Payroll Team Lead

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Westerkirk Capital is seeking an experienced Payroll Lead to coordinate end-to-end payroll processing across multiple payrolls. The role requires hands-on Dayforce usage, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and policy compliance while partnering with HR, Finance and IT to maintain data integrity.

With a CPP designation and 5+ years of experience in mid-to-large organizations, you will mentor payroll staff, drive process improvements, and support payroll transformations in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience.
• Dayforce experience is required.
• CPP designation is required.
• In-depth knowledge of federal and provincial payroll laws.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing for a busy multi-payroll department with accuracy and timeliness.
• Monitor workloads, assignments and processing deadlines.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and lead implementation efforts.
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll issues and system challenges.
• Verify accurate calculation of wages, tax withholdings, and deductions.
• Ensure correct application of pay policies and relevant legislations and CBAs.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits and IT to ensure data integrity.
• Review payroll transactions and reconcile final submissions.

Skills

End-to-end payroll processing

People leadership

Stakeholder liaison

Strong communication

Education

CPP designation

Tools

Dayforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Profile

Reporting to the Manager, Payroll, Compensation and Benefits this position will be responsible for the coordination of payroll processing operations for a team.

You are an independent self-starter, with strong interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, you are highly organized and adaptable to changes in the work environment. Along with your qualifications, you will be a proven team player who is excited about contributing to a growing and changing business. We value initiative and the willingness to work with others to move our business forward. Our employees are highly motivated, hard-working, and dedicated to their job - but that's not the only reason to come to work. Dayforce experience is a must, as you'll be working hands-on within the system and helping drive improvements and consistency across payroll processes. This is a great opportunity for someone ready to elevate their career and play a meaningful role in shaping the future of the payroll function.

It is also abouthaving fun, learning new things, and being part of something you believe in.

Key accountabilities

• Lead and support the end-to-end processing a busy multi-payroll department, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Monitors workloads, team assignments, and processing deadlines.
• Identify, investigate and propose opportunities for process improvement, efficiency gains, and risk mitigation, lead or support implementation efforts.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex payroll issues, employee inquiries, and system-related challenges
• Verifies accurate calculation of wages, tax withholdings, deductions.
• Review correct application of the company’s pay policies, Federal legislations, and the CBA's.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Benefits, and IT to ensure seamless payroll operations and data integrity.
• Review all payroll transactions entered by the Payroll Administrators. Reconcile final payroll submissions and commits the payroll.
• Provides training to the team on policies, regulations and processes.
• Contributes to the development of processes and procedures.
• Liaison for payroll related matters for DHAC employees and managers.
• Open HRIS requests for changes related to the day-to-day payroll operations.
• Point of contact for ROE and CRA queries.
• Provide coverage for payroll processing

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 5+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience in mid-size to large organizations.

• Strong, hands-on Dayforce experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring payroll staff.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation required.

• In depth knowledge of federal and provincial payroll and tax laws.
• Experience working in diverse unionized environments is an asset.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong technological literacy with high functionality in Microsoft Office
• Strong organizational abilities and time management skills.
• Attention to detail, ability to take initiative, as well as sound analytical/problem-solving skills.
• A proven ability to mentor and motivate a Payroll team.
• Ability to liaise with stakeholders and manage expectations.

Why This Role

• Opportunity to influence and improve payroll processes in a complex environment.
• High visibility role with the ability to showcase leadership and system expertise.
• Hands-on involvement in Dayforce optimization and payroll transformation initiatives.
• Collaborative team environment with opportunities for growth and development.