Payroll Services & Compliance Manager

TAL; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid volunteering leave

Discounted insurance

Wellbeing initiatives

Flexible work options

Learning and development opportunities

Discounts on products/services

Job summary

TAL in Sydney is seeking an experienced Payroll Leader to oversee accurate, compliant payroll services for our Australian workforce. You will ensure timely payments, governance, and risk management while guiding a high-performing payroll team.

You’ll drive continuous improvement, map processes, and leverage Dayforce, Workday and ServiceNow to optimise efficiency and employee experience. Strong stakeholder partnership and data-driven decision-making are essential to succeed in this role.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing People Services teams.
• Strong expertise in HRIS platforms, particularly Dayforce, with exposure to Workday and ServiceNow.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement through process mapping, documentation and operational optimisation.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, customer service and communication skills, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships across all organisational levels.
• Strong operational and analytical capability, with excellent judgement, project management skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of accurate, compliant and high-quality payroll services, ensuring employee payments and payroll transactions are processed within agreed timeframes.
• Oversee payroll governance and compliance, ensuring adherence to legislative, regulatory, award and enterprise agreement requirements, while managing audits, controls and risk obligations.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline, automate and optimise payroll processes, enhancing efficiency, accuracy and employee experience.
• Provide leadership, coaching and development to the Payroll Services team, fostering a high-performing, engaged and customer-focused culture.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, complex payroll escalations and service performance, using data, reporting and insights to support operational excellence and informed decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll leadership

HRIS Dayforce

Workday

ServiceNow

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Project management

Communication

Tools

Dayforce

Workday

ServiceNow

Job description

Paid volunteering leave and discounts across a range of products and services.

Access to learning, development and career growth opportunities

At TAL, we’re supported to live our best lives. With flexible and blended working options, discounted insurance, and wellbeing initiatives, we know we’re valued.

You’ll work alongside some of the brightest and most capable colleagues in the industry, with leaders who inspire, support, and include everyone. We foster a culture where everyone belongs.

Collaborating in person strengthens our social bonds and powers better problem-solving. Together, we face challenges and grow stronger. We connect to include, celebrate, reward, and recognise each other.

Job Description

In this role you will:

• Lead the delivery of accurate, compliant and high-quality payroll services, ensuring employee payments and payroll transactions are processed within agreed timeframes.
• Oversee payroll governance and compliance, ensuring adherence to legislative, regulatory, award and enterprise agreement requirements, while managing audits, controls and risk obligations.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline, automate and optimise payroll processes, enhancing efficiency, accuracy and employee experience.
• Provide leadership, coaching and development to the Payroll Services team, fostering a high-performing, engaged and customer-focused culture.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, complex payroll escalations and service performance, using data, reporting and insights to support operational excellence and informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing People Services teams.
• Strong expertise in HRIS platforms, particularly Dayforce, with exposure to Workday and ServiceNow highly regarded.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement through process mapping, documentation and operational optimisation.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, customer service and communication skills, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships across all organisational levels.
• Strong operational and analytical capability, with excellent judgement, project management skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Additional Information

TAL is one of Australia’s leading life insurers, committed to inclusion, and supporting the career growth of our diverse workforce. We’re proud to be:

• An Inclusive Employer – Recognised as Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency from 2014 to 2025 and 2023 to 2026 Bronze Tier Status within the Australian Workplace Equality Index
• Diversity Champions – Member of Diversity Council Australia, Australian Disability Network, Pride in Diversity and Champions of Change
• Reconciliation Advocates – Read our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
• We welcome applications from people with diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, caregivers, individuals with disability/ies, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and the LGBTQ+ community.
• Need adjustments during the recruitment process? Let our team know by getting in touch with us here - we’re here to support you.

You’realwaysaccountable for your actions. You never give up. You strive to find the best outcomes for customers and partners.Andyou valueworking together to find the best solutions for problems.

As part of the recruitment process, there are several checks which may be conducted to demonstrate your eligibility for a role at TAL including Criminal History, Bankruptcy, Entitlement to Work, Regulatory and Reference Checks.

#LI-Hybrid

Everyone at TAL has a responsibility to do the right thing and is accountable for the way they conduct themselves. Our expectations are that you follow the principles set out in our Code of Conduct when you come to work every day. Risk management is everyone’s responsibility.