Senior Operations Controller – Finance & Payroll Lead

Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting LP; Surrey; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting LP in Surrey, BC is seeking an experienced Operations Controller to join our leadership team and oversee finance operations across our employee-owned group of highway maintenance and infrastructure services companies.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Operations Controller will lead payroll, accounts payable, collections, working capital, operational cash flow, and support for accounts receivable, with a focus on operational efficiency and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive finance experience, including leadership responsibility.
• Strong experience in payroll, AP, AR, collections, working capital, and financial controls.
• Experience in highway maintenance, construction, infrastructure, transportation, utilities, field services, or another contract-based industry is preferred.
• Experience supporting multiple companies, locations, and operating teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll, accounts payable, collections, support accounts receivable, and related finance operations.
• Lead and develop the Payroll Supervisor and AP/AR Supervisor.
• Provide complete and timely operational finance information, reconciliations, and supporting schedules to the Corporate Controller for financial reporting and the month-end and year-end close.
• Partner with Operational Directors, General Managers on contract and project planning, work-in-progress reviews, forecasting, and operational performance.
• Monitor working capital, cash flow, aged receivables, holdbacks, and collection risks.
• Oversee centralized payroll for hourly, salaried, seasonal, unionized, and non-union employees across multiple companies and jurisdictions.
• Ensure operational finance activities comply with internal policies, delegated approval authorities, collective agreements, applicable legislation, and established control procedures.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, automate, and improve finance processes, controls, reporting, and service delivery.
• Establish meaningful performance measures for payroll, AP, AR, collections, and working capital.
• Mentor, coach, and develop employees, creating opportunities for growth and preparing team members to take on broader responsibilities.
• Build a capable, accountable, collaborative, and high-performing finance operations team.

Skills

Payroll management

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Working capital

Financial controls

Leadership

Mentoring

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting LP in Surrey, BC is seeking an experienced Operations Controller to join our leadership team and oversee finance operations across our employee-owned group of highway maintenance and infrastructure services companies.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Operations Controller will lead payroll, accounts payable, collections, working capital, operational cash flow, and support for accounts receivable, with a focus on operational efficiency and strong