Payroll Team Leader

Wollongong City Council; Wollongong City Council; On-site; AUD 121,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

True work-life balance

Hybrid work options

Career growth opportunities

Five weeks annual leave

Job summary

Wollongong City Council is seeking a Payroll Team Leader to oversee weekly payroll for 1,800+ employees and lead a team of seven payroll professionals. You will ensure accurate payments, compliance with award, enterprise agreement and taxation obligations, and drive system improvements.

You will collaborate with Employment Relations, IT and Finance, provide expert payroll guidance, manage audits, and deliver strategic payroll initiatives to enhance data quality and efficiency within the

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Award and Enterprise Agreement interpretation.
• Experience leading payroll teams and building strong business relationships.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement in payroll processes and systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of seven payroll professionals.
• Provide expert guidance on superannuation, award interpretation, payroll legislation, and enterprise agreement compliance.
• Drive and embed continuous improvement initiatives to optimise payroll processes and systems.
• Manage payroll audits and ensure compliance with tax and legal obligations.
• Maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on leave provisions, taxation, superannuation, termination payments, and all other aspects of Payroll.
• Provide project support on Payroll related projects
• Foster a safe, positive, and supportive work environment.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Team leadership

Awards interpretation

Payroll compliance

Tools

Technology One

Job description

Payroll Team Leader

At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community.

Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play!

Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.

We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.

The Opportunity

Join Wollongong City Council as our Payroll Lead and help shape the future of payroll services for more than 1,800 employees across a large and diverse organisation. You will lead a team of seven payroll professionals and oversee the delivery of accurate and timely weekly payroll services, ensuring employees are paid correctly while maintaining compliance with legislative, taxation and employment obligations. This role is about much more than processing payroll. You will be the payroll specialist the team turns to for complex payroll matters, system improvements, reporting, audits and strategic advice. You will have the opportunity to improve how payroll systems and processes work, reduce manual administration, strengthen data quality and help deliver smarter and more efficient payroll services across Council.

Reporting to the Employment Relations Manager, you will work closely with Employment Relations Partners, Information Management and Technology, Finance, leaders across Council and external stakeholders. Your leadership and expertise will help ensure Council continues to meet its employment, taxation, superannuation and legislative obligations while leading continuous improvement initiatives across the payroll function. You will join a collaborative and experienced team that plays a critical role in supporting employees across the organisation.

This is an opportunity to bring fresh thinking, contribute to meaningful change and make a genuine impact on how payroll services are delivered, while leading the team responsible for one of Council's most important operational functions.

This is a 35 per week permanent full-time position, salary from: $120,901 up to $140,310 per annum plus 12% superannuation (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications)

What you will be doing OR How you'll make a difference

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 7 Payroll professionals to deliver high-quality, customer-focused services for over 1,800 weekly-paid staff.
• Provide expert guidance on superannuation, award interpretation, payroll legislation, and enterprise agreement compliance.
• Drive and imbed continuous improvement initiatives to optimise payroll processes and systems. (Technology one)
• Manage payroll audits and ensure compliance with tax and legal obligations.
• Maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on leave provisions, taxation, superannuation, termination payments, and all other aspects of Payroll.
• Provide project support on Payroll related projects
• Foster a safe, positive, and supportive work environment.

About you

You are a systems-focused payroll expert, passionate about driving innovation and continuous improvement in payroll operations. Your substantial experience in similar roles has equipped you to lead change, optimise processes, and champion enhancements that benefit every employee. You thrive on leveraging technology, implementing new solutions, and ensuring payroll services are future-ready

To succeed in this role, you'll bring extensive experience in Award and Enterprise Agreement interpretation, along with a proven track record of leading payroll teams and building strong relationships across the business. Your high attention to detail, commitment to compliance, and ability to implement change set you apart as a true payroll Manager. Your communication skills enable you to present information clearly to diverse audiences, and your leadership inspires and develops your team to achieve excellence together.

This is your opportunity to step into a leadership role where your systems expertise will be valued, your ideas for innovation will be welcomed, and your ability to lead through change will make a real difference

Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!

• True work-life balance
  We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes.
• Great working conditions
  Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO).
• Career growth and recognition
  We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.
• Generous leave provisions
  Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years.
• Health, safety, and wellbeing
  We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks, vaccinations, and discounted gym memberships.
• A vibrant social culture
  Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!

Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.

We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.

Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.

Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.