Payroll Project Lead

Client 1; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleared Recruitment is supporting the search for an experienced Payroll Project Lead to join a complex and highly regulated organisation in Canberra. This role focuses on payroll system upgrades, HRIS/payroll integration, governance and data integrity, working across Finance, People & Culture, IT, Cyber Security and external partners.

You will lead delivery of payroll projects, ensuring compliant, secure and efficient systems, with strong emphasis on governance, testing and data validation.

Qualifications

• Current NV1 security clearance
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll system implementation or upgrade projects
• Strong understanding of payroll operations, legislation, compliance and governance
• Experience across HRIS/payroll systems analysis, business process improvement and project delivery
• Strong business analysis capability, including gathering and translating requirements into practical system and process solutions
• Experience coordinating system testing, data validation and implementation activities
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities within a complex operational environment
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting skills
• Australian Citizenship and hold a Defence security clearance

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll system upgrade and transformation projects from planning through to implementation and stabilisation.
• Manage project plans, timelines, risks, issues, reporting and key deliverables.
• Coordinate stakeholders across Payroll, Finance, HR, IT, Cyber Security and external vendors.
• Gather and translate business requirements into practical system and process solutions.
• Analyse and improve payroll processes, workflows, controls and system functionality.
• Coordinate system configuration, integrations, testing, data migration, validation and go-live activities.
• Ensure payroll systems and processes support relevant compliance, governance, security and reporting requirements.
• Lead payroll testing activities, including parallel pay runs, reconciliations and data validation.
• Develop process documentation, standard operating procedures and governance frameworks.
• Provide project reporting and data analysis to support senior leadership, decision‑making and continuous improvement.

Skills

Payroll systems

HRIS/payroll

Business analysis

Project delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Excel

Security clearance

Australian citizenship

Governance

Data validation

Job description

Payroll Project Lead

Location: Canberra

Clearance: NV1

Engagement: Permanent opportunity

About the Opportunity

Cleared Recruitment is supporting the search for an experienced Payroll Project Lead to join a complex and highly regulated organisation in the ACT. This is a key project-focused role responsible for leading payroll-related projects and system initiatives, with a strong focus on payroll system upgrades, HRIS/payroll integration, process improvement, governance and data integrity. Working across Finance, People & Culture, IT, Cyber Security and external technology partners, you will play a central role in ensuring payroll systems and processes are efficient, compliant, secure and aligned with organisational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Systems & Project Delivery

• Lead payroll system upgrade and transformation projects from planning through to implementation and stabilisation.


• Manage project plans, timelines, risks, issues, reporting and key deliverables.


• Coordinate stakeholders across Payroll, Finance, HR, IT, Cyber Security and external vendors.


• Gather and translate business requirements into practical system and process solutions.


• Analyse and improve payroll processes, workflows, controls and system functionality.


• Coordinate system configuration, integrations, testing, data migration, validation and go-live activities.


• Ensure payroll systems and processes support relevant compliance, governance, security and reporting requirements.


• Lead payroll testing activities, including parallel pay runs, reconciliations and data validation.


• Develop process documentation, standard operating procedures and governance frameworks.


• Provide project reporting and data analysis to support senior leadership, decision‑making and continuous improvement.

About You

Essential

• Current NV1 security clearance.


• Demonstrated experience leading payroll system implementation or upgrade projects.


• Strong understanding of payroll operations, legislation, compliance and governance.


• Experience across HRIS/payroll systems analysis, business process improvement and project delivery.


• Strong business analysis capability, including gathering and translating requirements into practical system and process solutions.


• Experience coordinating system testing, data validation and implementation activities.


• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and organisational skills.


• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills.


• Ability to manage competing priorities within a complex operational environment.


• Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting skills.


• Australian Citizenship and hold a Defence security clearance.

Stakeholder Environment

You will work closely with a broad range of stakeholders including:

Internal:

• Finance and Payroll, People & Culture, Information Technology, Cyber Security, senior leadership, operational teams, Internal Audit and Risk.

External:

• Payroll and HRIS vendors, implementation partners and other technology providers.

Why Consider the Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a significant payroll transformation program within a complex environment, combining project leadership, business analysis, systems implementation and payroll expertise. The role would suit someone who enjoys working across multiple business functions and can bridge the gap between payroll operations, technology and project delivery.