Payroll Governance and Compliance Manager

Australia Post; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Exclusive team member discounts

Health and wellbeing resources

Job summary

Australia Post is seeking a strategic leader to govern payroll governance, ensuring compliant and consistent outcomes across a large organisation. You will oversee risk controls, collaborate with Legal, IR and People & Culture, and drive transformation initiatives.

You will lead a team, partner with multiple stakeholders, and navigate complex regulatory environments to build trust and defensible payroll decisions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in payroll compliance or payroll governance in a large organisation.
• Proven track record leading governance, assurance or risk management activities.
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws, awards and enterprise agreements.
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Expertise in payroll risk assessment, controls design and remediation.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll governance framework development and continuous improvement.
• Provide independent oversight of payroll risks, controls and decisions.
• Partner with Payroll Operations, Industrial Relations, Legal and People & Culture teams to resolve issues.
• Guide audits, remediation programs and transformation initiatives.
• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll governance team.

Skills

Payroll governance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Tertiary qualification in law/HR/accounting/finance

Job description

Being in a business support role at Australia Post means helping our people deliver for every Australian. Just like our Posties, you’re still the people behind every parcel. Whatever your team or role, you’re helping grow our people, grow our business and making a lasting impact on the Australian community. You’ll find a culture of connection in our great people and the flexibility to balance work with life outside of it.

About the opportunity

Play a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening payroll governance across a large, complex organisation. Leading a specialist team, you'll provide independent oversight, influence enterprise-wide decision-making and help ensure payroll outcomes are compliant, consistent and trusted. This is a unique opportunity to use your expertise to drive meaningful impact, minimise risk and build confidence for team members, leaders and regulators alike.

You’ll also

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of payroll governance and compliance frameworks, ensuring they remain robust, practical and aligned with regulatory and business requirements.
• Provide independent oversight of payroll risks, controls and decision-making, identifying emerging issues early and driving effective and defensible outcomes.
• Partner with Payroll Operations, Industrial Relations, Legal and People & Culture teams to resolve complex payroll interpretation matters and embed consistent practices across the business.
• Guide payroll-related audits, remediation programs and transformation initiatives, ensuring compliance obligations and enterprise agreement requirements are appropriately managed.
• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll governance team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

About you

You’re a strategic and collaborative leader who combines strong governance expertise with a practical, solutions-focused mindset. Comfortable navigating complexity and influencing senior stakeholders, you bring a balanced approach to risk, compliance and business outcomes. You thrive in highly regulated environments, enjoy solving complex challenges and are passionate about building trust through robust, transparent and defensible decision-making.

You’ll also

• Significant experience in payroll compliance, industrial relations, employment law, workforce governance or a related discipline within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated success leading payroll governance, compliance, assurance or risk management activities in highly regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of the Fair Work Act, modern awards, enterprise agreements and payroll compliance obligations, with the ability to interpret and apply legislative requirements.
• Experience partnering with Payroll Operations, Industrial Relations, Employee Relations, Legal, Risk and Compliance teams, while confidently influencing senior stakeholders and external parties such as auditors, regulators and unions.
• Expertise in payroll risk assessment, controls design, remediation activities and governance frameworks, supported by strong analytical, documentation and communication skills.
• A tertiary qualification in law, HR, accounting, finance or a related field, with professional certification in payroll, compliance or risk viewed favourably.

What else is in it for you?

• Bring your whole self to work every day and be met by a welcoming bunch of people who respect and support you
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements, like the opportunity to work from home two days per week
• Opportunities for growth and development through formal programs or mentorship
• Exclusive team member discounts and offers for more cash in your pocket, evolving policies for flexible working, leave types and access to health and wellbeing resources

All walks, one route

It takes a lot of us to deliver for every Australian – and it’s important to us that our people behind the parcels reflect the people receiving them. We come from all walks. Different backgrounds, different ages, different genders, different sexualities and different abilities, but we all believe in the same purpose.

We welcome people all ages, genders and backgrounds – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, and refugees. We’re a Disability Confident Recruiter, committed to making our hiring process and workplace inclusive and barrier-free. We’re also working hard to remove bias and build a gender-equitable experience for everyone who joins us. If you’ve got questions about accessibility, reach out to our Diversity & Inclusion team at [e-mail] or on 03 8737 9415.