End-To-End Au/Nz Payroll Specialist — Sydney

The Hour Glass; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Free onsite parking

Competitive total package

Professional learning & leadership dev

Employee assistance & wellbeing

Novated leasing options

Discounts through Material Benefits

Parental leave & family-friendly

Job summary

Heidelberg Materials Australia is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations for about 1,000 staff across Australia and New Zealand. You will manage weekly, fortnightly and monthly cycles, drive team performance, and ensure accurate, compliant payroll processing with strong stakeholder collaboration.

The role combines hands-on delivery with leadership, focusing on process improvements, system optimisation, and operational excellence in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• Extensive payroll experience across Australia and NZ.
• Demonstrated leadership of large payroll teams.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for ~1,000 employees across multiple pay cycles.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, regulations, awards, enterprise agreements, taxation and superannuation requirements.
• Oversee employee lifecycle changes including onboarding and terminations.
• Administer superannuation, PAYG, deductions, allowances and salary changes.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, reporting and audit requirements accurately.
• Act as a key escalation point for payroll-related queries across the business.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance teams to improve processes and workflows.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives within payroll systems.
• Support system optimisation, with exposure to Dayforce beneficial.
• Manage payroll controls, audits, reporting and risk mitigation activities.
• Partner with key stakeholders to resolve complex payroll matters and drive operational excellence.
• Lead payroll system enhancements, testing and continuous improvement initiatives

Skills

Payroll leadership

Team leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Attention to detail

Process improvement

Tools

Dayforce

Job description

Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager - $150,000 - $160,000 + Super + Bonus

Salary Package: $150,000 - $160,000 + Super + Bonus

Role Highlights

Join a globally established pharmaceutical organisation in a key leadership capacity. This is a high-impact role overseeing payroll operations for a large workforce, offering a combination of hands-on delivery and team leadership in a growing international business.

Role Overview

Reporting into senior finance leadership, this position will take full ownership of payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand, managing approximately 1,000 employees. You will oversee multiple pay cycles including weekly, fortnightly, and monthly processing, ensuring all payroll activities are completed accurately and within strict deadlines. On a daily basis, you will manage escalations, support your team, and collaborate with HR and finance stakeholders.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency within payroll. You will be responsible for driving process improvements, enhancing systems usage, and contributing to operational excellence. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence payroll strategy while developing a high-performing team in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for ~1,000 employees across multiple pay cycles
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, regulations, awards, enterprise agreements, taxation and superannuation requirements
• Oversee employee lifecycle changes including onboarding and terminations
• Administer superannuation, PAYG, deductions, allowances and salary changes
• Complete payroll reconciliations, reporting and audit requirements accurately
• Act as a key escalation point for payroll-related queries across the business
• Collaborate with HR and Finance teams to improve processes and workflows
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives within payroll systems
• Support system optimisation, with exposure to Dayforce beneficial
• Manage payroll controls, audits, reporting and risk mitigation activities
• Partner with key stakeholders to resolve complex payroll matters and drive operational excellence
• Lead payroll system enhancements, testing and continuous improvement initiatives

Candidate Profile

You are an experienced payroll professional with proven leadership capability, comfortable managing both operational delivery and team performance. You have previously operated in a Payroll Manager or Senior Team Lead capacity within a medium-to-large organisation and bring deep understanding of complex payroll environments. You possess strong technical knowledge across end-to-end payroll processes and are confident navigating compliance requirements. With excellent communication skills, you build strong relationships across departments and work effectively in a fast-paced setting. Experience with Dayforce or comparable systems will be highly regarded, alongside proactivity and attention to detail.

This organisation is a well-established global player within the pharmaceutical industry, known for its innovation and strong presence across international markets. The business fosters a collaborative and supportive culture, offering employees flexibility while maintaining high performance standards.

Benefits

• Advance your career within a globally recognised organisation
• Enjoy a hybrid working model with flexibility and work-life balance
• Benefit from free onsite parking and a competitive total package
• Competitive remuneration package
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Career development opportunities within a global organisation
• Professional learning and leadership development programs
• Employee assistance and wellbeing initiatives
• Novated leasing options
• Discounts through our Material Benefits program
• Inclusive parental leave and family-friendly policies
• A collaborative and supportive team environment focused on safety, innovation, and success

Eligibility

Applicants must have full Australian working rights to be considered for this position.

Diversity & Inclusion

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and/or sexual orientation.

Heidelberg Materials Australia is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, veterans, mature-age workers, and people living with disability.

Employment Type

Full time

Contract Type

Fixed term contract

Location

Sydney

Job no: JH73418