Payroll Manager

Sharp & Carter Accounting Clerical; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client in Adelaide seeks an experienced Payroll Manager to lead the end-to-end payroll function during a key transition. You will manage a medium-to-large workforce, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely remittance of statutory obligations while driving improvements across processes and systems.

You will mentor a payroll team, oversee month-end/year-end reconciliations, and provide board-level reporting with strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Extensive payroll experience (5+ years) in a complex environment.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience and team development.
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation (PAYG, superannuation, awards).
• Advanced Excel skills and systems capability – Chris21 specialist.
• High attention to detail with analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and legislative compliance.
• Manage payroll for a medium-to-large workforce, including complex awards and agreements.
• Ensure timely remittance of statutory obligations including PAYG, superannuation and payroll tax.
• Oversee month-end and year-end payroll reconciliations and reporting.
• Act as an escalation point for complex payroll queries and issues.
• Manage annual processes including salary reviews, bonus payments and EOFY reporting.
• Drive process improvements and support payroll system upgrades and optimisation.
• Provide reporting and insights to key stakeholders, including board-level reporting.

Skills

Payroll management

People leadership

Australian payroll legislation

Advanced Excel

Chris 21 experience

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Chris21

Excel

Job description

Our client is a well-established, highly regarded organisation operating within a complex and dynamic environment. With a strong focus on people, systems, and operational excellence, they are currently seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead their payroll function during a key transition period.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Manager of HR, you will take ownership of the end-to-end payroll function, leading a medium sized team to deliver accurate, compliant, and timely payroll services. This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance operational delivery with continuous improvement across systems and processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing payroll team
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and legislative compliance
• Manage payroll for a medium-to-large workforce, including complex awards and agreements
• Ensure timely remittance of statutory obligations including PAYG, superannuation and payroll tax
• Oversee month-end and year-end payroll reconciliations and reporting
• Act as an escalation point for complex payroll queries and issues
• Manage annual processes including salary reviews, bonus payments and EOFY reporting
• Drive process improvements and support payroll system upgrades and optimisation
• Provide reporting and insights to key stakeholders, including board-level reporting

Candidate Profile

You are an experienced Payroll Manager with a strong technical foundation and proven leadership capability. You thrive in fast-paced environments and bring a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

Key requirements:

• Extensive payroll experience (5+ years), ideally within a complex environment
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, with the ability to build and develop teams
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, including PAYG, superannuation and awards
• Advanced Excel skills and strong systems capability - in particular with Chris 21
• High attention to detail with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

What’s on Offer

• Key leadership role
• Opportunity to lead a well-established payroll team
• Engage in meaningful systems and process improvements
• Excellent salary and EVP