Payroll Manager, ANZ

ofi; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food ingredient company in Melbourne is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand. The ideal candidate should have over ten years of payroll experience and a strong understanding of compliance within the region. This full-time position entails ensuring accurate payroll processing, engaging with stakeholders, and maintaining compliance with legislative requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in payroll.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance.
• Experience managing complex payroll environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee calculation and disbursement of salaries and bonuses.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with relevant legislation.
• Provide strategic insights on policy and process adjustments.

Skills

Knowledge of payroll compliance across Australia and New Zealand

Expertise in interpreting and applying Modern Awards

General payroll practices knowledge

Ability to conduct BOOT testing

Proficient in payroll and HRIS platforms

Education

Bachelor Degree in Accounting or Human Resources

Tools

Excel

Job description

Location: Australia, Melbourne, St Kilda. Work arrangements: 5 days working from office (Office hours).

About ofi

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy‑free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, “to be the change for good food and a healthy future.” With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Payroll Manager, ANZ

Purpose

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the end‑to‑end management of ofi’s payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of employee remuneration and all statutory obligations and 3rd party payments. This role requires deep expertise in local legislation, award interpretation, and payroll systems, with a strong focus on continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement and reporting on a monthly, quarterly, end of financial year and any adhoc requirements. Furthermore, you will establish if required and manage any implementation and documentation on any payroll related systems, policies. This role reports to Head of HR Australia & New Zealand.

Key Accountabilities

Processing Payroll

• Oversee the calculation and disbursement of salaries, allowances, bonuses, deductions, and entitlements, including leave accruals, overtime, and termination payments
• Maintain and continuously improve payroll system integrity, ensuring accurate data entry and seamless updates for onboarding, offboarding, promotions, and contractual changes
• Manage and validate time and attendance data, ensuring correct interpretation of rosters, award conditions, and leave balances
• Act as the primary point of contact for all payroll‑related queries, resolving issues promptly and professionally across all levels of the business
• Ensure correct application of tax withholdings, salary packaging, and other statutory deductions, including PAYG, KiwiSaver, and child support
• Administer superannuation contributions in accordance with AU & NZ legislative requirements, including SG obligations and voluntary contributions
• Prepare, reconcile, and transmit payroll files to financial institutions, ensuring secure and timely payment processing
• Implement and maintain a robust pay run approval and sign‑off process, aligned with internal controls and external audit standards
• Manage the preparation and submission of all state and federal payroll‑related obligations, including payroll tax, WorkCover, superannuation, and year‑end reporting (e.g., STP, IRD submissions)

Compliance

• Ensure payroll practices comply with relevant legislation, including Fair Work Act, Modern Awards, and National Employment Standards (NES) in Australia
• Holidays Act 2003, KiwiSaver, and MBIE guidelines in New Zealand
• Stay up to date with legislative changes and ensure timely implementation
• Manage superannuation, PAYG, payroll tax, WorkCover, and other statutory obligations
• Maintain all personnel files, ensuring filing completed weekly
• Ensure the accuracy and reliability of data by maintaining up‑to‑date records, implementing rigorous validation procedures, and promptly addressing any discrepancies
• Conduct detailed quality control audits regularly to uphold data precision and integrity, identifying and resolving inconsistencies to ensure dependable records
• Manage the set‑up of new employee information and accounts in the payroll systems and oversee the maintenance of employee data systems, including maintenance of Payroll records and files

Industrial Relations

• Partner proactively with the HR team to ensure all updates to Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements, workplace policies, and employment legislation are thoroughly reviewed, accurately interpreted, and seamlessly implemented across payroll operations
• Monitor and communicate significant changes in industrial instruments, regulatory frameworks, and employment law, ensuring timely, clear, and actionable updates are provided to relevant stakeholders, including HR, Finance, and operational leaders
• Participate in and contribute to ongoing education and training sessions focused on payroll legislation, industrial relations, and compliance best practices, supporting a culture of continuous learning and legislative awareness
• Analyse and interpret new or amended legislation affecting payroll and employment conditions—such as changes to minimum wage, leave entitlements, superannuation, and termination rules—providing strategic insights and practical recommendations to guide policy and process adjustments
• Collaborate on the development and review of workplace policies to ensure alignment with current industrial relations standards and organisational values
• Support enterprise bargaining processes and award reviews by providing payroll data, modelling scenarios, and validating proposed changes against legislative and financial impacts
• Act as a subject matter expert on industrial relations matters within payroll, offering guidance on complex award interpretations, dispute resolution, and compliance risks
• Ensure payroll systems and procedures are configured to reflect the latest industrial instruments, including correct application of penalty rates, loadings, allowances, and BOOT testing requirements

Others

• Develop and deliver ad hoc financial and operational reports to support business needs, executive decision‑making, and compliance requirements, including workforce cost analysis, leave liability tracking, and payroll trend insights
• Travel to ofi offices across Australia and New Zealand as required to support payroll operations, stakeholder engagement, system implementation, and training initiatives
• Prepare and submit specialised reports such as Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) submissions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with regulatory standards
• Oversee Novated Lease Management, including payroll deductions, provider liaison, and compliance with salary packaging policies and taxation requirements
• Provide forecasting, system analysis, and strategic recommendations to improve payroll efficiency, support workforce planning, and enhance responsiveness to business changes
• Create and maintain a comprehensive Payroll Department Procedure, detailing processes, system configurations, compliance obligations, and key contacts to ensure continuity and operational resilience during transitions

Key Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Accounting, Human Resources or Masters in Business Administration desirable.

Experience

Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in payroll.

Skills

• Demonstrated current knowledge and understanding of payroll compliance across Australia and New Zealand, including statutory obligations, reporting requirements, and audit standards
• Comprehensive expertise in interpreting and applying Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements, and state‑specific industrial legislation, ensuring accurate payroll execution and alignment with employment law
• Strong working knowledge of general payroll practices, including end‑to‑end processing, leave management, taxation, superannuation, and termination procedures
• Proven ability to research, analyse, and lead projects aimed at improving payroll systems, workflows, and compliance frameworks—driving operational efficiency and risk mitigation
• Experience in conducting BOOT testing, award mapping, and legislative gap analysis to support remuneration reviews and enterprise bargaining
• Previous experience in a similar payroll leadership role, with a track record of managing complex payroll environments, system transitions, and multi‑jurisdictional compliance
• Skilled in using payroll and HRIS platforms, with advanced proficiency in Excel and reporting tools to support financial modelling, reconciliations, and strategic planning.

Safety & Health

Understand Safety Management Systems relevant to your role, work in a safe manner to ensure you don’t put yourself or others at risk and proactively raise and address issues.

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ofi by 2x.

Seniority level: Associate. Employment type: Full‑time. Job function: Human Resources and Accounting/Auditing. Industries: Food and Beverage Services, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, and Wholesale Food and Beverage.