Payroll Manager: example job description

A Payroll Manager plays a pivotal role in managing the company's payroll functions, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while adhering to Australian legal and tax requirements, including PAYG withholding, superannuation contributions, and Fair Work Act compliance. They oversee the payroll team, refine payroll policies, and collaborate with HR and finance departments to streamline payroll processes.

They are also tasked with managing payroll reports, ensuring compliance with tax laws, and handling queries related to payroll from employees and management.

The role of a Payroll Manager involves a mix of financial oversight, team leadership, and strategic payroll management.

For a comprehensive breakdown of a Payroll Manager's duties, download our job description template.

The average salary for a Payroll Manager in Australia depends on factors such as location, industry sector, level of experience, and company size. According to the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2025, salaries for Payroll Managers vary across regions:

• In New South Wales, Payroll Managers earn between AUD 120,000 and AUD 150,000 annually. Contract rates range from AUD 60 to AUD 80 per hour.
• In Queensland, Payroll Managers typically earn between AUD 110,000 and AUD 140,000 annually or AUD 55 to AUD 75 per hour on contract.
• In Victoria, salaries range from AUD 120,000 to AUD 150,000 annually or contract rates of AUD 60 to AUD 80 per hour.
• In South Australia, Payroll Managers earn between AUD 100,000 and AUD 130,000 annually.
• In Western Australia, salaries range from AUD 120,000 to AUD 150,000 annually or contract rates of AUD 60 to AUD 80 per hour.

The Robert Walters Salary Survey provides up-to-date information on salary ranges across major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Use this data to benchmark competitive compensation packages that attract top-tier talent while retaining existing employees.

This thorough survey enables you to benchmark your salary and benefits offering against national and regional averages, ensuring your compensation package remains competitive in the present market. Offering a competitive salary and benefits package is crucial to attract and retain top finance talent.

Download your copy today for accurate salary insights tailored to Australia’s Accounting & Finance market.

The demand for Payroll Managers remains steady across Australia, with a particular need for those who have a strong background in payroll management and team leadership. Nonetheless, sourcing qualified candidates can prove difficult in a competitive market.

Robert Walters provides a variety of recruitment services and market insights to help you attract top finance talent across Australia. Our expertise and extensive network can assist you in securing the ideal Payroll Manager for your team.

Learn more about our finance and accounting staffing agency.

Successful Payroll Managers typically display the following traits:

Precision: They have a meticulous attention to detail, guaranteeing all payroll transactions are precise and comply with regulations.

Leadership: They show strong leadership abilities, inspiring their team to achieve excellence in payroll processes.

Communication: They have outstanding communication skills, effectively liaising with employees, management, and external partners.

Problem-solving: They excel at identifying and resolving payroll-related issues swiftly.

Organisational skills: They are highly organised, capable of juggling various tasks and deadlines efficiently.

Adaptability: They can adeptly adjust to changes in payroll legislation and the business landscape.

Robert Walters' specialist Accounting & Finance recruitment team has a wealth of experience connecting businesses with exemplary finance professionals including Payroll Managers for over 25 years.

Throughout this time, we have successfully recruited Payroll Managers for a wide array of industries across Australia. Our team has an extensive understanding of the payroll sector's intricacies, supported by our local market knowledge from our offices located across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and beyond.

Many of our recruiters have backgrounds in finance or payroll themselves, giving them unique insight into what makes an exceptional Payroll Manager stand out.

Take advantage of our industry expertise with our Payroll Manager job description template. Developed from strategies honed over years of recruitment experience, this template is crafted to help you attract top-tier Payroll Managers who will add value to your team while ensuring smooth payroll operations.

Download our free job description template today to start the process of finding the ideal Payroll Manager to add value to your team and ensure your payroll operations run smoothly and efficiently.