Payroll Manager

Aligned Search.; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Aligned Search is partnering with a leading professional services organisation to appoint a Payroll Systems & Compliance Manager. This role focuses on payroll systems administration, configuration support and troubleshooting across Chris21, UKG and Workday.

You will drive data integrity, governance and audit readiness while improving processes, controls and documentation. Collaborating with Payroll, IT and Finance, you will help internalise capabilities and reflect legislative changes.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on payroll systems experience.
• Experience linking payroll technology to data integrity and compliance.
• Ability to support system upgrades, testing, data cleansing and implementations.
• Solid understanding of payroll compliance, reconciliations and data governance.
• Analytical skills and ability to resolve system issues.
• Proactive mindset with continuous improvement and emerging technology.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of payroll systems administration, configuration support and troubleshooting.
• Work across Chris21, UKG, and Workday.
• Support system upgrades, testing, data cleansing and implementation activities.
• Drive payroll data integrity, governance, reconciliations and audit readiness.
• Review and strengthen payroll processes, controls and documentation.
• Ensure system reflects legislative changes.
• Partner with Payroll, IT, Finance and external providers.
• Help reduce reliance on external consultants and build internal capabilities.

Skills

Payroll systems expertise

Data governance

Analytical thinking

Continuous improvement mindset

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Chris21

UKG

Workday

Job description

Aligned Search is partnering with a leading professional services organisation to appoint a Payroll Systems & Compliance Manager. This is a great opportunity for a technically strong payroll systems specialist who enjoys getting under the hood of payroll technology, improving system integrity and driving compliance across a complex business environment.

About the role:

• Take ownership of payroll systems administration, configuration support and troubleshooting.
• Work across Chris21, UKG, and Workday.
• Support system upgrades, testing, data cleansing and implementation activities.
• Drive payroll data integrity, governance, reconciliations and audit readiness.
• Review and strengthen payroll processes, controls and documentation.
• Ensure system is kept up to date to reflect legislative changes.
• Partner closely with Payroll, IT, Finance and external system providers.
• Play a key role in reducing reliance on external consultants and building internal systems capability.

What we're looking for:

Someone with strong hands-on payroll systems experience who understands the relationship between payroll technology, data integrity and compliance.

You'll ideally bring:

• Strong Chris21 experience, particularly systems administration and troubleshooting.
• Exposure to UKG, Workday is highly regarded.
• Experience supporting system upgrades, implementations or transformation projects.
• A solid understanding of payroll compliance, reconciliations and data governance.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify and resolve system issues.
• A proactive mindset with a genuine interest in continuous improvement and emerging technology.