Payroll Manager | circa $180,000 to $220,000 package equivalent

ThompsonCook; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

ThompsonCook in Melbourne seeks an experienced Payroll Manager for a 4–6 month contract to lead payroll delivery on a major restructure. You will coordinate a payroll team, engage with HR and Finance stakeholders, and ensure accurate, timely processing including complex termination payments.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong governance, and experience with SAP SuccessFactors. Offshore payroll experience is highly regarded, as is ability to manage risk and quality controls.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading payroll delivery for large organisations.
• Experience delivering payroll projects during major restructures.
• Strong stakeholder management across HR and Finance.
• Experience overseeing termination and redundancy payments.
• Hands-on in complex payroll terminations.
• Familiarity with offshore payroll resources is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate payroll delivery for a large-scale corporate restructure.
• Manage project payroll resources, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
• Partner with HR, Finance and stakeholders to align project requirements.
• Oversee quality assurance of termination and redundancy calculations.
• Provide hands-on support with complex terminations when needed.
• Identify and resolve payroll issues, managing risks and controls.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Restructure experience

Tools

SAP SuccessFactors

Job description

Payroll Manager | circa $180,000 to $220,000 package equivalent

• Highly confidential, large-scale restructure project | 4–6-month contract
• Lead payroll project delivery, stakeholder engagement and quality assurance

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a large corporate organisation on a highly confidential project supporting a significant business restructure.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Payroll Project Manager to coordinate payroll delivery across a complex project, working closely with HR, Finance, Technology and business stakeholders to ensure all payroll deliverables are completed accurately and within tight timeframes.

You’ll lead a dedicated project payroll team, overseeing quality and delivery while supporting the successful execution of complex termination and redundancy payments.

The ChallengeReporting to the General Manager of Finance your key responsibilities will include the following:

• Lead and coordinate payroll delivery for a large-scale corporate restructure
• Manage project payroll resources, ensuring deliverables are accurate and completed within agreed timelines
• Partner with HR, Finance, and business stakeholders to coordinate project requirements
• Oversee the quality assurance of termination and redundancy calculations and payments
• Provide hands‑on support with complex terminations where additional capacity is required
• Identify and resolve payroll issues, managing risks and maintaining strong controls throughout the project

The Expertise Please consider expressing interest in this position if you possess the following:

• Proven experience managing a large corporate payroll function of +1000 employees leading teams of five or more
• Demonstrated experience delivering payroll projects, large-scale restructures or redundancy programs
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence across HR and Finance
• Experience overseeing complex termination and redundancy payments
• Hands‑on experience with SAP SuccessFactors
• Experience managing offshore payroll resources will be highly regarded

The Next Step

About ThompsonCook

At ThompsonCook we develop strong relationships with top accounting and finance professionals across Australia. We specialise in recruiting for key finance function roles including:

• Chief Financial Officers, Treasury, Tax & Audit Leaders
• Finance Managers & Financial Controller
• Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll

We support our clients with both permanent and contracting recruitment solutions, ensuring they secure the best finance talent in the market.

ThompsonCook | We Only Do Accounting | Focused on Melbourne and Sydney