Payroll Team Leader - FT - AU

We are seeking to add an experienced and highly organised Senior Payroll Team Leader to help lead our offshore payroll function supporting a fast-paced labour hire business. The payroll team processes approximately 4,500 casual employee pays per week across multiple client sites, awards, rosters, and pay conditions.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team of 6 payroll professionals, ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, efficiency, and exceptional service delivery for roughly half of the 4,500 casuals. This role requires strong leadership skills, deep payroll expertise, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage high-volume payroll operations within strict deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Oversee the end-to-end processing of approximately 2,000+ weekly pays for casual and fixed-term employees. 

• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule each pay cycle. 

• Monitor payroll workflows, deadlines, and service levels to maintain operational excellence. 

• Review payroll exceptions, adjustments, back pays, terminations, and complex payroll calculations. 

• Ensure accurate interpretation of awards, enterprise agreements, client-specific pay rules, overtime, allowances, and penalty rates. 

• Manage payroll reconciliations and reporting requirements. 

• Maintain payroll records in accordance with company policies and legislative requirements. 

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 6 payroll payroll officers. 

• Allocate workloads and resources effectively to meet payroll deadlines. 

• Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching sessions, and training programs. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service. 

• Manage team rostering and coverage to ensure uninterrupted payroll operations. 

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure payroll processes comply with relevant employment legislation, taxation requirements, superannuation obligations, and labour hire regulations. 

• Identify and mitigate payroll risks through robust controls and quality assurance processes. 

• Maintain payroll audit readiness and support internal and external audits. 

• Monitor legislative changes and implement required process updates. 

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary escalation point for complex payroll enquiries. 

• Work closely with operations, finance and client service teams. 

• Provide timely and professional responses to employee and management payroll queries. 

• Deliver payroll reporting and operational insights to senior management. 

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, and automation. 

• Develop and document standard operating procedures and best practices. 

• Lead payroll projects, system enhancements, and process improvement initiatives. 

• Drive KPI reporting and continuous improvement programs. 

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Significant Australian payroll experience in a high-volume environment. 

• Minimum 3+ years' experience leading payroll teams. 

• Experience within labour hire, recruitment, workforce management, or staffing industries. 

• Knowledge of modern awards and labour hire compliance requirements. 

• Experience with workforce management and time & attendance systems. 

• Advanced payroll system experience. 

• Strong Microsoft Excel and reporting skills. 

• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities. 

• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities. 

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and detail-oriented. 

• Strong analytical and decision-making skills. 

• Proactive and solutions-focused. 

• Professional and confidential in handling sensitive information. 

• Strong people leader with the ability to motivate and develop teams. 

• Resilient and adaptable in a high-volume operational environment.