Payroll Project Manager – 6‑Month Contract (Hybrid | Artarmon)
Chandler Macleod is proud to be partnering with a leading organisation undergoing a major payroll transformation. We are seeking an experienced Payroll Project Manager to lead the end‑to‑end delivery of a significant Australian payroll implementation project.
This is a 6‑month contract with strong potential for extension, based in Artarmon, offering a hybrid working model (a couple of days WFH per week).
bout the Role
As the Payroll Project Manager, you will oversee the complete lifecycle of an Australia‑wide payroll system implementation in collaboration with an external implementation partner. You'll coordinate internal teams, manage project governance, ensure milestone delivery, and support business readiness activities through to go‑live.
This role requires a strong project leader with deep payroll implementation experience, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage vendors in a complex, matrixed environment.
Key Responsibilities
Project Planning & Governance
Develop and maintain the overall payroll project plan aligned with the implementation partner.
Define milestones, risks, assumptions, dependencies, and resource requirements.
Maintain documentation and ensure alignment with governance standards.
Project Delivery
Lead the full implementation lifecycle for the Australian payroll solution.
Ensure internal teams meet deliverables (design inputs, data, testing, readiness activities).
Identify delays, risks, and blockers early across both organisations.
RAIDD Management
Maintain and govern the Risks, Actions, Issues, Decisions & Dependencies log.
Escalate critical items to programme leadership.
Drive mitigation actions and track owners.
Project Reporting
Deliver regular status reports and governance updates.
Highlight interdependencies, schedule risks, and progress of both internal and vendor deliverables.
Stage Gate Readiness
Demonstrate compliance with stage gate criteria.
Ensure all documentation and evidence (design, testing, data, readiness) is complete.
Stakeholder Management
Engage HR, Finance, Payroll, Operations, IT, and local leadership teams.
Facilitate timely inputs, approvals, testing participation, and data contributions.
Vendor Management
Act as the primary interface with the payroll implementation vendor.
Monitor vendor delivery, escalate delays, and oversee quality standards.
Support handover to BAU operations post‑implementation.
Change & Adoption
Support change, communications, and training activities.
Prepare teams for new payroll processes and ways of working.
Assist with cutover planning and operational readiness.
About You – Skills & Experience
Essential
Significant experience delivering payroll system implementations.
Strong end‑to‑end project management capability.
Solid understanding of Australian payroll (tax, superannuation, compliance).
Experience working with third‑party payroll vendors (e.g., ADP, Mercans, Ceridian).
Strong stakeholder, vendor, and cross‑functional communication skills.
Proven RAID governance and project reporting experience.
Desirable
Experience in global payroll transformation programmes.
Certifications such as PRINCE2, PMP, or Agile.
Experience in global or matrixed organisations.
Understanding of outsourced payroll operating models.
Location & Work Arrangement
Artarmon, Sydney
Hybrid – a couple of days working from home
Some domestic travel may be required
If you're ready to take on a critical payroll transformation assignment, we'd love to hear from you.
You can apply by either: Emailing your CV to: or Clicking the "Apply Now" button
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Contract
Job function
Human Resources, Administrative, and Information Technology
Industries
Mining, Engineering Services, and Automation Machinery Manufacturing