Senior Payroll Specialist

Expression Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Auslan training

Auslan & English inclusive workplace

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Study leave options

Flexible working hours

Paid parental leave

Salary packaging benefits

Job summary

Expression Australia in Collingwood, VIC, is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to own end-to-end fortnightly payroll, manage awards, and ensure accurate, compliant payments. The role uses Employment Hero HR/Payroll integration and offers salary packaging benefits.

You will lead payroll accuracy, participate in audits, and support employees and leaders with issues, while fostering a bilingual, inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Senior payroll ownership in a medium to large organisation.
• Hands-on Employment Hero experience including HR and Payroll integration.
• Experience with timesheet syncs, integration errors and award interpretation rules.
• Experience processing payroll under an Enterprise Agreement and Awards.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end fortnightly payroll in line with Enterprise Agreements and Awards.
• Maintain payroll records across onboarding, variations, leave and terminations.
• Calculate wages, allowances, overtime, and deductions, investigating variances.
• Prepare STP reporting and superannuation contributions, ensure payslips are correct.
• Administer salary packaging and other payroll deductions.
• Support Employment Hero HR-to-Payroll workflows and integration rules.
• Respond to payroll enquiries and build relationships with staff and leaders.
• Support audits, reporting, and continuous process improvements.

Skills

Senior payroll

Employment Hero

Excel

Payroll compliance

Data integrity

Tools

Employment Hero HR

Employment Hero Payroll

Timekeeping systems

Job description

Senior Payroll Specialist | Collingwood, VIC | Full time | Salary Packaging | Free Auslan Training

Bring your senior payroll expertise to a purpose-led organisation where accuracy, compliance, and service directly support our people and community.

If you're an experienced payroll professional who can confidently own a complex fortnightly payroll, work across Enterprise Agreement and Award conditions, and get the best from Employment Hero, this is an opportunity to make an immediate impact.

Why This Role Is Different

This is a hands‑on senior payroll role with real ownership. You will manage the end‑to‑end payroll cycle, work through exceptions and system issues, and help strengthen the processes behind an accurate and dependable payroll service. You have strong communication skills and you are trusted to investigate anomalies, resolve issues, provide remediation and practical guidance to employees and leaders.

About Us

Established in 1884, Expression Australia is a not‑for‑profit organisation created by and for the Deaf community. We empower people who are Deaf and hard of hearing to overcome barriers, connect with their communities and choose how they want to live.

With offices in Collingwood, Hobart, Fremantle, Devonport, Ballarat and Geelong, we work alongside individuals, families and communities to create a more inclusive society. Our vision is for all people who are Deaf and hard of hearing to have every opportunity to connect with and contribute to society, with the freedom to thrive in their language of choice and access the support they need throughout their lives.

Role Overview

As our Senior Payroll Specialist, you will manage end‑to‑end fortnightly payroll and the employee payroll lifecycle, from onboarding and variations through to leave, allowances, deductions, superannuation and terminations. You will work across relevant Enterprise Agreement and Award conditions, ensuring employees are paid accurately, compliantly and on time.

A key part of the role is hands‑on ownership of Employment Hero. You will understand how Employment Hero HR and Employment Hero Payroll interact, including timesheet synchronisation, integration dashboard errors, award rule tagging and automated award interpretation. You will also support payroll reconciliations, reporting, audits, testing and process improvements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Manage end‑to‑end fortnightly payroll in accordance with relevant Enterprise Agreements, Awards and Australian payroll legislation.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records across onboarding, terminations, variations, leave, deductions and award rule tagging.
• Calculate and review wages, allowances, overtime, penalties, leave and termination payments, investigating variances before payment.
• Prepare, reconcile and submit Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting and superannuation contributions, and ensure payslips are issued accurately and on time.
• Administer salary packaging and other payroll deductions in line with organisational and legislative requirements.
• Manage Employment Hero HR‑to‑Payroll workflows, including timesheet syncs, integration errors and automated award interpretation rules.
• Respond to payroll enquiries and build strong working relationships with employees, leaders and internal stakeholders.
• Support audits, government and ABS reporting, payroll projects, UAT, system testing and continuous process improvement.

About You

You are an experienced and passionate payroll professional who combines technical depth with calm, practical problem solving. You have an eye for detail and are comfortable stepping into an active payroll environment, working independently, identifying what does not look right and following issues through to resolution.

You understand that payroll is more than processing – it is about protecting accuracy and compliance, maintaining reliable source data, and giving employees confidence that their pay is right.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 3 -5 years' experience operating at senior payroll level in a medium to large organisation, with demonstrated end‑to‑end payroll ownership.
• Strong hands‑on Employment Hero experience, including Employment Hero HR and Employment Hero Payroll integration.
• Practical experience managing timesheet synchronisation, integration dashboard errors, employee/payroll data integrity and automated award interpretation rules.
• Experience processing payroll under an Enterprise Agreement and applying Award conditions.
• Exposure to SCHADS and/or the Health Professionals and Support Services Award will be highly regarded.
• Sound knowledge of Australian payroll obligations, including PAYG withholding, superannuation, leave, STP and termination payments.
• Strong reconciliation and analytical skills, with the ability to identify payroll trends, anomalies and exceptions quickly.
• Strong Excel capability and confidence working with payroll, HRIS and timekeeping data.
• Attention to detail, discretion, strong communication skills and the ability to meet fixed payroll deadlines.

What We Can Offer

Bilingual & Inclusive Workplace

• We value Auslan and English equally.
• Free in‑house Auslan training and coaching for staff.
• Deaf Awareness & Communication Training for all.

Health & Well‑being

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential counselling and support when you need it.

Growth & Learning

• Ongoing training, workshops, and career development opportunities.
• Study leave options to support your professional goals.

Flexibility

• Paid parental leave.
• Flexible working hours to help you balance life and work

Competitive salary package

• Expression Australia is a registered charity (Not-for-Profit) and offers access to salary packaging benefits.

A Workplace Where You Can Belong

At Expression Australia, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences who share our passion for making a meaningful difference.

We are proud to be a bilingual, bicultural organisation that values Auslan and English equally and strongly encourage applications from Deaf and hard of hearing people.