Job Description
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation:
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As a Senior Payroll Specialist, you'll play a key role in delivering accurate, compliant and timely payroll services for employees across Australia and New Zealand.
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Working closely with Human Resources, payroll teams and external providers, you'll support key areas including compensation, benefits, time management and employee enquiries. As part of a cooperative regional and global team, you'll also support the Payroll Team Leader and help deliver a seamless, positive payroll experience for employees in Australia and New Zealand.
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Key Responsibilities:
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Manage accurate and timely end-to-end payroll administration for corporate and retail employees across Australia and New Zealand
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Process variable payments, deductions, leave, terminations and off-cycle payroll adjustments
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Complete payroll validation, reconciliations, exception reviews and control checks to ensure payroll outputs are accurate, compliant and fully supported
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Apply relevant legislation, payroll requirements and company policies, escalating risks or compliance concerns when needed
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Support statutory, compliance and year-end activities, including PAYG withholding, Single Touch Payroll, superannuation, KiwiSaver, payroll tax, reporting and audits
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Assist with time and attendance processes, employee benefits, payroll projects and the implementation of new HR programs
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Contribute to payroll system improvements, testing, parallel payroll runs and system validation
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Identify process risks and improvement opportunities that strengthen payroll controls, service quality and operational efficiency
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Maintain accurate payroll procedures, work instructions and supporting documentation
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Build strong working relationships with Human Resources, employees,



external providers and relevant government authorities
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Take ownership of payroll enquiries and cases from initial review through to resolution, ensuring clear communication and timely follow-up
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Support additional payroll activities and country-specific requirements as business needs evolve
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KPIs:
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Accurate, complete and on-time payroll delivery against agreed service standards
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Timely resolution and escalation of payroll exceptions, employee enquiries and payroll cases
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Completion of statutory, compliance, audit and year-end activities within required deadlines
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Accurate and up-to-date payroll procedures and supporting documentation
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Successful delivery of agreed payroll process improvements and system changes
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Key Relationships:
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Internal
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Human Resources
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Finance
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Talent Acquisition
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Procurement
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Compensation and Benefits
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Regional and global payroll teams
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External
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Payroll and employee benefits providers
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Superannuation, insurance and KiwiSaver providers
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Government and regulatory authorities
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External auditors
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Tax and compliance advisers
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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
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Strong practical knowledge of Australian and New Zealand payroll operations, legislation and compliance requirements
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Experience managing end-to-end payroll in a complex or high-volume environment
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Good understanding of PAYG, Single Touch Payroll, superannuation,



payroll tax and year-end reporting
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Understanding of the General Retail Industry Award and its payroll implications, including ordinary hours, overtime, penalty rates, allowances and leave
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Retail payroll experience, including time and attendance, allowances, penalty rates, overtime, leave and termination payments
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Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with experience reconciling large volumes of payroll data and investigating discrepancies
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Experience using payroll, Human Resources, workforce management or employee case management systems. Exposure to platforms such as SAP, SuccessFactors, Kronos, Datacom or ServiceNow would be beneficial
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Strong attention to detail, numerical capability and analytical problem-solving skillsA proactive and customer-focused approach, with the ability to take ownership of issues through to resolution
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Solid communication and stakeholder management skills
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Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet payroll deadlines
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A continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on strengthening controls and simplifying processes
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Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
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At least three years of hands-on, end-to-end payroll experience across both Australia and New Zealand
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Strong knowledge of Australian and New Zealand payroll legislation, compliance requirements and employment practices
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Strong understanding of Fair Work requirements and the General Retail Industry Award
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Experience managing key payroll activities, including payroll tax, superannuation, KiwiSaver, Single Touch Payroll, year-end processing, audits and remediation
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Experience supporting both corporate and retail employee populations is highly regarded
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📌 Senior Specialist, Payroll (Victoria)
🏢 adidas Group
📍 Victoria