Payroll Manager (APAC)

Michael Page; Sunshine Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page partners with a growing national business to appoint an experienced Payroll Manager who will own payroll across Australia and New Zealand, providing leadership and governance as the payroll expert.

You will focus on improving payroll processes, managing external providers, interpreting awards, and delivering payroll reporting and analytics to support senior leadership and strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing payroll within complex environments.
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
• Proven award interpretation experience.
• Experience managing large employee populations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and drive positive change.

Responsibilities

• Own payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring accurate and compliant outcomes.
• Improve payroll processes and controls; manage external payroll providers.
• Provide award interpretation guidance and compliance advice.
• Lead payroll reporting and workforce analytics; support governance and risk management.
• Drive systems optimisation and process improvement projects.
• Support growth initiatives and changes across the business.

Skills

Payroll management

Complex environments

Payroll legislation

Award interpretation

Large workforce

Stakeholder engagement

Continuous improvement

Change leadership

Job description

About Our Client

We're partnering with a growing national business looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to step into a newly elevated position and take ownership of payroll across Australia and New Zealand.

• Immediate start
• Global business

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys creating better ways of working, building strong stakeholder relationships and improving payroll functions rather than simply processing payroll cycles.

Working closely with senior leadership, you'll become the go-to payroll expert across the organisation, providing guidance on compliance, risk, systems and operational best practice while helping prepare the business for its next phase of growth.

Job Description

You’ll take ownership of payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll outcomes while building strong relationships across Finance, People & Culture and Operations.

Beyond BAU payroll, you’ll be heavily involved in:

• Improving payroll processes and controls
• Managing and reviewing external payroll providers
• Award interpretation and compliance advice
• Payroll reporting and workforce analytics
• Risk management and governance
• Systems optimisation and process improvement projects
• Supporting business growth and change initiatives

The Successful Applicant

We’re interested in speaking with professionals who have:

• Extensive experience managing payroll within complex environments
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation and compliance requirements
• Proven award interpretation experience
• Experience managing large employee populations
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills
• A continuous improvement mindset
• The confidence to challenge, influence and drive positive change

What’s on Offer

• Salary in-line with experience
• Sunshine Coast location
• Highly visible role with exposure to senior leadership
• Opportunity to influence systems, processes and strategy
• Large and diverse workforce environment
• Stable business with exciting growth plans
• Genuine opportunity to shape the future direction of payroll

Quote job ref: JN-092026-7110115