Senior leadership role managing a sizeable payroll team
Temporary role with a view to permanency
CBD location - 2 days in the office and 3 days from home
The Organisation
Our client is a large and highly respected organisation that provides essential services across Victoria.
Supporting a significant workforce and operating within a complex industrial environment, the organisation is committed to delivering operational excellence, continuous improvement and exceptional employee experiences.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Operations Manager to lead a high-performing payroll team and oversee the delivery of accurate, compliant and efficient payroll services across a large, multi-site workforce.
The Role
Reporting to the Group Payroll Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the payroll function, ensuring payroll services are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with legislative and organisational requirements.
Leading a team of eight direct reports and a broader payroll function, you will drive operational performance, team capability, compliance, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement initiatives.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the end-to-end payroll operation across a large and complex workforce
Ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, taxation, superannuation, awards and enterprise agreements
Overseeing payroll governance, reconciliations, audit requirements and risk management activities
Driving payroll process improvement, transformation initiatives and systems enhancements




Managing payroll reporting, analytics and operational performance metrics
Partnering with Finance, People & Culture and business leaders on complex payroll matters
Leading, mentoring and developing a high-performing payroll team
Acting as the senior escalation point for payroll-related issues and enquiries
About You
To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced payroll leader who thrives in large, complex environments and enjoys balancing operational leadership with strategic improvement initiatives.
You will bring:
Proven experience leading payroll operations within a large-scale organisation
Solid knowledge of payroll legislation, taxation, superannuation and compliance requirements
Experience interpreting and applying Awards, Enterprise Agreements and industrial instruments
Demonstrated experience overseeing payroll governance, controls and audit processes
Strong systems capability and experience leading payroll improvement or transformation projects
Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing high-performing teams
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
What's on Offer?
Opportunity to lead a large and complex payroll function
Highly visible leadership role with genuine influence across the organisation
Supportive and values-driven culture
Strong focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence
Long-term career opportunity within a stable and growing organisation
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📌 Payroll Operations Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Sharp & Carter
📍 Melbourne