Payroll Controller

JobSpace; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 83,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Payroll Controller to ensure accurate, on-time payments across 6,300+ employees. You will provide specialist payroll expertise within the Southern payroll team and uphold compliance with legislation and collective agreements.

The role focuses on maintaining controls, resolving complex issues, and driving improvements while partnering with stakeholders to deliver a high-quality payroll service.

Qualifications

• 3+ years proven experience in payroll within a complex, high-volume environment.
• Experience interpreting employment and collective agreements.
• Strong knowledge applying New Zealand payroll legislation, including Holidays Act.
• Experience working with payroll systems and integrated workforce systems.
• Motivation, embrace change and are customer focused to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to work self-directed within a small team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with and develop employees' skills around the use of new technology, when working with wide ranging levels of IT competency.
• Proven ability to foster collaboration with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong payroll controls and ensure accuracy.
• Resolve complex payroll matters.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in payroll processes.
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver a high-quality payroll service.
• End-to-end payroll processing for 6,300+ employees in the Southern region.

Skills

Payroll experience

NZ Holidays Act

NZ payroll laws

Payroll systems

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Self-directed work

IT competency

Education

NZPPA or equivalent

Tools

Payroll software

Integrated workforce systems

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Salary $82,851 - $87,473, depending on experience

This is an opportunity to extend your specialist payroll skills and manage complex payroll processes. With over 20 different collective agreements, and numerous individual employment agreements, we can provide you with the unique opportunity to grow and develop your Payroll skills in an environment that supports your existing skills.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As a Payroll Controller, you will play a vital role in ensuring our people are paid accurately and on time. Working within the Southern payroll team and as part of Health New Zealand's national payroll service, you will provide specialist payroll expertise, manage complex payroll processes, and support compliance with legislation, collective agreements, and organizational policies. Our payroll team is responsible for end-to-end processing payroll for just over 6,300 Southern employees, geographically located south of the Waitaki River and including Otago, Southland, Queenstown Lakes, and North Otago.

You will be responsible for maintaining strong payroll controls, resolving complex payroll matters, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, and partnering with stakeholders to deliver a high-quality payroll service. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys solving problems, driving excellence, and contributing to a consistent and reliable payroll experience for our workforce.

Our key focus is to provide a quality payroll service to our fellow colleagues. We strive for excellence in everything we do and are always open to new ideas on how to improve our service.

This is a permanent role, working 80 hours per fortnight (1 FTE), Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8.30AM to 5.00PM. The role is employed under Dunedin Hospital, however, will be based at the Wakari Hospital alongside other administration functions, including Finance. There is a staff cafeteria, and plenty of free onsite parking.

About the Team/Service/Location

Our team consists of 7 Payroll Officers and 3 Payroll Technical staff.

With nearly 6,300 employees, we are the Southern region's largest employer, which means the opportunities here are endless. Our main locations are Dunedin and Invercargill Hospitals, as well Oamaru and Queenstown Lakes, but we are spread across the region and service all parts of the community. Our work can be challenging, but we are up for it. We have a great team, and we work hard to make a difference. We value integrity, innovation, respect and teamwork.

About you

We are looking for applicants who have:

• 3+ years proven experience in payroll within a complex, high-volume environment
• Experience interpreting employment and collective agreements
• Strong knowledge applying New Zealand payroll legislation, including Holidays Act
• Experience working with payroll systems and integrated workforce systems
• motivation, embrace change and are customer focused to work in a fast-paced environment
• proven ability to work self-directed within a small team
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• demonstrated ability to engage with and develop employees' skills around the use of new technology, when working with wide ranging levels of IT competency
• proven ability to foster collaboration with stakeholders

It would be advantageous if you have experience working in environments with complex rostering, allowances, and workforce arrangements and relevant payroll qualification (e.g., NZPPA) or equivalent experience.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in New Zealand or hold a valid NZ visa at the time of applying.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.