Payroll Project Team Leader

Ambition Recruitment; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Onsite parking

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Job summary

Ambition Recruitment is partnering with a large, complex organisation to recruit a Payroll Project Team Leader into a growing payroll compliance function. You will lead a small team responsible for payroll projects, remediation, and continuous improvement across a large workforce.

The role reports to the Payroll Compliance Manager, leading up to six staff and owning project delivery from scoping through to completion. Strong payroll knowledge and people leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a payroll team and directing workflow.
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation and compliance.
• Experience with payroll projects, remediation, change or continuous improvement.
• Experience in large, complex organisations.
• Ability to communicate complex payroll matters to senior stakeholders.
• Owns project workplans and drives delivery.
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative.
• Experience handling escalated payroll matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead a payroll team of up to six and own allocated projects from scoping to delivery.
• Direct workflow, allocate remediation activity and manage complex claims.
• Identify payroll risks and propose practical solutions.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Payroll, P&C, Employee Relations and Systems.
• Support governance, controls, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coach and develop a capable payroll team.
• Manage escalated payroll matters and ensure timely outcomes.
• Contribute to broader payroll compliance and pay confidence initiatives.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Australian payroll

Project management

Stakeholder comms

People development

Job description

Are you an experienced payroll leader who enjoys getting into the detail, solving complex payroll issues and leading people through projects, remediation and change?

We are partnering with a large, complex and highly regarded organisation to recruit a Payroll Project Team Leader into a newly established and growing payroll compliance function.

This is not a traditional BAU payroll leadership role. Sitting separately from the day‑to‑day payroll operation, you will lead a team responsible for payroll projects, remediation activity, compliance initiatives and continuous improvement across a large and complex workforce.

The role

Reporting to the Payroll Compliance Manager, you will lead a team of up to six and take ownership of allocated payroll projects from scoping through to delivery.

You will:

• Lead and allocate project and remediation activity across the team
• Manage complex payroll claims, calculations, adjustments and remediation
• Identify payroll risks and recommend practical solutions
• Direct workflow and ensure projects are delivered accurately and within agreed timeframes
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Payroll, P&C, Employee Relations and Systems
• Support governance, controls, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives
• Coach and develop a capable and collaborative payroll team
• Manage escalated and complex payroll matters
• Contribute to broader payroll compliance and pay confidence initiatives

About you

We are looking for an experienced payroll professional who can combine strong technical payroll knowledge with genuine people leadership.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience leading a payroll team and directing workflow
• Strong Australian payroll legislation and compliance knowledge
• Exposure to payroll projects, remediation, change or continuous improvement
• Experience within a large and complex organisation
• Confidence communicating complex payroll matters to senior stakeholders
• The ability to take ownership of a project, create the workplan and drive it through to completion
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the confidence to operate without everything being mapped out for you
• Experience managing complex or escalated payroll matters

What's on offer?

• Permanent full-time position - 35 hours per week
• Starting salary circa $130,000-$140,000 + 17% super
• Opportunity to progress through the salary band
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• Excellent flexibility - typically only 1-2 days per week in the office
• Onsite parking available
• Opportunity to join a newly established function with genuine organisational visibility
• Lead meaningful payroll projects that directly impact employee pay confidence