Assistant Payroll Manager

Employment: Permanent, full-time. 
Location: Adelaide CBD
Salary: $120,000 + Super

Role Highlights
This is an opportunity for an experienced payroll leader to take ownership of high-volume payroll operations, team performance and compliance within a complex, fast-paced business. The role will suit someone who combines strong technical payroll expertise with a hands-on leadership style, enjoys developing people and has a track record of improving processes, strengthening controls and delivering accurate, timely outcomes.

With responsibility for a team of seven and payroll volumes of up to 4,000 pays per period, this is a pivotal role for someone who can balance operational delivery with continuous improvement, stakeholder service and risk management.

Role Overview
Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Assistant Payroll Manager will play a key role in overseeing end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with relevant legislation, taxation, superannuation obligations and applicable employment awards.

Leading a team of seven payroll professionals, you will provide day-to-day direction, coaching and support while ensuring workloads are effectively managed and service standards are consistently achieved. The role spans high-volume weekly payroll processing, payroll reporting, reconciliations, complex pay-related transactions and the integrity of payroll data used across the broader business.

This is a hands-on leadership position that requires someone who is comfortable working in the detail while maintaining oversight of the bigger picture. You will investigate complex payroll discrepancies, oversee reporting and reconciliation requirements, strengthen governance and controls, and partner with finance and other internal stakeholders to ensure payroll and associated financial processes remain accurate and efficient.

A key focus will be driving continuous improvement across payroll systems, processes and reporting, identifying opportunities to reduce errors, improve efficiency and mitigate compliance risk. You will also support the Payroll Manager with operational updates, strategic initiatives and the implementation of improved processes, helping build a capable, engaged and high-performing team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing across a high-volume workforce.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of seven payroll professionals, fostering accountability, capability and consistent service delivery.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with relevant employment legislation, modern awards, taxation, superannuation and company policies.
• Oversee payroll reporting obligations, including Single Touch Payroll (STP), PAYG withholding, payroll tax and end-of-financial-year finalisation.
• Maintain robust payroll controls, reconciliations, audit readiness and data integrity to minimise operational and financial risk.
• Ensure employee records, payroll data and system access are managed securely and confidentially.
• Oversee complex payroll transactions, including allowances, salary sacrifice, leave payments, back pays and other employee entitlements.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, overpayments and underpayments, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Monitor timesheet processing, payroll exceptions and service delivery to ensure agreed deadlines and accuracy standards are achieved.
• Partner with finance and accounts receivable teams to maintain the integrity of payroll data and support accurate client billing.
• Ensure employer superannuation obligations are reconciled and fulfilled within required timeframes, including preparation for evolving compliance requirements.
• Identify and implement process improvements, system enhancements and reporting efficiencies across the payroll function.
• Support workforce planning, resource allocation, business continuity and succession planning to maintain consistent payroll delivery.
• Manage performance, provide regular feedback and identify development opportunities for team members.
• Build strong relationships with employees, managers, clients and internal stakeholders, ensuring payroll enquiries are resolved professionally and within agreed timeframes.
• Support the Payroll Manager with operational reporting, improvement initiatives and broader business projects as required.

Candidate Profile
You are an experienced payroll professional who has progressed into a senior or supervisory role and is confident managing high-volume payroll operations in a complex environment. You bring a strong understanding of payroll processing, compliance and reconciliations, alongside the leadership capability to guide a team, manage competing priorities and maintain accuracy under pressure.

You have demonstrated experience interpreting and applying relevant employment legislation, modern awards, taxation requirements and superannuation obligations. Your technical knowledge extends across payroll reporting, year-end processes, complex employee entitlements and the investigation of discrepancies, with a strong appreciation for the importance of governance, confidentiality and accurate financial data.

As a leader, you are approachable, organised and accountable. You know how to coach and develop team members, allocate workloads effectively and establish clear expectations around quality, productivity and customer service. You are equally comfortable resolving an escalated payroll issue, reviewing a reconciliation or working with stakeholders to improve an existing process.

You possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, sound attention to detail and the ability to identify trends, investigate root causes and implement practical solutions. Experience with multiple payroll systems, system implementations or process improvement initiatives will be highly regarded, as will the ability to manage change and bring a team along with you.

Most importantly, you are a proactive, hands-on leader who takes ownership of outcomes and understands that an effective payroll function depends on more than processing pays. You are motivated by building team capability, improving operational efficiency and ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant, reliable and responsive to the needs of the wider business.

Relevant tertiary qualifications in payroll, finance or management are advantageous but not essential. Experience in a large, high-volume workforce environment will be particularly valuable.

Company, Culture & Benefits
Join an established and growing organisation where payroll plays a critical role in business performance, employee experience and financial integrity. This is an opportunity to step into a key leadership position within a high-volume operation, working alongside experienced stakeholders and contributing to the ongoing development of payroll systems, processes and team capability.

The environment will suit someone who enjoys a balance of operational responsibility, people leadership and continuous improvement, with the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the quality and efficiency of payroll delivery.

• Make an impact – take ownership of a high-volume payroll function where accuracy, compliance and service delivery matter.
• Lead and develop – coach a team of payroll professionals and build capability across the function.
• Drive improvement – strengthen processes, reporting and controls while reducing errors and operational risk.
• Broaden your influence – work closely with finance and business stakeholders on important operational and strategic initiatives.

Apply
If this sounds like you, please submit your resume by clicking the "Apply" link below.

The reference number for this role is HM79706. Please call Harrison Mussell on 0466 618 716 for more information.