Payroll Team Lead

mq; Sydney; On-site; AUD 126,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

Macquarie University is seeking a hands-on Team Leader, Payroll Services to manage daily payroll operations and lead a capable team. You will oversee pay-related enquiry services, ensure accurate and timely processing, and uphold governance standards.

You will coach staff, balance operational delivery with people development, and use data insights to lift service quality and drive process improvements. This role reports to the Manager, Payroll Services and sits within HR Shared Services.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, human resources, accounting, finance or related discipline.
• Experience managing payroll operations in a high-volume environment with governance and risk management.
• Knowledge of payroll legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and compliance requirements.
• Experience coaching and developing teams to achieve service and performance objectives.
• Experience with complex HR/Payroll enterprise systems (Dayforce APAY, Kronos, Workday or similar).

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day delivery of payroll operations and pay-related enquiry services.
• Guide, coach and develop team members to build high-performing, customer-focused culture.
• Allocate work, manage workflow priorities and monitor performance to meet service standards.
• Act as escalation point for complex payroll enquiries and risk management.
• Ensure compliance with payroll controls, policies and governance frameworks.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives in processes and systems.
• Analyze payroll data to identify trends and improve processes.
• Build relationships with leaders and stakeholders to address challenges.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Team development

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Tertiary qualification in business/HR/finance

Tools

Dayforce APAY

Kronos

Workday

ServiceNow

Job description

Salary and Working Details

• Salary: $126,306- $140,543 (HEW 8) per annum, plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading
• Appointment type: Full-time, continuing role
• Location: Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus, North Ryde

Lead payroll excellence, develop a capable team, and deliver pay experiences our people can rely on.

As Team Leader, Payroll Services, you will guide that team and shape the everyday experience of paying our people well.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will oversee the delivery of payroll operations and pay-related enquiry services, including compensation and benefits. You will balance operational delivery with people development, using data and insight to lift service quality, streamline processes, and uphold the governance and compliance standards our community expects.

If you enjoy turning complex payroll challenges into reliable outcomes, and you find purpose in helping a team grow and perform, we would welcome your application.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Payroll Services, you will manage the day-to-day delivery of payroll operations and pay-related enquiry services, ensuring accurate, timely and customer-focused outcomes.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the day-to-day delivery of payroll operations and pay-related enquiry services, including compensation and benefits, and escalating payroll issues promptly to key business stakeholders.
• Guiding, coaching and developing team members through regular feedback to help build a high-performing, customer-focused culture and grow team capability.
• Allocating work, managing workflow priorities and monitoring performance so service standards, deadlines and quality requirements are consistently met.
• Acting as the primary escalation point for complex payroll enquiries and issues, enabling timely resolution and appropriate management of risk.
• Ensuring compliance with payroll controls, segregation of duties, legislative requirements and approved policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Identifying and helping to implement continuous improvement initiatives, including process enhancements, system changes and service delivery improvements.
• Evaluating payroll, enquiry and performance data to identify trends, inform decisions and improve processes, procedures and team effectiveness.
• Building productive relationships with leaders and stakeholders across the organisation to address systemic challenges and manage service delivery expectations.
• Coordinating payroll-related audits, compliance reviews and assurance activities, and helping to implement remediation actions.Helping to develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, standards and documentation so they remain current, effective and aligned with legislative and organisational requirements.

About Us

Our HR Shared Services team plays a vital part in this, delivering accurate, reliable and people-focused pay, compensation and benefits services that support staff across the University. As part of this team, you will help create a workplace where our people feel valued and well cared for.

About You

You are an experienced payroll professional who combines operational know-how with a genuine interest in developing people. You bring a high level of accuracy, sound judgement, and a service-focused approach, and you enjoy improving the way things work while keeping compliance and governance front of mind.

Selection Criteria

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, human resources, accounting, finance or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll operations in a complex, high-volume environment, including payroll controls, governance requirements and risk mitigation.
• Sound working knowledge of payroll legislation, awards, enterprise agreements and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience guiding, coaching and developing teams to achieve service and performance objectives.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve complex payroll matters and use data to improve performance.
• Experience using complex HR/Payroll enterprise systems (experience with Dayforce APAY, Kronos, Workday, ServiceNow or Finance1 is highly regarded).
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail and a commitment to customer service (payroll-related certification, accreditation or professional membership is desirable).

Pre-Employment Checks

Macqu