National Payroll Manager

Ambition Recruitment; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Onsite parking (subject to confirm)

Job summary

AccountAbility, partnered with a leading national organisation, is recruiting an experienced National Payroll Manager. The role oversees the end-to-end national payroll operation with a team of 7, supporting a large, dispersed workforce across Australia.

We are seeking a technically strong leader with deep Australian payroll knowledge, capable of governance, compliance and driving continuous improvement across the function. Hybrid working arrangement with initial onsite presence in Parramatta.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' payroll experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong hands-on SAP Payroll experience (SAP S/4HANA/ECP highly regarded).
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing payroll teams.
• Solid understanding of Australian payroll legislation, Enterprise Agreements and Awards.
• Experience with multi-site or multi-entity payroll environments.
• Knowledge of payroll governance, reconciliations and statutory obligations.
• Experience with payroll transformation, system enhancements or integrations.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build trusted relationships.
• Practical, approachable leadership style and hands-on support for the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of 7 payroll professionals.
• Oversee end-to-end national payroll for a large, dispersed workforce.
• Ensure compliance with Australian payroll legislation and Awards.
• Act as SAP Payroll subject matter expert and drive system improvements.
• Manage payroll reconciliations, statutory reporting, payroll tax and month-end processes.
• Identify and resolve complex payroll issues and discrepancies.
• Drive payroll governance, controls, standardisation and continuous improvement.
• Support payroll integrations following acquisitions.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT and operations to improve service delivery.

Skills

Team leadership

Payroll governance

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Tools

SAP Payroll

Job description

AccountAbility is partnering with a leading national organisation to recruit an experienced National Payroll Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a large, established business with operations across Australia and a complex payroll environment supporting thousands of employees.

With recent business growth and acquisition activity, the organisation is looking for a technically strong and people-focused Payroll Manager who can provide hands-on leadership, strengthen payroll compliance and drive continuous improvement across the payroll function.

You will be joining a business that values collaboration, accountability and the development of its people.

The Opportunity

AccountAbility is partnering with a leading national organisation to recruit an experienced National Payroll Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a large, established business with operations across Australia and a complex payroll environment supporting thousands of employees.

With recent business growth and acquisition activity, the organisation is looking for a technically strong and people-focused Payroll Manager who can provide hands-on leadership, strengthen payroll compliance and drive continuous improvement across the payroll function.

You will be joining a business that values collaboration, accountability and the development of its people.

The Role

Reporting into the senior payroll/shared services leadership function, you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end national payroll operation and leading a team of 7 payroll professionals.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of 7, providing hands-on technical and operational support.
• Overseeing the accurate and timely delivery of payroll for a large, geographically dispersed workforce.
• Ensuring compliance with Australian payroll legislation, taxation, superannuation, Awards and multiple Enterprise Agreements.
• Acting as a key SAP Payroll subject matter expert, troubleshooting issues and supporting system improvements.
• Managing payroll reconciliations, statutory reporting, payroll tax, superannuation, termination payments and month-end requirements.
• Identifying and resolving complex payroll issues, including allowances, entitlements and compliance discrepancies.
• Driving payroll governance, internal controls, process standardisation and continuous improvement.
• Supporting payroll integration activities following recent acquisitions.
• Partnering closely with HR, Finance, IT and operational stakeholders to improve payroll service delivery.

About You

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Manager who combines strong technical expertise with genuine people leadership skills.

To be successful, you will bring:

• 10+ years' payroll experience, ideally within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong hands-on SAP Payroll experience - essential. Exposure to SAP S/4HANA/ECP environments highly regarded.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing payroll teams.
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, Enterprise Agreements, Awards and complex payroll calculations.
• Experience managing large, multi-site or multi-entity payroll environments.
• A solid understanding of payroll governance, compliance, reconciliations and statutory obligations.
• Experience with payroll transformation, system enhancements or business integrations.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships across the business.
• A practical, approachable leadership style and willingness to support the team directly.

Exposure to UKG time and attendance would be advantageous.

Experience within construction, manufacturing, industrial or other complex award-driven environments would be highly regarded.

What's On Offer?

• Permanent, full-time opportunity with a well-established national organisation.
• Hybrid working arrangement - initially 5 days onsite for approximately 4-6 weeks, transitioning to 4 days onsite and Fridays working from home.
• Convenient Parramatta location, approximately 5 minutes from the train station.
• Potential onsite parking, subject to confirmation.
• Opportunity to lead an established team and make a meaningful impact on payroll operations.
• Exposure to significant payroll integration, compliance and improvement initiatives.
• Supportive, collaborative working environment with long-term career opportunities.

Applicants must have full Australian working rights.