Senior Payroll Officer

Are Media; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Are Media is seeking a Senior Payroll Services Officer to lead end-to-end payroll across Australia and New Zealand. You will work closely with the Payroll Services Manager in a small, high-performing payroll team to ensure accurate, on-time payments and compliance with legislation.

You will own payroll processing, maintain records, deliver reporting and support continuous improvement, with a focus on accuracy, confidentiality and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• Five years' experience in a medium-to-high volume payroll environment.
• Knowledge of Australian and New Zealand payroll legislation, taxation and superannuation.
• Strong reconciliation, reporting, and attention to detail with tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery in line with payroll schedules.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including new starters, terminations, salary changes, timesheets, leave entitlements, commissions and bonus payments.
• Deliver payroll reporting and reconciliations, including general ledger reconciliations and month-end and year-end reporting for Finance and People & Culture.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance, acting as an escalation point for complex payroll matters, supporting process improvements and stepping in for the Payroll Services Manager when required.

Skills

End-to-end payroll processing

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

Chris21/iChris

Job description

A genuinely inclusive culture, supported through our BELONG @ Are program, where everyone is welcomed, valued and empowered to be their authentic selves.

• A genuinely inclusive culture, supported through our BELONG @ Are program, where everyone is welcomed, valued and empowered to be their authentic selves.

The Role

The Finance team at Are Media keeps the business running with rigour and care, and we're looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Services Officer who can bring that same standard to our payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand.

Working closely with the Payroll Services Manager, you'll play a key role in a small, high-performing payroll team, ensuring our people are paid accurately, on time and in line with relevant legislation.

As a trusted technical expert, you'll take ownership of end-to-end payroll processing, provide day-to-day guidance to the Payroll Officer and help strengthen payroll processes, compliance and continuous improvement across the business.

What you'll be doing

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery in line with payroll schedules.

• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including new starters, terminations, salary changes, timesheets, leave entitlements, commissions and bonus payments.

• Deliver payroll reporting and reconciliations, including general ledger reconciliations and month-end and year-end reporting for Finance and People & Culture.

• Provide technical expertise and guidance, acting as an escalation point for complex payroll matters, supporting process improvements and stepping in for the Payroll Services Manager when required.

About you

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A minimum of five years' experience in a medium-to-high volume payroll environment, with strong end-to-end payroll processing expertise.

• Sound knowledge of Australian and New Zealand payroll legislation, taxation and superannuation requirements, including experience interpreting Modern Awards and Enterprise Agreements.

• Strong reconciliation, reporting and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to deliver accurately under tight deadlines.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proactive, collaborative approach and the confidence to resolve complex queries with professionalism and discretion.

Experience with Chris21/iChris will be highly regarded.