Payroll Specialist at Nakazdli Whuten – Fort St. James, British Columbia

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Payroll Specialist
Location: Fort St. James, BC
Employment Type: Full-Time
Wage: $31 - $35 per hour based on experience

About Us

Nak'azdli Whut'en is a proud Dakelh First Nation located near Fort St. James, British Columbia. Our community is deeply rooted in Dakelh culture, language, and values, emphasizing a connection to the land and a commitment to the well-being of our people. We are dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive services that reflect our culture and respect the unique perspectives and needs of our members. At Nak'azdli Whut'en, we strive to provide community-focused health and social services that uphold Indigenous values and address the distinct challenges facing our community.

Job Summary

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for managing end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring the timely and accurate payment of wages, benefits, and deductions for all staff. This position requires expert knowledge of payroll systems and compliance frameworks, including Indigenous funding requirements, CRA reporting standards, and confidentiality protocols. The Payroll Specialist plays a critical role in supporting financial integrity, employee trust, and operational efficiency across Nak’azdli Whut’en.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Accurately process biweekly payroll for salaried, hourly, casual, and contract staff using ADP (or equivalent system)
• Manage payroll entries, timekeeping validations, overtime, vacation accruals, and banked time adjustments with the support of Payroll Clerk.
• Ensure deductions and benefits (e.g., EI, CPP, pension, extended health, taxable benefits) are applied correctly
• Administer retroactive pay, payroll adjustments, and terminations, including pay in lieu of notice where applicable

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure payroll processes comply with the Canada Labour Code, and CRA regulations.
• Prepare and submit statutory filings including T4s, T4As, Records of Employment (ROEs), and remittances
• Monitor payroll legislation changes and update internal procedures accordingly

Audit, Reconciliation, and Controls

• Reconcile payroll accounts with the Finance Department and support month-end and year-end closings
• Maintain audit-ready payroll records and participate in internal and external financial audits

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain payroll system configuration, employee profiles, earning/deduction codes, and pay groups
• Collaborate with HR to integrate onboarding, job changes, and terminations into the payroll workflow
• Identify process gaps and recommend payroll policy updates or automation improvements
• Support system upgrades, testing, or transitions (e.g., ADP Workforce Now module enhancements)

Employee Support & Confidentiality

• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely, confidential, and professional manner
• Educate staff on pay stubs, deductions, leave accruals, and benefits calculations
• Safeguard sensitive employee and organizational information in accordance with privacy legislation and Indigenous data sovereignty principles

Qualifications

• Diploma or certificate in Payroll, Accounting, or Finance
• PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) designation completed or in progress
• Minimum 2–3 years of hands-on, full-cycle payroll experience
• Expertise with payroll software (ADP strongly preferred)
• In-depth knowledge of Canadian payroll legislation and statutory remittances
• Experience in payroll for First Nations governments or Indigenous organizations
• Familiarity with Indigenous-specific employment funding models and CRA tax exemption rules
• High level of professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information

Indigenous Commitment

"Nak'azdli Whut'en is committed to fostering a culturally safe and inclusive work environment that reflects the values, traditions, and aspirations of Indigenous peoples. We actively encourage and prioritize applicants from First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities to apply. We recognize the importance of cultural knowledge and experience, and we honor and respect Indigenous ways of knowing and being."

Application Instructions

If this aligns with your career goals, we encourage you to apply directly through our job posting. If you are having difficulty applying online, kindly email your resume to jobs@nakazdliwhuten.ca