Group payroll manager

We are a well-established and growing Australian organisation operating across multiple entities and business divisions. Supporting a large and diverse workforce, the organisation has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. Due to continued growth, an opportunity has become available for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll governance, compliance, systems oversight and continuous improvement initiatives across a complex multi-entity environment.

Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, the Payroll Manager will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of payroll services across the organisation, ensuring payroll processes are accurate, compliant and aligned with legislative and business requirements.

A key focus of this role, particularly during the initial phase of the contract, will be to assume ownership of the organisation's Employment Hero implementation. You will be responsible for reviewing the current project status, conducting a comprehensive assessment of the implementation, identifying risks and improvement opportunities, and developing a clear roadmap to successfully deliver the project through to completion and business adoption.

This role focuses on payroll governance, systems, reporting, compliance and stakeholder management rather than day-to-day payroll processing. Working closely with Finance, HR, operational leaders and payroll providers, you will ensure payroll services are effectively managed while driving continuous improvement initiatives across payroll systems and processes.

The position will also provide strategic oversight of payroll technologies, supporting system optimisation, process improvement and future enhancement opportunities.

This is a 12-month, fixed-term contract with the opportunity for extension or ongoing employment.

• Take ownership of the Employment Hero implementation project, including reviewing project status, assessing system configuration and processes, identifying gaps and risks, and driving the project to successful completion.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, project governance, testing, change management and implementation activities associated with the Employment Hero rollout.
• Oversee payroll operations across multiple employing entities and payroll cycles.
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and statutory obligations.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex payroll matters.
• Manage payroll governance frameworks, controls and audit requirements.
• Oversee payroll reporting and statutory reporting obligations.
• Lead payroll systems management, optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive payroll process improvement, automation and efficiency projects.
• Manage relationships with payroll software providers and external payroll stakeholders.
• Identify and mitigate payroll-related risks while enhancing employee experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end payroll in a medium to large organisation with multiple entities, business units and complex award-based payrolls.
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, awards and compliance requirements.
• Experience within organisations operating under complex award structures, enterprise agreements and diverse workforce arrangements will be highly regarded.
• Experience overseeing payroll systems, HRIS platforms and payroll technologies.
• Experience with Employment Hero or similar payroll platforms.
• Strong governance, reporting and process improvement capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and attention to detail.

• Senior leadership opportunity within a growing organisation.
• Opportunity to influence payroll systems, governance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Exposure to a complex multi-entity business environment.
• Competitive remuneration package.
• Supportive and collaborative leadership team.
• 12-month fixed-term contract offering the opportunity to become a permanent position, subject to business requirements and performance.