Senior Payroll Specialist

Help deliver fairness for millions of Australians, One accurate pay cycle at a time.

At the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), fairness isn’t just what we do it’s who we are. Every day, we help Australians resolve financial complaints with independence, integrity and empathy. Our people are kind, smart, community minded and deeply committed to doing what’s right.‑minded and deeply committed to doing what’s right.

We’re looking for a confident, curious and technically skilled Senior Payroll Specialist to join our Finance team. If you love solving complex payroll problems, thrive under pressure and take pride in getting the details right, this role will give you the impact, challenge and purpose you’re looking for.

Why this role matters

With a workforce of around 1,500 talented people, payroll at AFCA is fast-moving, dynamic and meaningful. In this role, you’ll be the go-to specialist for all payroll matters. Ensuring our people are paid accurately, on time and in line with legislation.

You’ll partner closely with People & Culture, Finance, AFCA managers and the staff themselves to deliver an exceptional experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity if you enjoy autonomy, appreciate variety and want to contribute to an organisation that genuinely cares about people.

About the role

Your days will be filled with interesting work, including:

• Owning the end-to-end timely and accurate processing of fortnightly payroll for ~1,500 employees
• Managing everything from new hires to terminations, salary changes and reconciliations
• Interpreting awards and industrial instruments to ensure entitlements are spot on
• Preparing payroll journals, tax documentation, superannuation lodgements and FBT
• Managing salary packaging and complex payroll queries with professionalism and empathy
• Supporting audits, month end, year-end and compliance requirements‑end, year‑end and compliance requirements
• Partnering across AFCA to improve processes, eliminate errors and strengthen controls
• Being a trusted escalation point for the team and supporting continuous improvement

You’ll thrive here if you have:

• Strong experience independently managing payroll for 1,000+ employees
• Deep knowledge of Australian payroll legislation and award interpretation
• Experience in a senior or specialist payroll role
• Experience with HRIS / payroll system implementations and change
• Experience supporting or delivering payroll remediation programs
• Salary packaging experience (desirable) and comfort working with third-party providers‑party providers
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with data
• Clear, calm communication skills and a service-first mindset when supporting AFCA staff
• High levels of accuracy, integrity and initiative
• The ability to stay steady when things get busy. Even enjoy the challenge!

What's on offer

• BOSS Best Places to Work 2024 –credited for its culture, engagement and flexible working arrangements. 
• Most Inclusive Workplace 2024 – Australian HR Institute (AHRI) Awards. 
• Employer of Choice Public Sector and NFP – Australian HR Awards 2023 
• Bronze AWEI Accreditation 2024 – Recognised for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. 
• Accredited Family Friendly Workplace – Supporting work-life balance and inclusivity. 
• Hybrid working – Flexible arrangements with state-of-the-art offices designed for collaboration and wellbeing. 
• Locations – A team of over 1,200 dedicated professionals based in modern Melbourne and Sydney CBD offices. 

To apply 

If you’re passionate about fairness and believe your skills align with this role, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every single criterion. 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. If you require any accessibility support during the recruitment process, please reach out to our team at [email protected]. 

AFCA is a 2025 Circle Back Initiative Employer - we are committed to responding to every applicant.