Payroll Manager

Location: Melbourne CBD
Employment Type: Full-Time - 18 Month Fixed Term Contract

The Company

Our client is a well-established national organisation with a strong presence across Australia and a reputation for operational excellence. With continued growth and a large, dynamic workforce, they are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead and optimise the payroll function from their Melbourne CBD head office.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Payroll Manager will take ownership of the end-to-end payroll function for a large national workforce across multiple entities. This role will lead payroll operations, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and awards, manage payroll systems and reporting, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on payroll professional who enjoys operating in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and partnering closely with finance, HR, and operational stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll function for a national workforce across multiple entities and sites
• Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team to ensure high levels of accuracy and service delivery
• Ensure payroll processing is completed accurately and on time in line with relevant awards, EBAs, and legislative requirements
• Interpret and apply Fair Work legislation and relevant awards
• Manage payroll reconciliations, month-end reporting, payroll tax, superannuation, and STP obligations
• Maintain and improve payroll systems, processes, and controls to drive efficiencies and compliance
• Partner with HR and Finance teams on onboarding, terminations, remuneration changes, and workforce reporting
• Manage payroll audits and respond to internal and external stakeholder queries
• Support system upgrades, implementations, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Prepare payroll reporting and analytics for senior leadership

About You

• Proven experience in a Payroll Manager or Senior Payroll position within a high-volume environment
• Proven experience using large Payroll systems such as ADP, WorkDay or UKG highly advantageous
• Strong understanding of Australian payroll legislation, superannuation, taxation, and Fair Work requirements
• Experience managing payroll for large national workforces across multiple sites/entities
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing payroll staff
• High attention to detail with excellent problem-solving and stakeholder management abilities
• Strong systems experience across large ERP/payroll platforms
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with payroll reporting and reconciliations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment

Benefits

• Join a fast paced, growing and nationally recognised organisation
• Melbourne CBD office location with close proximity to public transport
• Collaborative and supportive leadership team
• Opportunity to drive process improvement and make a genuine impact
• Competitive salary package and career progression opportunities