Payroll Manager -Sydney

Paras & Partners; Cumberland; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

You will manage fortnightly and monthly payroll across a diverse workforce, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and legislative compliance, with exposure to Employment Hero/ELMO and continuous improvement initiatives within a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a Senior Payroll or Payroll Manager role
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, Fair Work, Awards, superannuation, PAYG, payroll tax and leave entitlements
• Experience with Employment Hero and/or ELMO
• Leadership and people-management capability
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills
• Confident in providing practical payroll advice to senior stakeholders
• Proactive approach to improving systems, processes and controls
• Strong judgement and confident decision-making skills

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of two Payroll Officers
• Oversee end-to-end fortnightly and monthly payroll processes
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery across a diverse workforce
• Provide expert payroll advice to the Finance Director and key stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with Australian payroll legislation, Awards, contracts and policies
• Manage payroll reconciliations, reporting, controls and audits
• Strengthen payroll governance, processes and SOPs
• Identify and mitigate payroll and compliance risks
• Manage payroll calendars, approvals and deadlines
• Drive systems, processes and reporting improvements
• Partner with Finance, People & Culture and other stakeholders

Skills

Leadership

People management

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Decision making

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Tools

Employment Hero

ELMO

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a confident and experienced Payroll Manager to take ownership of the payroll function within a well‑established national organisation.

This is a newly created role reporting directly to the Finance Director, offering the opportunity to lead, improve and strengthen payroll processes across a diverse blue- and white‑collar workforce.

Leading a team of two Payroll Officers, you will be responsible for ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, efficiently and compliantly, while providing trusted advice to the Finance Director and broader business.

The Opportunity

This is more than a payroll processing role. You will be the organisation’s payroll subject matter expert, bringing strong technical knowledge, sound judgement and confidence in your decision‑making.

You will have the autonomy to identify areas for improvement, strengthen governance and controls, enhance reporting and ensure the payroll function continues to meet the needs of the business.

Working across ELMO with Employment Hero at the backend, you will also play an important role in identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and improve payroll processes.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of two Payroll Officers

Oversee end‑to‑end fortnightly and monthly payroll processes

Ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery across a diverse workforce

Provide expert payroll advice to the Finance Director and key stakeholders

Ensure compliance with Australian payroll legislation, Awards, employment contracts and company policies

Manage payroll reconciliations, reporting, controls and audit requirements

Strengthen payroll governance, processes and Standard Operating Procedures

Identify and mitigate payroll and compliance risks

Manage payroll calendars, approvals and key payroll deadlines

Drive system, process and reporting improvements

Partner closely with Finance, People & Culture and other business stakeholders

About You

You will be an experienced payroll professional who is confident taking ownership, making decisions and providing informed advice to senior stakeholders.

Ideally, you will bring:

5+ years’ experience in a Senior Payroll or Payroll Manager position

Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, Fair Work requirements, Awards, superannuation, PAYG, payroll tax and leave entitlements

Demonstrated experience managing payroll controls, reconciliations, audits and compliance

Experience with Employment Hero and/or ELMO

Strong leadership and people‑management capability

Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills

Confidence working with senior stakeholders and providing practical payroll advice

A proactive approach to improving systems, processes and controls

Strong judgement and confident decision‑making skills

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Payroll Manager who wants to make a role their own.

As a newly established position, you will have genuine scope to influence how the payroll function operates, develop your team and create stronger processes, governance and controls for the future.

The organisation also offers hybrid working, including the flexibility to work from home two days per week.

If you are a confident payroll leader who enjoys combining technical expertise, people leadership and continuous improvement, we would welcome a confidential discussion.