Payroll & Systems Manager

SUEZ; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SUEZ in Australia is seeking a Payroll & Systems Manager to lead a compliant, efficient payroll and workforce management function. You will combine hands-on payroll execution with systems optimisation, governance and business transformation.

Based at our Sydney HQ with three days in office and two days remote, you will engage with senior leaders including the VP, People Enablement and the CEO to drive improvements and ensure payroll remains strategic.

Qualifications

• Significant payroll leadership within a complex organisation.
• Deep knowledge of payroll legislation, compliance and governance.
• Experience working with SAP and time-sheeting systems.
• Hands-on operator who drives strategic improvements.
• Knowledge of industrial awards and EBAs.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the confidence to influence senior executives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll function, ensuring accuracy, compliance and a positive employee experience.
• Act as the payroll and workforce management systems expert for SAP and Kronos.
• Lead payroll governance, controls, audits and compliance activities.
• Drive process improvement and systems optimisation initiatives.
• Provide insightful reporting and analysis to support business and workforce decisions.
• Partner with Finance, IT, HR and business leaders to deliver strategic and operational outcomes.
• Manage payroll-related risk, escalations and legislative changes.
• Oversee employee benefits and maintain payroll-related policies and procedures.

Skills

Significant payroll leadership

SAP experience

Kronos experience

Time-sheeting systems

Awards knowledge (industrial awards &

Stakeholder management

Analytical capability

Tools

SAP

Kronos

Job description

About SUEZ

With over 160 years of global expertise in water, waste, and resource recovery, SUEZ is helping shape a more sustainable future through innovative water infrastructure solutions and circular economy initiatives across Australia and New Zealand. We employee over 45000 across 40 different countries.

About the role

Reporting to the Vice President, People Enablement, the Payroll & Systems Manager w ill be responsible for leading and delivering a compliant, efficient and future-focused payroll and workforce management function. This is a highly visible role that sits at the intersection of payroll operations, systems optimisation, governance and business transformation.

While supported by a Payroll Administrator, this is a hands‑on role for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys being close to the detail, taking ownership of outcomes and driving continuous improvement. You will act as the organisation's payroll subject matter expert, ensuring payroll remains a trusted and strategic function as SUEZ continues its growth journey.

Success in this role requires someone who combines deep technical payroll expertise with strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills. You'll be comfortable engaging with and influencing senior leaders, confidently holding your own in discussions with Vice Presidents, Executive Leaders and the CEO, while providing trusted advice on payroll, systems, risk and compliance matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll function, ensuring accuracy, compliance and a positive employee experience.


• Act as the payroll and workforce management systems expert for SAP and Kronos.


• Lead payroll governance, controls, audits and compliance activities.


• Drive process improvement and systems optimisation initiatives.


• Provide insightful reporting and analysis to support business and workforce decisions.


• Partner with Finance, IT, HR and business leaders to deliver strategic and operational outcomes.


• Manage payroll-related risk, escalations and legislative changes.


• Oversee employee benefits and maintain payroll-related policies and procedures.

About You

• Significant payroll leadership experience within a complex organisation (ASX or M/N preferred)


• Strong technical knowledge of payroll legislation, compliance and governance.


• Experience working with SAP, and time-sheeting systems


• A hands‑on operator who is equally comfortable processing complex payroll matters and driving strategic improvements.


• Knowledge of industrial awards and EBA's.


• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.


• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the confidence and credibility to influence senior executives.


• Resilient, pragmatic and able to navigate complex conversations and competing priorities.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a business-critical function and play a key role in ensuring payroll is not only operationally excellent, but a visible and trusted contributor to SUEZ's future success.

The position will be required to work 3 days per week from our corporate headquarters and 2 days from home. Applications close Friday 18th September.