Staff Accountant - Payroll Time Entry

About the role

The Staff Accountant

Payroll Time Entry position at Kelso Industries represents a critical stewardship role within the finance function. You will own the full payroll cycle for assigned Operating Companies, acting as the central pillar for timekeeping integrity and accurate labor cost management. This role demands a high level of accountability for processing data, resolving issues proactively, and maintaining clear communication across cross-functional teams. You will support continuous system improvements and manage the entire workflow from initial data intake through the final generation of partner reports. Your work ensures the accuracy and reliability of payroll inputs that drive downstream financial statements and regulatory compliance, directly impacting fair employee compensation and the financial health of Kelso Industries. You will serve as both a gatekeeper of policy enforcement and a trusted advisor to operations and finance.

What you'll do

Your daily responsibilities will focus on precision, compliance, and partnership. You will gather timecard data and verify completeness before processing begins, ensuring no gaps or anomalies enter the system. You will audit entries rigorously for policy adherence, identifying and correcting errors early in the workflow to prevent downstream issues. When payroll variances occur, you will investigate the root causes and coordinate directly with supervisors to resolve discrepancies quickly and accurately. A key deliverable is preparing verified data packages for corporate payroll teams, adhering strictly to established deadlines to maintain operational continuity. You will act as the main point of contact for employee questions and operational clarifications regarding payroll, providing clear and professional guidance. Posting hours to General Ledger and job cost modules will be executed with zero tolerance for misalignment, ensuring financial accuracy. You will analyze labor postings, correct any misallocations, and clearly explain adjustments to internal stakeholders. For specific government projects, you will produce specialized reports for Prevailing Wage and Davis Bacon initiatives to satisfy stringent compliance demands. This includes constant monitoring of project coding accuracy and reconciling labor across all active initiatives. You will support system upgrades and testing of new functionality, contributing to the evolution of manual processes. Building customized labor reports that highlight productivity, utilization, and headcount trends will be a standard task. You will then distribute clear dashboards and actionable insights to partners, enabling timely and transparent decision-making. Finally, you will continuously track regulatory requirements to ensure ongoing compliance and safeguard employee compensation details through controlled access and careful handling at all times.

Requirements

To succeed in this role, you must bring specific, quantifiable experience to the table. You are required to have two to three years of hands-on experience in construction payroll handling, specifically with job costing and labor reporting. A deep understanding of prevailing wage regulations and Davis Bacon compliance, including detailed reporting requirements, is mandatory. You should possess a thorough comprehension of General Ledger entries and standard payroll accounting procedures, demonstrating this knowledge in practical applications. Proficiency with advanced Excel functions is non-negotiable; you must be able to build complex reports and analyze intricate data patterns to uncover insights. Strong attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills are essential to successfully managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Clear, professional communication skills - both written and verbal - are required for interacting with varied audiences during meetings and in written correspondence. Furthermore, you must have reliable personal transportation and be eligible to work in the United States to perform the essential functions of this job.

Nice to have

While not mandatory, experience within MEP sectors and in active construction operations environments would be highly beneficial, providing contextual familiarity with the specific challenges and workflows of the industry.

Skills & tools

Your core technical toolkit will center on Microsoft Excel, which is essential for report building, data analysis, and maintaining the accuracy of payroll and job costing records.

About the company

Kelso Industries is a specialized builder of scientific research vessels for government marine operations. The company name honors the late Dr John Kelso, a scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, a background that is directly reflected in the design and purpose of the vessels constructed. The company's primary output is the "Near Shore Fisheries Research Vessel," a platform used for trawls, box core sampling, bottom sampling, and water quality sampling. Commissioned in 2009, the lead vessel was built by ABCO Industries Lunenburg Shipyard and ordered by the Canadian Coast Guard to replace the retiring CCGS Shark. It operates from CGS Base Burlington in the Central and Arctic Region. The vessel is engineered for specific functionality, with a maximum speed near 16 knots and a cruising speed near 14 knots. It has a fuel capacity of approximately 2848 litres and additional water storage of 500 litres. The accommodation layout supports day trips and focused research campaigns, featuring seating for ten passengers and a crew of three. This configuration enables effective operations in coastal and nearshore waters, aligning perfectly with the scientific mission Kelso Industries was founded to support.