Payroll Systems & Compliance Manager

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in Sydney is seeking an experienced Payroll Systems & Compliance Manager to manage day-to-day payroll systems, data integrity, and stakeholder collaboration across Chris21, UKG, Workday and Expert. You will lead system upgrades, ensure compliance and drive improvements while safeguarding sensitive employee data.

The role requires a minimum of 7 years in payroll systems, strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to privacy and governance.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in a payroll systems role.
• Strong analytical skills with focus on data integrity, reconciliation and reporting.
• Experience with system testing, upgrades, implementations and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of payroll compliance, audits, data governance and privacy requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
• Experience documenting processes, maintaining controls and driving continuous improvement.
• Experience with Chris21, UKG, Workday and/or Expert is highly regarded.
• Is curious about new tech and excited about AI.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day payroll systems support across Chris21, UKG, Workday and Expert.
• Maintain payroll system integrity through configuration, data quality, access controls and maintenance.
• Support system upgrades, implementations and transitions, including UKG and legislative changes.
• Perform payroll reconciliations, data validation and analysis across payroll systems and integrations.
• Support payroll reporting, audits and recurring obligations, including workers compensation.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls and documentation.
• Collaborate with Payroll, IT, vendors and project teams to manage changes.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and data quality.
• Ensure compliant handling of sensitive payroll data and privacy.
• Adhere to WHS obligations and foster a respectful workplace.

Skills

Payroll systems

Data integrity

System testing

Upgrades

Stakeholder management

Privacy compliance

Troubleshooting

Chris21

UKG

Workday

Expert

AI enthusiasm

Tools

Chris21

UKG

Workday

Expert

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experience Payroll Systems & Compliance Manager to join our team in Sydney.

This role would suit someone with a strong technical knowledge with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. You will need to be confident working across complex payroll environments, maintaining data integrity and partnering with stakeholders to deliver reliable, compliant and continuously improving payroll solutions.

What you’ll do

• Provide day-to-day payroll systems support, administration and troubleshooting across Chris21, UKG, Workday and Expert.
• Maintain payroll system integrity through configuration, data quality, access controls, system maintenance and compliance activities.
• Support system upgrades, implementations and transitions, including UKG, legislative changes such as payday super, and future platforms such as iChris.
• Perform payroll reconciliations, data validation and analysis across payroll systems and integrations, identifying and resolving discrepancies and system issues.
• Support payroll reporting, audit requirements and recurring obligations, including workers compensation and novated leases.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls, process documentation and user knowledge resources.
• Partner with Payroll, IT, vendors and project teams to manage system issues, enhancements, integrations and change effectively.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, enhance data quality and reduce manual workarounds.
• Ensure sensitive payroll and employee data is managed in line with privacy, security, retention and governance requirements.
• Comply with WHS obligations and contribute to a safe and respectful workplace.

What you’ll bring

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in a payroll systems role.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, particularly across data integrity, reconciliation and reporting.
• Experience with system testing, upgrades, implementations and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of payroll compliance, audit, data governance and privacy requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
• Experience documenting processes, maintaining controls and driving continuous improvement.
• Experience with Chris21, UKG, Workday and/or Expert is highly regarded.
• Is curious about new tech and open to learning, even better if you’re excited about AI!

What you can expect from us

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team

Business Finance

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Sydney

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values - Human, Bold, and Outstanding.