Payroll Specialist

ImpactHR is pleased to be partnering with District Mechanical on an exciting search for their next Payroll Specialist. We work closely with our clients to understand not just the role, but the people and culture behind it, and this is one of those opportunities we’re genuinely excited to share. If you’re a CPA in public practice wondering what your next move looks like, read on. This could be the career-defining step you’ve been waiting for.

About District Mechanical

Are you a payroll professional who wants to be more than a processor and play a real role in a growing business? District Mechanical is looking for a Payroll Specialist ready to take ownership of payroll, benefits and the employee lifecycle, and to grow alongside a company where your work is seen and valued.

District Mechanical is an employee-owned mechanical construction company based in Edmonton, Alberta, with significant opportunities for continued growth. This is an opportunity to join a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where initiative is valued, ideas are welcomed, and individual contributions make a meaningful impact.

Working closely with the CFO and finance team, you will be the go-to expert for payroll and benefits, and a key partner in how people join, work at, and leave the company. Along the way, you will gain exposure to the financial, operational and people side of the business.

Who You Are

You are a payroll professional with approximately 3–5 years of experience who knows Canadian payroll inside and out, and who has also supported HR functions such as benefits administration, onboarding and offboarding. You take pride in getting it right every time, because you know that accurate, on-time pay and a smooth start for new hires are among the most important things a company does for its people.

You are detail-oriented but also curious about the bigger picture. You understand how payroll flows into the financials, you look for better ways of doing things, and you are comfortable working with systems and data. You enjoy being the person colleagues trust with their payroll, benefits and HR questions, and you handle sensitive information with discretion.

Most importantly, you take ownership of your work and are interested in building a long-term career with a company where your growth can align with the growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

This role will evolve based on your experience, strengths, and career objectives. As part of the finance team, you will be accountable for:

Payroll and Finance

• Payroll Processing and Compliance: Manage end-to-end payroll processing for office and field employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal and provincial legislation.
• Job Costing and Journal Entries: Prepare and post payroll journal entries, allocating labour, burden and benefit costs to the correct jobs and cost codes so project costs and financial statements are accurate.
• Year-End and Audit Support: Lead year-end payroll processes, including T4 preparation, and support financial audits and reconciliations.
• Data Management and Reporting: Maintain accurate payroll and employee data, and prepare payroll and labour cost reports that give the CFO and leadership meaningful insight.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve payroll and HR processes and systems, strengthen controls, and increase efficiency and accuracy.

HR and Benefits

• Benefits Administration: Own the group benefits program end to end, including enrolling new employees, processing changes and terminations, acting as the main contact with the benefits provider, and reconciling monthly premium invoices.
• Compensation and Benefits Support: Ensure payroll accurately reflects compensation structures, benefits, and programs such as profit sharing and RRSP matching.
• Offer Letters: Prepare employment offer letters in partnership with hiring managers, making sure terms are accurate, consistent and reflected correctly in payroll.
• Onboarding: Coordinate a smooth start for new office and field employees, working with the Safety Coordinator to schedule safety orientation, collect required tickets and certifications, and complete new-hire paperwork and system set-up.
• Offboarding: Manage the exit process for departing employees, including final pay and vacation payout, Records of Employment, benefits termination, return of company property, and system access removal.
• Employee Support: Act as the go-to resource for employee payroll, benefits and HR questions, providing clear and timely answers.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3–5 years of payroll experience, with exposure to HR administration such as benefits, onboarding and offboarding.
• A strong understanding of Canadian payroll legislation and Alberta Employment Standards, including termination pay and Record of Employment requirements.
• Experience administering a group benefits plan, including enrolments, changes and invoice reconciliation.
• Working knowledge of payroll journal entries and job costing; construction or project-based cost allocation experience is a strong asset.
• Hands-on experience with payroll and accounting systems, and confidence learning new platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong reporting skills.
• Post-secondary education in Business, HR, Accounting, or a related field preferred. PCP, CPM or CPHR designation considered an asset.
• Construction or multi-site payroll experience considered an asset.
• The ability to communicate payroll and HR information clearly and work effectively with colleagues at all levels, from field crews to leadership.
• Sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential employee information.
• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the initiative to identify opportunities and take ownership of responsibilities.

Why Join District Mechanical?

A career, not just a job. This is an opportunity to build your career with an employee-owned company that offers the potential for long-term growth and advancement.

Real ownership of your work. Be the payroll expert for the business, with the trust and autonomy to shape how payroll is done.

Room to grow. As the business expands, you will have opportunities to take on increasing responsibility, develop new skills, and shape your own career path.

Think like an owner, share like one. We’re employee-owned, and our rewards reflect it. Share ownership, profit sharing and RRSP matching give you a real stake in the company’s growth, which suits someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who wants to build something, not just collect a salary.

Apply!

If you are a payroll professional looking for a role where your expertise is valued and your growth is supported, we would love to hear from you.

We look forward to connecting with professionals who are ready to take the next step in their careers.