Transform a payroll function. Influence an organisation. Leave a legacy.

This is a career-defining opportunity for a strategic payroll leader to redesign, modernise and elevate a large national payroll operation, delivering transformational change across people, processes, systems and structure.

Client Details

Our client is a highly regarded Australian organisation recognised for its exceptional employee retention, strong culture and long-standing commitment to investing in its people. With a stable and engaged workforce, the business is now entering a pivotal phase of transformation designed to strengthen capability, modernise operations and position the organisation for long-term success.

Our client is happy to work with the sucessful candidate and offer many WFH days as they'd like per week.

As part of this strategic evolution, the payroll function is undergoing a significant redesign. Backed by senior leadership and dedicated investment, this role will lead the transformation of a sizeable payroll operation, including organisational structure redesign, capability uplift, process improvement and technology enhancement initiatives.

The mandate is clear: build a more strategic, skilled and future-ready payroll function that delivers operational excellence while supporting broader business objectives.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced leader to take ownership of a high-profile transformation agenda and leave a lasting legacy within a well-established organisation.

Description

Reporting to a senior executive leader,



the Head of Payroll will lead a sizeable payroll function of 20+ employees and take ownership of a substantial transformation mandate.

This role requires a strategic and commercially minded leader who can assess the current operating model and design a best-practice payroll function capable of meeting future business demands. You will lead the redesign of team structures, drive capability uplift across the function, oversee major system enhancements and upgrades, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

While efficiency and productivity outcomes are key objectives, the focus is firmly on creating a higher-performing, more capable payroll team through skills enhancement, process optimisation and organisational redesign.

Key responsibilities include

- Developing and executing the payroll transformation strategy
- Leading organisational redesign and workforce planning initiatives within the payroll function
- Uplifting team capability, leadership and technical expertise
- Driving continuous improvement across payroll processes, governance and controls
- Leading payroll technology enhancement projects, including system upgrades and optimisation initiatives
- Building a scalable operating model that supports future growth and organisational requirements
- Partnering with senior stakeholders to influence strategic decision-making




- Ensuring ongoing compliance, risk management and operational excellence across payroll operations

Profile

- Proven experience leading large-scale payroll functions within complex national organisations
- A strong track record delivering payroll transformation, operating model redesign and change initiatives
- Demonstrated success leading teams through periods of significant change and organisational evolution
- Experience driving payroll system implementations, upgrades or optimisation programs
- Outstanding stakeholder management and executive influencing capabilities
- Strategic thinking combined with the ability to execute and deliver outcomes
- Solid commercial acumen with a focus on balancing efficiency, risk and employee experience

Job Offer

- Oppotunity to WFH as many days per week as you like
- Rare opportunity to lead a high-profile transformation program
- Significant executive sponsorship and investment behind the payroll function
- Large-scale national workplace with genuine complexity
- Opportunity to reshape team structure, capability and future operating model
- Strategic leadership role with substantial visibility and influence
- Attractive remuneration package commensurate with the significance of the opportunity
- Permanent role
- $220,000 - $240,000 package + 15% bonus (potential flex up for an ideal candidate)

To apply online please click the 'Apply' button below. For a confidential discussion about this role please contact Jonathan Dawson on (phone hidden) or email [email protected]

📌 Head of Payroll (Melbourne)
🏢 Michael Page
📍 Melbourne