Head of Payroll 

The opportunity

As our Head of Payroll, you’ll drive the operational excellence and the strategic outlook of our payroll function in Australia, New Zealand and PNG. Reporting directly to the Finance Accounting and Controlling Director, you will lead a talented cross-border team and take full ownership of payroll operations for 10,000+ employees. This role goes far beyond BAU – you’ll be at the forefront of compliance, risk management, transformation and innovation in one of EY’s most complex operational environments. 

This is a full time hybrid position and can be performed from any of our EY offices across Australia or New Zealand. Our roles can potentially be adjusted to work flexibly with reduced hours. Please speak with us about potential options.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with relevant legislative, award, and country-specific requirements, while managing external vendors and payroll systems to deliver seamless service and integrated outcomes.
• Manage and develop a high-performing cross-border payroll team (on-shore and off-shore), setting strategic goals, mentoring staff, and driving continuous improvement through automation, digital tools, and process enhancements that optimise the function, increasing efficiency, accuracy, and reporting capability.
• Provide strategic leadership and governance by partnering with senior stakeholders across Finance, Talent, Operations, and IT to align payroll with business needs, lead compliance and risk initiatives including remediation and regulatory reporting, and advise on the payroll implications of organisational changes, restructures, and policy updates.
• Monitor and interpret upcoming changes in payroll legislation across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, assessing their operational and financial impact, advising stakeholders, and ensuring timely adaptation of systems, processes, and controls to maintain compliance and mitigate risks.

Skills and attributes for success

Essential skills to success in this role are;

• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen, with the ability to align payroll operations to broader business goals, cost control, and employee needs.
• Inclusive and resilient leadership style, capable of building high-performing cross-border teams and thriving in fast-paced, highly regulated environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate across diverse internal functions.

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Ideally, you’ll also have the skills and attributes below but don’t worry if you don’t tick all the boxes. We’re interested in your aptitude, attitude and willingness to learn. 

• 10+ years of payroll leadership experience in complex, multi-country environments, with deep knowledge of legislation and compliance across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
• Demonstrated success in leading payroll transformation, including system implementations, automation initiatives, and continuous improvement projects.
• Proven track record in managing external vendors and technology partners, ensuring SLA adherence and system integrity across payroll platforms.

What we offer you

At EY, we’ll fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• Career development: At EY, your career is yours to shape! We’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences ey.com/au/careerdevelopment
• Flexible work arrangements: Our flexible work policies empower you to balance your professional and personal life, fostering a culture of trust and autonomy. 

• A comprehensive benefits package: From a yearly wellness incentive, to access to additional 8 weeks of flex leave per year, and family-friendly policies, including 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave, we cater to your diverse needs to help you thrive both personally and professionally www.ey.com/au/benefits     

Acknowledgement of Country

EY acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which EY offices are located around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. Find out more about our vision for reconciliation at ey.com/en_au/careers/indigenous

Diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DE&I) are core to who we are, how we work and how we live our values. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and are committed to providing an equitable and barrier free recruitment experience for all. We encourage you to share any support and adjustments you need to be your best and participate equitably in our recruitment process. We understand sharing your needs with us can be daunting, so if you have questions before or during your application, we welcome you to get in touch at contactrecruitment@au.ey.com or +61 3 8650 7788 (option 2). Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today. 

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Our preferred applicant will be required to undertake employment screening by EY or our external third-party provider. 

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