Manager, Payroll Financial Controls & Governance

Downer; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Flexible work arrangements

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Manager, Payroll Financial Controls & Governance to lead a specialist payroll team within the People Services function. You will oversee employee deductions, third-party payments and statutory payroll obligations while delivering strong governance and audit readiness across a large organisation.

The role focuses on simplifying processes, improving reporting, standardising ways of working, and shaping how payroll services are delivered, in collaboration with Payroll

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll, finance, governance, shared services or related operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small specialist team responsible for payroll financial controls and governance activities.
• Oversee employee deductions, third-party payments and statutory payroll obligations.
• Manage payroll-related reconciliations and financial reporting activities.
• Strengthen governance frameworks, controls and audit readiness.
• Partner with stakeholders across Payroll, Finance, Compliance and Systems teams.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve processes.
• Support reporting enhancements and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Contribute to transformation and continuous improvement across People Services.

Skills

Payroll

Governance

Reconciliations

Financial controls

Team leadership

Continuous improvement

Analytics

Job description

Manager, Payroll Financial Controls & Governance

Lead a specialist team managing payroll controls, governance, reconciliations, statutory obligations and process improvements.

This is a 9-month maximum-term opportunity within Downer's People Services team, leading a small specialist team responsible for payroll financial controls, governance, employee deductions, statutory payments and payroll-related financial obligations across a large and complex organisation.

This newly established role will lead a small specialist team responsible for the governance, reconciliation and administration of employee deductions, statutory payments and payroll-related financial obligations across a large and complex organisation. While maintaining strong controls and compliance outcomes is a core part of the role, we're equally focused on creating a more sustainable future state. You'll have the opportunity to simplify processes, improve reporting, standardise ways of working and help shape how these services are delivered moving forward.

Working closely with Payroll Operations, HR & Payroll Systems, Finance, Tax and Compliance teams, you'll identify opportunities to reduce manual effort, improve visibility and strengthen governance across a range of payroll-related activities.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading a small specialist team responsible for payroll financial controls and governance activities
• Overseeing employee deductions, third-party payments and statutory payroll obligations
• Managing payroll-related reconciliations and financial reporting activities
• Strengthening governance frameworks, controls and audit readiness
• Partnering with key stakeholders across Payroll, Finance, Compliance and Systems teams
• Identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve processes
• Supporting reporting enhancements and operational efficiency initiatives
• Contributing to transformation and continuous improvement activities across People Services

What you’ll bring

• Experience in payroll, finance, governance, shared services or a related operational environment
• Strong understanding of controls, reconciliations, compliance and financial risk management
• Experience leading teams and working across multiple stakeholder groups
• A continuous improvement mindset and a passion for simplifying complex processes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and reporting capability
• The ability to balance operational delivery with longer-term improvement opportunities

Benefits Of Working with Downer

• Work with an ASX listed company, working with market leaders.
• Grow your career with us, we are passionate about giving our people opportunities to grow through personal and professional development and continuous learning:
  • Professional development programs
    • Access to professional memberships and industry networks
• Be part of a team that cares, we foster a work environment built on support that is flexible around our employee's wellbeing needs:
  • Flexible work arrangements
    • Parental leave
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Programs promoting diversity and inclusion
• A range of Corporate Benefits, including:
  • Discounted services (car hires, hotels, insurance, retail stores, gyms)

Why Downer?

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.