Senior Payroll Specialist
- Pay Rate: $ 81.18 /hour, depending on experience
- Contract Length: 9 Months
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Raise is currently hiring a Senior Payroll Specialist on behalf of our client. They’re expanding their team to meet growing needs, making this a unique opportunity to work with an industry leader. Our Client, is a major Canadian airline.
Note: The primary pay rate is based on T4 classification; however, we will also consider applications from candidates interested in an INC classification, where applicable.
Description
The Payroll Specialist in this role will support the HCM Modernization program by providing hands‑on payroll expertise across requirements validation, testing, data reconciliation, parallel payroll runs, and go‑live support. The role ensures payroll accuracy, compliance, and alignment between system configuration and real‑world payroll operations. Acting as a bridge between Payroll, HR, Finance, HRIT, and the Systems Integrator, this position is critical to reducing payroll risk and ensuring a stable transition to the new Dayforce platform.
Business Purpose
The Payroll Specialist will support the successful implementation of the new HR/payroll system by providing hands-on payroll expertise across requirements gathering system testing, data validation, parallel runs, and go-live readiness. This role is critical to ensuring payroll accuracy, aligning system design with real-world processing needs, identifying gaps early, and reducing risk during transition to the new platform.
Key Deliverables
- Documented and validated payroll requirements, including identified gaps, edge cases, and risks Gather and document payroll, integration and data conversion requirements
- Execute payroll SIT and UAT test scenarios with tracked defects and resolution outcomes Validated and reconciled migrated payroll data and YTD balances
- Completed and signed‑off parallel payroll runs with variance analysis
- Payroll cutover readiness artifacts, including final data extracts and reconciliations
- Go‑live support and stabilization for initial payroll cycles, with knowledge transfer to BAU teams
Required
- 5 to 8 years of Core Payroll experience
- Experience with audit support, year‑end activities, or regulatory reporting
- Hands‑on payroll processing experience in Dayforce, including payroll configuration and execution Familiarity with unionized or complex pay environments (e.g., multiple pay rules, premiums, retro pay) Direct experience supporting a Dayforce payroll implementation, through testing, parallel runs, and go‑live Experience supporting payroll data conversion from legacy systems to Dayforce
- Proven experience executing parallel payroll cycles, including variance analysis and sign‑off
- Experience with payroll integrations across HCM, time & attendance, finance/GL, and third‑party benefits/pension providers Strong understanding of payroll calculations, statutory compliance, controls, and audit requirements
- Demonstrated experience with payroll SIT/UAT testing, data migration validation, and reconciliations
- Ability to independently identify gaps, edge cases, and defects, and drive resolution with HRIT, SI, and vendors Experience working in fast‑paced, cross‑functional transformation programs
- Ability to support process documentation and knowledge transfer to BAU payroll teams
- Nice to Haves
- Experience with JDE HR/Payroll and Kronos
- Strong business analysis skills, including requirements documentation, process mapping, and gap analysis Prior experience working alongside global or large-scale Systems Integrators
- Soft Skills
- Strong communicator who can help translate complex payroll issues into clear, actionable guidance for business and technical teams Confident and assertive, with the ability to challenge design decisions and escalate risks based on facts and data
- Highly detail‑oriented, with a proven ability to identify payroll discrepancies, edge cases, and data gaps early Practical, solution‑focused problem solver who performs well under pressure during parallel runs, cutover, and go‑live
- Takes ownership of outcomes and produces clear documentation and knowledge transfer to support BAU payroll teams
- Education and Certifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma: Preferably in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or Business Administration.
Looking for meaningful work? We can help!
Raise is an established hiring firm with over 65 years of experience. We believe strongly in making the world a better place through work, which is why we’re a certified B Corporation and donate 10% of our profits to charity.
We strive to build teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we work in. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including people from traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as LGBTQ2SI, veterans, and people with visible/nonvisible disabilities.
We have a dedicated webpage for accommodations where you can learn more about what we offer and request accommodation: https://raise.jobs/accommodations/
In order to submit candidates for roles, our clients will sometimes require personal information to confirm the identity of applicants and their legal status to work. Raise will never ask you for personal or banking information unless you have been selected for a job. If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of this or any other Raise job posting (or have any other questions), please contact us at +1 800-567-9675 or hello@raiserecruiting.com.
#WES
#LI-SC1