Senior Payroll Operations Manager

Payroll Operations Manager

Overview

A major Queensland transport and infrastructure organisation is seeking an experienced and resilient Payroll Operations Manager to join their Financial Control Team in a critical six-month contract role. This position is based in the Brisbane CBD and is essential for providing immediate, expert support to the existing Payroll Manager during a period of significantly increased workload, major system projects, and heightened team management demands.

This organisation has been instrumental in connecting people and places for over 150 years and is committed to a proud legacy and a sustainable future, built on the foundation of true connection with its people and the communities it serves.

Role Details:

• Location: Brisbane CBD
• Contract Length: Six months, extension options

The Payroll Environment

The organisation's payroll environment is large and highly complex, servicing over 8,300 employees through fortnightly payroll runs. This complexity is compounded by managing payroll across seven Enterprise Agreements and various contract-level employees. With six of the Enterprise Agreements set to expire in February 2026, the need for high-quality, expert support is critical. The organisation's core payroll system is SAP ECC, and hands-on experience with this system is a mandatory requirement.

Key Responsibilities

The Payroll Operations Manager will be responsible for a combination of operational support, team leadership, and key project contributions:

Operational Management & Leadership

• Provide expert, hands-on support to the Payroll Manager on day-to-day management and operational activities.
• Deliver immediate leadership to the Payroll Operations Team, which includes three Senior Payroll Officers and ten Payroll Officers.
• Manage team performance matters and oversee the recruitment process for vacant or upcoming roles within the team.
• Review and enhance onboarding processes and documentation to ensure new starters receive suitable induction and training.
• Oversee and improve existing training processes and documentation for the entire Payroll Team. ● Ensure rigorous compliance with the organisation's policies, procedures, and core values and behaviours.
• Foster a positive team culture that promotes respect, empowerment, safety, and continuous improvement.

Project and System Support

• Actively support project delivery for two major payroll reviews: a superannuation review and cyclical payroll reviews. This includes involvement in remediation, communications, and system/process reviews.
• Support the adoption and integration of a new rostering and time and attendance system into core payroll operations.
• Contribute to the ongoing program dedicated to reviewing and systematising manual payroll processes, collaborating with external technical payroll experts.

About the Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a resilient and collaborative professional capable of providing immediate value and high-level leadership in a complex environment.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant payroll management experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Essential hands-on experience with SAP ECC payroll system.
• Proven team leadership experience, specifically including performance management, recruitment, onboarding, and training of payroll staff.
• Demonstrated ability to provide immediate support and leadership, quickly adapting to a dynamic, high-pressure environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills to support critical reviews and system integrations.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement abilities. ● A firm commitment to the organisation's '1Team' values: Treat Others with Respect, Empower Our People, Act Safely, and Make a Positive Difference.

Highly Desirable

• Candidates who are available to commence at short notice will be highly regarded.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.