Payroll Manager

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey with Morgan Construction where you’ll play a pivotal role in the dynamic world of heavy civil construction? Our team is made up of experts in their fields;
we move the earth - andwe love it!
At Morgan, we don’t just build projects;
we build careers and futures. We are seeking an experienced PAYROLL MANAGER to lead and oversee our payroll function in a complex, multi-jurisdiction construction environment. This role is responsible for ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant, audit-ready, and scalable to support the company's continued growth across Canada and the United States.
Reporting to the Controller, the Payroll Manager provides leadership to the payroll team while maintaining ownership of payroll compliance, governance, internal controls, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives. This position serves as the primary escalation point for payroll-related matters and works closely with Human Resources, Operations, Finance, and external advisors to manage payroll risk and support business objectives.
What You’ll DoPayroll Leadership & Team Development
Provide leadership, coaching, and support to the payroll team.
Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards across the payroll team.
Promote accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing within the department.
Ensure appropriate cross-training and succession planning to support business continuity.
Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and service excellence within the payroll function.
Payroll Governance & Compliance
Maintain overall accountability for payroll compliance across all Canadian provinces and U.S. jurisdictions in which Morgan operates.
Ensure compliance with legislative requirements, employment standards, payroll tax regulations, union agreements, reporting obligations, and company policies.
Oversee year-end reporting requirements, including T4s, T2200s, ROEs, WCB reporting, payroll tax remittances, and other statutory filings.
Monitor legislative changes and implement required updates to payroll processes and controls.
Coordinate and support payroll audits, tax reviews, and regulatory examinations.
Payroll Operations Oversight
Provide oversight of all payroll cycles, including hourly, salaried, contractor, union, and U.S. payrolls.
Review payroll activities by exception and risk, ensuring appropriate controls and validations are in place.
Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll matters, compliance concerns, taxation issues, and employee disputes.
Ensure payroll processes are completed accurately, consistently, and within established deadlines.
Monitor key payroll metrics and service levels to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Build effective working relationships across Operations, Human Resources, and Finance, serving as a trusted advisor on payroll-related matters.
Navigate competing business priorities by identifying practical solutions that support operational needs while maintaining compliance with legislative requirements, collective agreements, company policies, and internal controls.
Cross-Border Payroll & Compliance
Lead payroll compliance initiatives related to Canadian employees performing work in the United States.
Coordinate with external advisors regarding cross-border payroll taxation, state withholding obligations, and emerging compliance requirements.
Provide recommendations and subject matter expertise regarding U.S. payroll administration, payroll structure, and associated compliance considerations.
Maintain oversight of payroll risks associated with domestic and international workforce mobility.
Controls, Systems & Continuous Improvement
Own and maintain payroll policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks.
Identify process gaps and implement scalable solutions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
Demonstrate curiosity and sound judgment by proactively identifying process gaps, compliance risks, and opportunities for improvement, and developing practical solutions that support both operational effectiveness and legislative compliance.
Partner with Finance, HR, IT, and Operations to streamline workflows and improve data integrity.
Support system enhancements, automation initiatives, and payroll technology improvements.
Establish and maintain documentation standards that support audit readiness and operational continuity.
Support evolving business needs by contributing to projects, investigations, process improvement initiatives, and other assignments that enhance payroll operations, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.
Payroll Accounting & Reporting
Oversee payroll-related reconciliations and ensure completeness and accuracy of payroll-related general ledger activity.
Review payroll accruals, remittances, benefits reconciliations, and other payroll accounting requirements.
Develop and maintain payroll metrics, dashboards, and management reporting.
Provide payroll-related analysis, forecasting support, and operational insights to leadership.
Partner with Finance and operational leaders to provide payroll-related insights, workforce analytics, and decision-support information.
What You Bring
Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation required.
Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) designation preferred.
10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibility.
Experience managing payroll in a multi-company (preferred) and multi-jurisdiction environment.
Strong understanding of Canadian payroll legislation, payroll taxation, employment standards, and regulatory reporting.
Experience with U.S. payroll, cross-border payroll, or multi-state payroll environments considered a strong asset.
Strong understanding of payroll-related accounting, reconciliations, and internal controls.
Sound judgment and the ability to balance business needs with legislative and compliance requirements.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Naturally curious with a desire to understand business operations, challenge assumptions, identify risks, and drive continuous improvement.
Demonstrated ability to influence, navigate difficult conversations, and build credibility with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
Advanced Excel skills and experience working within ERP and payroll systems.
Construction, heavy civil, project-based, or equipment industry experience considered an asset.
Work Location and Schedule
Monday to Friday, 800 AM to 500 PM, in the Edmonton office.
Extended hours may be required at month-end and year-end.
Occasional travel to project sites may be required to train site personnel.
What Morgan Offers
Stable, year-round work.
Competitive wages and benefits starting on day one.
Training, hands-on development, and career advancement opportunities with a growth-focused company.
A $1,000 referral bonus when Morgan hires someone you refer.
Morgan Construction & Environmental Ltd. is a well-established heavy civil, mining, and infrastructure contractor operating across Canada and the United States. We are committed to excellence in our work, workplace safety, and building trust with our clients and the more than 40 Indigenous communities and businesses we partner with. We believe our people are the backbone of our success. #MCEL-FINACCT
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