Zehr Construction, the construction division of Zehr Group, is looking for a Payroll & Accounting Administrator. This individual will deliver accurate, on-time payroll and day-to-day accounting support for the company. Payroll is the first priority of this role. The Payroll & Accounting Administrator runs the weekly and bi-weekly payroll cycles in Payworks and supports the Controller with accounts payable, reconciliations, job costing, and month-end close. The role calls for sound technical payroll knowledge, including unionized construction payroll, and a helpful, responsive approach with employees.
As the person in this role gains experience in project management and the construction industry, they are expected to take on additional responsibilities progressively. The ideal candidate is a natural collaborator who understands processes, communicates well with colleagues across all functions of the organization, prioritizes effectively, pays close attention to detail, and is willing to learn.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Payroll - Primary (Approx. 60% of time) Process weekly and bi-weekly payroll in Payworks from start to finish for salaried, hourly, and unionized employees
Collect, verify and correct timesheets, following up with site superintendents and project managers on
missing or incomplete hours
Reconcile payroll registers against timesheets and prior periods, investigate variances and resolve errors before pay is released
Apply collective agreement provisions to union payroll, including trade wage rates, overtime, premiums, statutory holiday pay, vacation pay and union dues
Calculate, remit and reconcile monthly union pension, health and welfare, and other trust fund contributions across multiple union locals
Calculate and file statutory remittances, including CRA source deductions, EHT and WSIB premiums, within required deadlines
Maintain accurate payroll records, including vacation accruals, statutory deductions, garnishments, benefit deductions and other pay adjustments
Partner with Human Resources to process new hires, terminations,



pay changes and status changes accurately and on time
Prepare Records of Employment, tax forms and other payroll documentation
Serve as the first point of contact for employee payroll questions, and respond promptly and thoroughly to CRA, Service Canada, WSIB and other external agencies
Support CRA payroll audits, WSIB audits, union trust fund audits and other payroll reviews, keeping records audit-ready
Lead year-end payroll, including T4 preparation, reconciliation and distribution
Keep payroll files organized, secure and filed in the company's systems
Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen payroll accuracy, controls and efficiency
Stay current with changes to payroll legislation, employment standards and collective agreements, and update procedures accordingly
Accounting Support (Approx. 40% of time) Process accounts payable, including coding and entering vendor and subcontractor invoices and preparing payment runs
Reconcile vendor statements and follow up on discrepancies
Record payroll journal entries and reconcile payroll clearing, payroll liability, and bank accounts
Allocate labour costs to projects in Sage 300 CRE to support accurate job costing
Prepare payroll reports and labour cost analysis for the Controller and project teams, including labour
cost by project
Track subcontractor compliance documents, including WSIB clearance certificates and certificates of
insurance
Track holdbacks on subcontractor payments
Process employee expense reports
Support the Controller with month-end close, including accruals, reconciliations, and reporting schedules




Any other reasonable tasks required to meet the requirements of this position in a professional and complete manner
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED University degree or college diploma in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related discipline
At least 3 years of combined experience in payroll and accounting, preferably in the construction industry
Practical understanding of Canadian payroll legislation and payroll compliance requirements
Experience with unionized payroll, including applying collective agreement provisions and processing trust fund remittances; construction trades experience is an asset
Experience using payroll and accounting systems; Payworks experience is strongly preferred, and Sage 300 CRE experience is an asset
Solid understanding of bookkeeping and accounting principles, including journal entries, accounts payable, and account reconciliations
Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) designation, completed, in progress, or nearing completion, is an asset
Construction industry knowledge is an asset
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED Strong written and verbal communication skills
Customer service skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Organized, logical, and detail-oriented
Discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential employee and payroll information
Deadline-driven, with the ability to prioritize tasks
Intermediate Excel skills and proficiency in other Microsoft Office applications
WORKING CONDITIONS - PHYSICAL/MENTAL/SENSORY DEMANDS Full time, in-office role based at our St. Jacobs office
Deadline-driven environment tied to weekly and bi-weekly payroll cycles and month-end close
Frequent sitting, keyboarding, filing, and data entry
Frequent communication with employees, Human Resources, and external agencies
Attention to detail and handling of confidential employee information
May need to work extended hours from time to time, particularly around payroll deadlines, month-end, and year-end

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📌 Payroll & Accounting Administrator (Ontario)
🏢 Zehr Construction
📍 Ontario