About the Company

At Cirql, we partner with middle-market organisations experiencing change and growth. This opportunity is a great example of that, an established, high-growth Australian business investing in its systems, processes, and people to support its next phase of expansion.

Operating across a national network of entertainment and leisure venues, this organisation has a substantial, multi-site workforce and a complex payroll environment. With multiple operating entities, a mix of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) and Modern Award conditions, and a fast-paced operational model, payroll plays a critical role in keeping the business running smoothly.

Following a recent systems implementation, the business is now focused on refining its payroll processes, improving system functionality, and building a more streamlined and reliable operating model. This is an opportunity to take ownership of a function with significant potential, make a tangible impact, and help establish the foundations for future growth.

The culture is energetic, down-to-earth, and full of personality. People are practical, approachable, and don't take themselves too seriously. It's an environment where common sense, collaboration, and getting things done matter more than titles or hierarchy.

The Chance

Reporting directly to the CFO, the Payroll Lead will take end-to-end ownership of payroll across multiple entities, overseeing a high-volume workforce operating under a combination of EBAs and Modern Award conditions.

This is a hands-on opportunity suited to an experienced Payroll Manager or Senior Payroll Officer ready to take the next step. The priority is finding someone who knows what good payroll looks like, can roll up their sleeves, and enjoys getting into the details to solve problems, improve systems, and build processes that can scale with the business.

With a recently implemented payroll platform still being refined, you'll play a key role in resolving configuration issues, improving workflows, and ensuring the system delivers accurate, efficient, and reliable payroll outcomes. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external implementation specialists, you'll have the opportunity to influence how the function operates rather than simply maintain the status quo.

Alongside managing payroll delivery, you'll provide guidance and support to a small payroll team, balancing oversight and process improvement with direct involvement in day-to-day processing.





With further changes to payroll arrangements and processes on the horizon, this role offers genuine scope to shape the function's future. You don't need to have managed a large team or worked in a highly corporate environment. What matters most is your technical capability, attention to detail, willingness to get hands-on, and ability to build trust across the business.

What You'll Do

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys taking ownership, getting into the details and making things work better. You'll balance end-to-end payroll delivery with system optimisation and process improvement, working closely with the wider business to strengthen the payroll function and build the foundations to support continued growth.

- Take end-to-end ownership of payroll across multiple operating entities, ensuring accurate and timely pay for a large, diverse workforce.
- Oversee payroll processing across a mix of EBAs and Modern Award conditions, ensuring compliance and consistency across different employee groups.
- Work through system configuration issues, troubleshoot payroll discrepancies, and improve workflows to strengthen the reliability and efficiency of payroll operations.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and external specialists to optimise the payroll platform and improve the way payroll, timekeeping, and rostering processes interact.
- Maintain direct involvement in day-to-day payroll processing while overseeing and supporting other team members responsible for payroll activities across the business.
- Interpret complex pay conditions and support upcoming changes to employment arrangements and payroll processes.
- Review existing procedures, identify gaps, and implement practical improvements to payroll accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
- Act as an approachable point of contact for payroll enquiries, helping employees and operational managers understand their pay with patience, clarity and empathy.
- Develop robust, scalable processes and strengthen team capability to support the organisation's continued growth.

What You'll Bring





We're looking for a payroll professional who combines strong technical fundamentals with a practical, roll-up-your-sleeves mindset. You might already be a Payroll Manager looking for a more hands-on environment, or a Senior Payroll Officer ready to step into greater ownership and responsibility.

You'll be comfortable working through problems, asking questions, and finding solutions rather than waiting for someone else to fix them. You understand that good payroll is about more than processing pay runs, it's about getting the detail right, building reliable systems, and ensuring people are paid correctly and can trust the process. In addition, you'll bring:
Solid experience managing or processing end-to-end payroll in a small to medium environment.

- Experience with a complex payroll platform, ideally Dayforce, and an understanding of payroll configuration, system troubleshooting, and process optimisation. Experience with another sophisticated payroll or ERP system will also be considered.
- Experience working with Modern Awards, EBAs, and complex pay conditions, ideally within entertainment, leisure, retail, hospitality, or another high-volume, casual-heavy setting.
- Strong attention to detail and a sound understanding of payroll compliance, reconciliations, and the importance of accurate, timely pay.
- A process-improvement mindset and the confidence to untangle problems, challenge existing ways of working, and make practical recommendations.
- The interpersonal skills to build relationships with employees, operational managers, and senior stakeholders, communicating payroll matters in a clear and approachable way.
- A flexible, adaptable attitude and the ability to thrive in an environment where systems and processes are continuing to evolve.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who takes ownership, enjoys being close to the detail, and wants to build something better rather than simply maintain the status quo.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine mark on a payroll function at an exciting stage of its development.If you're a strong payroll operator who enjoys fixing things, improving the way things work, and taking on more responsibility in a business that doesn't take itself too seriously, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Not sure if you meet these requirements? Please apply - we are happy to discuss your individual circumstances.

📌 Payroll Manager (Hawthorn)
🏢 Cirql
📍 Hawthorn