NOVA SCOTIA LEGAL AID COMMISSION

PAYROLL OFFICER

 

Type of Employment: 1-year contract with potential for permanency
Location: Executive Office, 710-1701 Hollis Street, Halifax
Salary: TE 20-1 to TE 20-5 ($57,670.60 to $67,635.88)
Closing Date:  July 1, 2026 at 12:00 pm

Who we are:
Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission (NSLAC) delivers quality legal aid services throughout the Province, providing some level of help to all Nova Scotians with a focus on assisting those who are systematically disadvantaged. NSLAC’s focus is in the practice areas of criminal, family, and social justice law.

NSLAC employs staff in 25 offices and 3 sub-offices throughout the Province. Our staff are comprised of Staff Lawyers, Legal Assistants, Paralegals, Court Support Workers, Social Workers, a Social Justice Support Worker, and a Prison Law Support Worker. Our staff help thousands of clients every year. We are committed to helping overcome historical and ongoing barriers to access to justice and our Staff Lawyers have litigated many important cases to protect the rights of individuals.

We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens and communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented and equity-deserving groups such as Indigenous Peoples, African Nova Scotians and other racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and women in underrepresented roles. If you are a member of one or more of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify in your electronic application, cover letter, or resume.

Primary Functions:
Reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer, the Payroll Officer provides comprehensive support and assists in the delivery of payroll-related services to NSLAC.

This role’s primary responsibilities are:

• Process payroll for all NSLAC employees on a semi-monthly basis accurately and on schedule using ADP Workforce Now.
• Prepare and calculate all salary changes, leave adjustments and any retroactive payments.
• General accounting and benefit billings.
• Handle last-minute payroll entries and adjustments promptly, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, even in unexpected situations.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee payroll inquiries, resolving issues and addressing concerns.
• Contribute to financial audits, ad-hoc financial analyses, and special projects by providing necessary documentation and support.
• Support the Financial Services Officer (FSO) with expense reporting and invoice processing, ensuring accurate financial management and timely transactions.
• All other reasonable duties as assigned by the Chief People & Culture Officer.

Ideal Attributes and Skills:

• Excellent knowledge in all aspects of accounting, finance procedures, preparing reports and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Compliance with NSLAC’s policies and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Capacity to work under pressure of deadlines and multiple competing priorities which may require flexibility.
• Ability to work independently, to take initiative, and to use judgment in matters of extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel and accounting software. Knowledge of payroll software and/or other payroll programs experience would be considered an asset.
• This job posting is not a comprehensive listing of all the job requirements and is subject to change at any time and will include other tasks and duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education such as an undergraduate degree or diploma or a combination of education, training and experience deemed to be equivalent will be considered.
• Payroll Designation is preferred and considered a strong asset
• At least 2 years of related experience; an equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable.

If you are talented, conscientious and want to be a member of a team that is highly experienced, very caring, dedicated and committed to their clients, we would like to hear from you.

Please indicate Position Title and Location and whether you are an internal or external applicant in the email subject line. Please send your resume and cover letter to NSLA-Careers@nslegalaid.ca.

While we appreciate receiving all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.  All applications will be held in strict confidence.