Squadron Energy is Australia's leading renewable energy company that develops, operates and owns renewable energy assets in Australia. With proven experience and expertise across the project lifecycle, we work with local communities and our customers to lead the transition to Australia's clean energy future. We are 100% Australian owned and have 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy in operation and 900MW under construction.
Why work with us?
Our goal is to improve the environment for current and future generations by leading Australia's transition to renewable energy. Our people are driven by their passion to make a meaningful difference in the world, to their families and friends, and to themselves. Though we are united by this common goal, we view the tremendous diversity in our team's cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds as one of our greatest assets. This sense of camaraderie and cross‐disciplinary expertise spurs drive and commitment to the growth of our business.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Head of People and Culture Operations, the Payroll Officer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of payroll activities within Squadron Energy (SQE). The Payroll Officer is the primary source of expertise to ensure SQE's payroll practices are aligned with legislative requirements. The Payroll Officer is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of end‐to‐end payroll in accordance with Australian legislation, Awards, and organisational policies. This role supports payroll operations across the employee lifecycle, maintains high‐quality payroll data and provides responsive payroll support to employees and stakeholders. Working closely with the People & Culture and Finance teams, the Payroll Officer contributes to compliance, reporting, cyclical payroll activities, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure payroll outcomes are accurate, compliant, and efficiently delivered.
Key Responsibilities
* Process end‐to‐end payroll for fortnightly and off‐cycle payroll runs, including data entry, validation, and finalisation of payments, ensuring compliance with taxation, superannuation guarantee, and payroll tax obligations.
* Prepare, reconcile, and process monthly superannuation payments in accordance with legislative requirements and superannuation clearing house obligations.
* Maintain accurate and up‐to‐date employee payroll records, including personal details, tax declarations, superannuation, salary packaging, and other payroll‐related data.
* Process employee lifecycle payroll activities including commencements, changes, promotions, allowances, terminations and final payments.
* Coordinate cyclical payroll activities, including support for the annual Salary Review process and Short‐Term Incentive (STI) Program.
* Assist with the preparation of remuneration benchmarking data to support annual pay review cycles and ad‐hoc remuneration decisions.
* Support end of financial year activities, including payment summaries and reconciliations.
* Maintain up‐to‐date knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll legislation, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and guidelines, and communicating relevant updates to the team.
* Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes, implement best practices, and support ongoing compliance with policies and regulatory requirements.
* Assist with the preparation and distribution of regular payroll reports and reconciliations for internal stakeholders.
* Respond to payroll‐related enquiries from internal and external stakeholders in a timely, accurate, and professional manner, including managing the Payroll inbox.
* Ensure the accurate application of Award and legislative requirements, including BOOT checks, in line with established procedures.
* Work collaboratively with the P&C and Finance teams on payroll processing, reporting, system updates, and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, payroll system enhancements, audit recommendations and actions, and project activities as required.
* Contribute to the development, documentation, and adherence to payroll procedures and work instructions.
* Assist with the review of leave balances, including annual leave and long service leave, as requested.
* Prepare termination and redundancy estimates and support the P&C team in providing accurate calculations in accordance with legislative requirements.
* Support audits and compliance checks by providing payroll data and documentation as required.
* Always maintain confidentiality and integrity of payroll and employee information.
General Responsibilities
* Health, safety, and environment: Comply with all workplace health, safety and environmental obligations and report any incidents, hazards and accidents to the safety and environment team.
* Administration: Ensure all documentation is stored and recorded on the Squadron Energy document management system.
* Reporting: Ensure that issues and risks are escalated/reported to management in a timely manner.
* Financial: Adhere to Squadron Energy and project procedures for purchasing and expenditure in compliance with approved budgets.
* Stakeholders: Maintain a professional relationship with all project stakeholders.
* Company: Ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with Squadron Energy's employee policies and standards.
Skills and experience
Experience and knowledge
* Demonstrated experience in end‐to‐end payroll processing within a payroll environment.
* Strong understanding of payroll regulations and compliance requirements.
* Demonstrated experience building effective working relationships internally & externally and ability to seek relevant advice/information from appropriate people and sources.
* Experience using Workday (or similar HRIS/payroll systems) to process payroll transactions, maintain employee data, and support accurate and timely payroll outcomes.
* Experience implementing and managing payroll systems or software upgrades, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in payroll processing.
* Strong understanding and experience in market benchmarking and remuneration review related activities.
* Experience working with different industrial instruments, including Enterprise Agreements and Awards for site‐based and shift‐based workforces.
Skills
* High‐level organisation skills including well‐developed priority‐setting skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
* Highly developed people‐management skills, with experience developing and mentoring team.
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make recommendations for process improvements or risk mitigation.
* High level of integrity and confidentiality.
* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex payroll issues clearly and effectively.
* Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll software for data analysis and reporting.
Qualifications / Tickets / Other
* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
To Apply
Squadron Energy is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. If you want to make a meaningful difference in this world then we encourage you to take the next steps:
* Submit your updated resume outlining your relevant experience to date.
* Attach a cover letter outlining your motivations behind applying for this role.
Please Note
Appointment to this position will be subject to reference checks, a National Police Check and other applicable background screening if required.
Squadron Energy does not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies. Any unsolicited CVs received will not be considered, and no fees will be paid for such submissions.
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