Payroll Specialist (Fixed Term Contract)

Air New Zealand Limited; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Air New Zealand Limited is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist for a 12-month fixed-term contract in Auckland. You will manage end-to-end payroll processes across our diverse workforce, ensuring accuracy and compliance while navigating multiple payroll systems.

Develop process improvements, build strong relationships with managers and employees, and lead a payroll team to deliver timely pay. The role demands five years of experience, strong communication, and a relevant qualification.

Qualifications

• Five years' payroll or HR experience in a large organisation.
• Ability to interpret collective agreements in a unionised environment.
• Relevant qualification in business, HR, employment relations or IT, or equivalent.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate payroll finalisation and resolve errors before pay close.
• Interpret and apply employment agreements to ensure compliance across diverse groups.
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce errors and streamline workflows.
• Build trusted relationships with managers, employees and external partners.
• Maintain accurate payroll data across multiple systems for reliable reporting.
• Provide specialist payroll guidance to support informed decisions and compliance.
• Lead, coach and support payroll team members to foster collaboration and improvement.

Skills

Payroll expertise

Stakeholder engagement

Team coaching

Attention to detail

Education

Business/HR/IT qualification

Tools

PeopleSoft

ADP Streamline

Workday

Job description

Kia ora!

Help ensure thousands of Air New Zealanders are paid accurately and on time, every time. Your payroll expertise will make a meaningful difference to our people, while helping shape smarter, more efficient payroll services across our business.

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Specialist to join Air New Zealand on a 12-month fixed-term contract, supporting the delivery of accurate, timely and compliant payroll services across our diverse workforce.

At Air New Zealand, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Behind every great customer experience is a dedicated team ensuring our people have the support they need to thrive.

You'll navigate multiple collective and individual employment agreements, work across PeopleSoft, ADP Streamline Payroll and Workday HR systems, and help resolve payroll challenges before each pay close. You'll also have the opportunity to influence process improvements, build trusted relationships and support a high-performing payroll team.

How you'll make an impact

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll finalisation, resolving errors before pay close and managing overpayment recovery effectively
• Interpret and apply collective and individual employment agreements, ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance across diverse employee groups
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce errors, simplify workflows and strengthen payroll service delivery
• Build trusted relationships with managers, employees and external partners, providing clear advice and resolving complex payroll queries
• Maintain accurate payroll data across multiple systems, supporting reliable reporting and consistent achievement of service targets
• Provide specialist payroll guidance to support informed decisions and compliance with employment obligations
• Lead, coach and support payroll team members, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

What you'll bring

You'll enjoy solving complex problems, working with detail and making a positive difference to people's everyday experience. You'll bring a collaborative approach, sound judgement and the confidence to navigate a fast-paced payroll environment.

Ideally, you'll have:

• At least five years' experience in payroll or HR, ideally within a large, complex organisation
• Experience managing end-to-end payroll processes, including interpreting collective agreements in a unionised environment
• A relevant qualification in business, HR, employment relations or IT, or equivalent professional experience
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll matters clearly
• Experience supporting or leading teams, coaching others and contributing to high performance
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities, improving processes and delivering practical solutions.

Ready for take-off?

This 12-month opportunity is your chance to bring your expertise, fresh thinking and commitment to getting the details right, while contributing to a payroll experience our people can rely on.

Applications close Sunday, 15th November

Additional Information

At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability, additional health and mental health needs, and/or are neurodiverse to apply for our roles.

If you have encountered any accessibility barriers and require further information or reasonable accommodations to our recruitment process, please reach out to the recruiter listed on this job advert so they are able to support you to freely participate equitably in our recruitment and selection process.

Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.

"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."