The Next Step Recruitment Company – Sydney CBD NSW

About the Role

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Operations Lead to join a large and complex organisation during a period of ongoing payroll improvement and transformation. This is an initial contract role (3 - 4 months) with the potential to transition into a permanent position for the right person.

Leading a team of Payroll Officers, you will be responsible for overseeing payroll operations, ensuring payroll is processed accurately, compliantly and in accordance with relevant legislation, awards and Enterprise Agreements. While the team performs the day-to-day payroll processing, you will provide leadership, governance, technical expertise and support across a highly complex payroll workplace.

The role will also partner closely with senior stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvement, system enhancements and operational efficiencies. This role is not responsible for actually processing the payrolls.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide leadership and oversight across payroll operations.
- Support and develop a team of Payroll Officers.
- Ensure payroll compliance with legislation, awards, Enterprise Agreements and company policies.
- Act as the escalation point for complex payroll matters.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support payroll transformation activities.
- Collaborate with HR, Finance and operational stakeholders to strengthen payroll processes and controls.
- Support payroll system enhancements, testing and optimisation projects.




- Maintain a strong focus on payroll accuracy, compliance and operational excellence.

About You

You are an experienced payroll leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys balancing operational oversight with process improvement.

You will bring:

- Proven experience leading payroll teams within medium to large organisations with a mix of blue and white collar employees
- Strong ADP payroll experience, with the confidence to navigate the system and support system enhancements.
- Deep understanding of awards, Enterprise Agreements, allowances, overtime and payroll compliance requirements.
- Ideally experience managing payroll functions supporting shift-based and rostered workforces.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience working with complex payroll reconciliations.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
- A calm, patient and highly detail-oriented approach.
- The ability to effectively manage competing priorities in a complex environment.

If you are a technically strong payroll leader with ADP expertise and experience navigating complex payroll environments, we would love to hear from you.

This contract is an ASAP start and is offering a hybrid work environment with 3 days in the office and 2 days WFH.

The office is based in a central location within Sydney CBD. 3 - 4 month contract role with potential to go permanent.

For specific questions about this role, please contact Vicki Treeby at *******@thenextstep.com.au

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📌 Payroll Operations Lead (New South Wales)
🏢 The Next Step Recruitment
📍 New South Wales