Payroll Manager at Focus Partners Australia & Escala Partners

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

12 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

11 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Payroll Management, Compliance, Risk Management, Data Integrity, Process Improvement, Financial Reporting, Technical Expertise, Australian Payroll Legislation, Audit Support, Employee Trust, Stakeholder Engagement, Matrix Structure Experience, Payroll Systems, Reporting Tools, Continuous Improvement, Regulatory Requirements

Industry

Financial Services

Description

Position Overview The Payroll Manager is accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of payroll across the group, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payment of employees and associated statutory obligations. This is a critical control role within the organisation, requiring a high degree of technical expertise, discretion, judgement, and integrity. The Payroll Manager plays a key role in safeguarding employee trust, meeting regulatory obligations, and supporting the broader finance and people functions in a highly regulated wealth management environment. Primary Responsibilities End‑to‑End Payroll Ownership Own and manage the full payroll lifecycle across all entities, including monthly/fortnightly payroll processing, commission/bonus payments, off‑cycle payments, allowances, terminations, and adjustments Ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in accordance with employment contracts, awards, enterprise agreements, and legislation Act as the primary point of accountability for payroll outcomes across the group Provide trusted payroll advice to senior leaders and the People & Culture team Respond to complex payroll queries with professionalism, clarity, and discretion Compliance, Risk & Governance Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including: PAYG withholding Superannuation (including Payday Super readiness) Payroll tax Fair Work Act and applicable awards Maintain strong internal controls, audit trails, and segregation of duties within payroll processes Proactively identify and mitigate payroll, compliance, and operational risks Support internal and external audits and respond to payroll‑related findings Systems, Data & Process Excellence Own payroll systems (currently Employment Hero, potentially migrating to Workday) and data integrity, including configuration, testing, upgrades, and process improvements Partner with Focus Finance, People & Culture, and external providers to optimise payroll efficiency and accuracy Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance controls, automation, reporting, and employee experience Reporting & Insights Deliver accurate payroll reporting, reconciliations, and journals for month‑end and year‑end processes Support financial reporting requirements, including provisions, accruals, and cost analysis Provide insights on payroll trends, risks, and improvement opportunities Qualifications Proven experience managing payroll end‑to‑end in a medium organisation Proven experience operating in a matrix structure Experience within financial services, professional services, or other regulated environments is a must Strong knowledge of payroll systems and reporting tools, preferrable Employment Hero, Workday and ADP Relevant tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Payroll, or related discipline (preferred) Membership of a professional payroll association (e.g. APA) desirable Deep technical expertise in Australian payroll legislation and compliance #LI-SF1 About Focus Partners Australia Focus Partners Australia, the Australian business unit of Focus Partners, offers integrated capabilities in wealth advice, accounting, lending, insurance and related services from its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Guided by a client-first ethos, Focus Partners Australia leverages the global expertise, platforms and capital strength of Focus Financial Partners to deliver holistic, fiduciary guidance across strategic planning, portfolio management, insurance, credit and tax. By fusing local insight with world-class resources, Focus Partners Australia helps its clients protect, grow and transition their wealth at every life stage.

Responsibilities

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accurate and timely payment of employees while maintaining compliance with relevant legislation. This role also involves providing payroll advice to senior leaders and supporting internal and external audits.