2,000 employees across multiple business entities, ensuring accurate and timely payment of wages, salaries, bonuses, allowances and other compensation elements.
• Establish and maintain payroll schedules, controls and service standards that support compliance with federal, provincial and local payroll legislation, employment standards, tax regulations, pension requirements and statutory reporting obligations.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement required payroll process updates to keep AMA ahead of compliance obligations.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and professional development to payroll staff, setting clear performance expectations and fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability and exceptional service.
• Lead payroll reconciliations, year-end activities, internal and external audits, and financial reporting requirements.
• Partner with the HRIS team and internal stakeholders to maintain payroll-related integrations, workflows and data integrity, and support system configuration, testing, upgrades and enhancements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for complex payroll inquiries from employees, leadership, auditors, regulatory agencies and external vendors, ensuring a high level of service and responsiveness.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiency through process redesign, automation and technology enhancements.
• Ensure the accuracy, security, confidentiality and integrity of payroll data and employee records at all times.

Skills

Canadian payroll legislation

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Confidentiality

Auditing

Education

Business/Accounting/Finance/HR degree or diploma

Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP)

CPM designation preferred

Tools

Workday HRIS

Job description

Are you a payroll leader who thrives on accountability, compliance and delivering exceptional service? AMA is looking for a Payroll Manager to lead the organization's payroll function—ensuring our approximately 2,000 team members across multiple business entities are paid accurately and on time, every time. Reporting to the Director, HR Technology & Total Rewards, this in-office role is at the heart of AMA's Human Resources function, partnering closely with Finance, HR Technology and senior leadership to uphold compliance, drive continuous improvement and deliver a seamless employee experience.

A Place to Belong

AMA is more than a workplace; it’s a family. Together, we help protect the things that matter most to our more than one-million members—everything from roadside safety to retail savings, food security to childhood well-being. And with operations that span automotive, registries, travel, insurance and more, the opportunities to grow with us are almost limitless!

For us, curiosity fuels innovation. We value people who are eager to explore new ideas and who are comfortable putting emerging technologies into practice. We see experience with AI‑powered tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and similar platforms as a real plus - especially when it’s used to work smarter, increase efficiency, and find better ways to get things done.

Building on a century of proud service in Alberta communities, we’re passionate about making a meaningful difference in the places where we live and work. And that all begins with our people. As part of the AMA team, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive salary and flexible benefits, with five packages to choose from and up to $3,000 in health and wellness spending accounts.
• Employer-paid retirement savings program, including 5% AMA contribution and 5% matching.
• Employee-exclusive discounts on travel, insurance, memberships, driver education, registry services, and more.
• Free travel medical insurance for you and your immediate family.
• Ongoing professional development, with unlimited learning opportunities, LinkedIn Learning Access, and dedicated time for personal growth.
• Paid vacation and personal days, including three weeks of vacation to start, a Me Day, a Volunteer Day, and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
• Flexible work models that make sense for your lifestyle, including our four-day work week option: Alongside our other work models, this option gives you another way to harmonize work and life in a way that’s personally meaningful and aligned with your role. Available to eligible fully in-office and fully remote roles, with tailored guidelines to fit department‑specific needs. Requires a 12‑month commitment; eligible employees can opt in or opt out annually during the benefit renewal period.

Who You Are

• You bring advanced knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, income tax regulations and statutory remittances, and you apply that expertise with confidence.
• You have a sharp eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to accuracy; you know that getting payroll right directly impacts employees' lives and AMA's compliance obligations.
• You are a strong leader who fosters a culture of accountability, professional growth and exceptional customer service within your team.
• You excel at stakeholder engagement, communicating clearly and effectively with diverse audiences including employees, Finance, HR and senior leadership.
• You are a critical thinker with proven problem-solving and analytical skills, and you take a structured approach to managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• You champion continuous improvement, embracing change with positivity and bringing process redesign, automation and technology solutions to the table.
• You handle sensitive information with the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• You can self-manage top priorities and deliver results consistently, even under competing demands.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Lead the end-to-end payroll process for a Canadian workforce of approximately 2,000 employees across multiple business entities, ensuring accurate and timely payment of wages, salaries, bonuses, allowances and other compensation elements.
• Establish and maintain payroll schedules, controls and service standards that support compliance with federal, provincial and local payroll legislation, employment standards, tax regulations, pension requirements and statutory reporting obligations.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement required payroll process updates to keep AMA ahead of compliance obligations.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and professional development to payroll staff, setting clear performance expectations and fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability and exceptional service.
• Lead payroll reconciliations, year-end activities, internal and external audits, and financial reporting requirements.
• Partner with the HRIS team and internal stakeholders to maintain payroll-related integrations, workflows and data integrity, and support system configuration, testing, upgrades and enhancements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for complex payroll inquiries from employees, leadership, auditors, regulatory agencies and external vendors, ensuring a high level of service and responsiveness.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiency through process redesign, automation and technology enhancements.
• Ensure the accuracy, security, confidentiality and integrity of payroll data and employee records at all times.

What You Bring to the Table

• Diploma or degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification required; Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation is preferred.
• Experience with Workday HRIS would be an asset.
• Progressive payroll experience, including demonstrated leadership responsibility within a complex organizational environment.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems, reporting tools and process improvement initiatives.
• Thorough knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation, employment standards, income tax regulations, statutory remittances, pension legislation and payroll compliance requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of payroll processing practices, procedures, controls and auditing principles.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, stakeholder management skills, and the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• Expertise in critical decision-making, project management and process improvement.
• High level of discretion and commitment to confidentiality when handling sensitive payroll and employee data.

Belonging Matters Here

AMA is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and accessible environment. If you require an accommodation at any time during our recruitment process, please contact [e-mail]. We’ll work with you feel supported throughout your journey with us.