Senior Payroll & Accounting Operations Lead (Stabilization Role)
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Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Location: Calgary, AB
Company: XA Security
About XA Security
XA Security is one of Alberta’s leading security service providers, delivering people-first security and safety services across major events, venues, and properties. Our operations are high-volume, fast-moving, and people-heavy, and accurate payroll and financial controls are foundational to our success.
Our culture is grounded in four core values:
• Stay Calm – We bring clarity and steadiness when the pressure is on.
• Foster Curiosity – We improve imperfect systems through persistence and learning.
• Lead with Empathy – We recognize that payroll is personal and accuracy matters.
• Be Pro – We take ownership, follow through, and hold ourselves to a high standard.
Position Overview — Stabilization & Fixer Mandate
This is a critical stabilization role for the organization.
The Senior Payroll & Accounting Operations Lead is responsible for bringing structure, reliability, and control to payroll and day-to-day accounting operations that support 300+ part-time and casual employees. This role exists because the work matters and because the systems, while functional, require hands-on intervention, manual reconciliation, and disciplined follow-through.
You are not walking into a pristine, automated environment. You are walking into a role that needs a calm, methodical fixer, someone who can identify failure points, close gaps, stabilize processes, and create order while keeping payroll accurate and on time.
This role reports to the Controller and works closely with Operations, Scheduling, and Management.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Operations (Primary & Mission-Critical)
• Own the end-to-end processing of high-volume payroll for 300+ casual and part-time staff across multiple divisions.
• Manually validate timesheets, pay rules, premiums, and statutory deductions.
• Reconcile discrepancies between scheduling systems, payroll outputs, and the general ledger.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve payroll issues under tight deadlines.
• Support year-end payroll processes including T4 reconciliation and audit preparation.
• Act as the escalation point for payroll accuracy and issue resolution.
Accounts Payable
• Review, code, and process vendor invoices with accuracy and consistency.
• Manage payment runs and vendor reconciliations.
• Investigate discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
Bookkeeping & Accounting Support
• Prepare journal entries and support month-end close activities.
• Complete bank and credit card reconciliations across multiple accounts.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready financial records.
• Support the Controller with reconciliations, schedules, and operational reporting.
Stabilization, Controls & Process Improvement
• Identify operational risks, control gaps, and recurring failure points.
• Stabilize payroll and AP workflows through clear processes and documentation.
• Recommend pragmatic, incremental system and process improvements.
• Support the strengthening of internal controls in a high-volume environment.
This Role Is a Strong Fit If You…
• Are comfortable being accountable for critical outcomes, not just tasks.
• Remain calm and effective under pressure and fixed deadlines.
• Enjoy diagnosing problems and fixing what’s broken.
• Are confident working in environments that require manual work and judgment.
• Take pride in accuracy, structure, and follow-through.
• Understand that payroll is both technical and deeply human.
This Role Is NOT for You If…
• You are looking for a highly automated, “hands-off” payroll environment.
• You become easily stressed by ambiguity or imperfect systems.
• You prefer clean theory over practical problem-solving.
• You avoid manual reconciliation or detailed investigative work.
• You are uncomfortable being the final checkpoint for accuracy.
• You expect problems to already be solved before you arrive.
Qualifications
• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Payroll Certification (PCP) strongly preferred.
• 3–6 years of experience in payroll, bookkeeping, or accounting operations.
• Proven experience processing payroll for a large hourly or casual workforce.
• Advanced Excel skills (lookups, pivots, reconciliations, error tracing).
• Experience with payroll and accounting systems (ADP, QuickBooks, Sage, or similar).
• High integrity, discretion, and attention to detail.
Compensation & Benefits
• Salary range: $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience and capability
• Open Time Off policy (conditions apply)
• Comprehensive health & dental benefits
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Company laptop provided
• Supportive, accountable, and professional team culture
Work Environment
This role is based in our Calgary office and follows a Monday–Friday schedule. Peak payroll periods require focus and resilience. This is not a low-stress role, it is a high-trust one.
How to Apply
If you are the kind of professional who brings order to complexity and takes pride in making critical systems work reliably, we want to hear from you. Apply with your resume to be considered.
WE PLAN. WE ADAPT. WE SMILE.