NZ Payroll Operations Manager

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fair pay

Health programs

Hybrid working

Employee recognition

Community involvement

Job summary

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd in New Zealand is seeking an experienced NZ Payroll Operations Manager to lead a key payroll portfolio across the country. The role focuses on service performance, people capability, risk management and payroll governance, delivering accurate pay runs within deadlines.

You will coach a team of Senior Payroll Analysts and Payroll Analysts, ensure compliance with NZ payroll/employment law, and partner with ERP systems like SAP, SuccessFactors, Kronos, or Oracle to

Qualifications

• Five years of payroll or HR experience including senior leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of NZ payroll and employment legislation.
• Experience with multiple payroll platforms and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll delivery and performance for NZ portfolio.
• Coach and develop Senior Payroll Analysts and Analysts.
• Ensure accurate pay runs, banking, and third-party payments.

Skills

Payroll leadership

ERP systems

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Process improvement

Tools

SAP

SuccessFactors

Kronos

Oracle

ServiceNow

Job description

At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves.

Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution.

Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.

As part of Fonterra’s Office of the CFO and Service Hub, our Payroll Services team plays a critical role in ensuring our people are paid accurately, on time and in line with New Zealand payroll and employment requirements.

We are strengthening our payroll operating model and are looking for an experienced payroll leader to lead a New Zealand payroll operations portfolio and build a capable, customer-focused and high-performing team.

About the Opportunity | Mō tēnei tūranga

As NZ Payroll Operations Manager, you will be accountable for the delivery, performance and integrity of a key New Zealand payroll portfolio.

This is an operational leadership role focused on service performance, people capability, risk management and payroll governance. You will lead and develop a team of Senior Payroll Analysts and Payroll Analysts, while ensuring payroll services are delivered accurately and within agreed deadlines and service levels.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based in either Auckland or Hamilton, providing flexibility around where you join our Payroll Services team.

A few areas of focus will be to:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery and performance of your payroll operations portfolio.
• Coach, develop and support a team of Senior Payroll Analysts and Payroll Analysts.
• Ensure pay runs, banking, out-of-cycle payments and third-party payments are accurate and appropriately authorised.
• Identify and manage payroll risk, maintaining clear controls and escalation pathways.
• Oversee critical payroll checks, complex case resolutions and remediation payments.
• Manage service levels and escalations, ensuring a positive payroll experience for employees, managers and business partners.
• Make workforce planning, prioritisation and contingency decisions to protect pay run deadlines.
• Work closely with payroll quality assurance and continuous improvement teams to strengthen processes and simplify ways of working.

You will be an experienced payroll leader who combines strong technical payroll knowledge with sound judgement, a customer mindset and the confidence to lead in a complex, deadline-driven environment.

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least five years’ payroll or HR experience, including three or more years in a senior payroll or people leadership role.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and building capability within a payroll or service delivery team.
• Deep and current knowledge of New Zealand payroll and employment legislation.
• Experience working with collective agreements, individual employment agreements and unionised environments.
• Strong payroll and ERP systems capability, ideally across platforms such as SAP, SuccessFactors, Kronos, ServiceNow or Oracle.
• Strong awareness of payroll risk, controls and audit requirements.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with experience simplifying and strengthening operational processes.Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and decision-making skills.
• High accuracy and the ability to remain composed under pay run pressure.

At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz

We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:

• Fair and equitable pay
• Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
• Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
• Employee recognition
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection

To learn more, visit Fonterra Careers

A Career of Opportunities | Ngā Mahi

At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together.

Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion | He Wāhi mō te Katoa

Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou.

Applications close at midnight on Thursday 19th November