Payroll Manager

[axr] Recruitment & Search; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

[axr] Recruitment & Search is seeking a senior payroll leader to establish and lead the payroll function as the business expands across Australia and APAC. You will define the delivery model, build the systems and team, and drive governance and controls across regions.

In this newly created role you will balance strategic design with hands-on delivery, shaping whether payroll is run in-house or outsourced and building the capabilities required to support rapid growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll across Australia and APAC.
• Strong knowledge of Awards and jurisdictional compliance.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Track record building payroll function in high-growth environments.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll function — including the in-house vs outsourced decision, systems selection and team build-out.
• Ensure statutory and Award compliance across all regions, and establish payroll governance, controls and documentation from the ground up.
• Develop and present a payroll strategy and roadmap, with a data-driven recommendation on delivery model by region.
• Prepare payroll reporting for the Head of Finance and work closely with HR and Finance on related queries.

Skills

Multi-country payroll

Awards & compliance

Outsourced payroll management

Stakeholder advisory

Job description

Establish and lead payroll for a fast-scaling technology business expanding across Australia and wider APAC region

• Own end-to-end payroll strategy - systems, and team build out
• High accountability and influence & shape payroll function
• CBD location with WFH

About the Company

Our client is a fast-growing, well-backed business with an expanding footprint across Australia and Asia. Operating in a dynamic, high-growth sector, the business is scaling quickly, with a culture that keeps decision-making fast. This is a genuine opportunity to build a function from the ground up and shape how the payroll function operates as it grows.

About the Role

This newly created position will establish and lead the payroll function as the business scales its workforce across Australia and Asia. This is as much about building the tools, processes and controls the function needs as it is about running day-to-day payroll delivery. You'll operate in a still-forming systems environment, with the mandate to shape whether payroll is run in-house or outsourced, and to build whatever is required to support that decision.

Duties

• Own the end-to-end payroll function — including the in-house vs outsourced decision, systems selection, migration and team build-out
• Ensure statutory and Award compliance across all regions, and establish payroll governance, controls and documentation from the ground up
• Develop and present a payroll strategy and roadmap, backed by an evidence-based recommendation on delivery model by region
• Prepare payroll reporting for the Head of Finance and leadership, and partner closely with HR and Finance on related queries and projects

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll, ideally including Australia and APAC, with strong knowledge of Awards and jurisdictional compliance
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers, with the judgement to assess when in-house delivery makes sense
• Track record establishing or uplifting a payroll function in a high-growth or scale-up environment
• Commercial, detail-oriented and self-directed, with the confidence to advise senior stakeholders autonomously