Senior Payroll Officer (Contract, AU/NZ) – Lead Payroll Operations Over 3 Critical Months

Location: Sydney CBD, NSW (On-site, 5 days)

Contract: 3-month full-time contract

Overview:

An established business in the midst of payroll transformation is seeking a Senior Payroll Officer for a fixed-term contract to oversee end-to-end payroll delivery across Australia and New Zealand. This 3-month role is ideal for a payroll expert who thrives in high-responsibility roles and enjoys mentoring others while contributing to system and process enhancements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver end-to-end fortnightly payroll for Australia and New Zealand, including commissions and pay variations
  
  
• Ensure compliance with current legislation including PAYG, Super, Payroll Tax and STP
  
  
• Manage complex terminations, tax reporting, and superannuation processing
  
  
• Provide escalation support for payroll-related employee and stakeholder queries
  
  
• Produce accurate payroll reports and perform reconciliations
  
  
• Liaise with HR and Finance teams to resolve issues promptly
  
  
• Mentor and support Payroll Officers across day-to-day operations
  
  
• Contribute to upcoming payroll system implementation (go-live 2025)
  
  
• Identify and lead opportunities for process improvement
  
  

What You’ll Bring:

• Minimum 4–5 years of hands-on payroll experience
  
  
• Strong understanding of NES, awards, long service leave rules, and payroll tax across states
  
  
• Exposure to NZ payroll processes (advantageous, not essential)
  
  
• Intermediate Excel skills, with comfort handling data and reconciliations
  
  
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving
  
  
• Experience with Preceda highly regarded
  
  

About the Organisation:

This business operates in a collaborative, action-oriented culture and is known for valuing clear communication, mentorship, and continuous improvement. With a major system upgrade underway, the payroll team is being supported to operate with best practices at the forefront.

Next Steps:

If you're an experienced payroll professional available for contract work and ready to lead during a period of high impact, submit your application detailing your availability and relevant experience.