Senior Payroll Officer - Hire or get hired
Your complete guide to the Senior Payroll Officer Role: Duties, salary & hiring tips
Purpose of the Senior Payroll Officer
The Senior Payroll Officer is responsible for end-to-end payroll processing and ensures compliance with relevant legislation. This role acts as a key support for payroll queries and contributes to reporting and process improvements.
Senior Payroll Officer's duties and responsibilities
• Payroll Processing:
Manage full payroll cycles including timesheets, leave, and termination payments.
• Compliance:
Ensure payroll adheres to Fair Work standards, superannuation, and STP requirements.
• Support & Queries:
Resolve employee payroll queries and assist HR with pay-related information.
• Month-End & Reporting:
Prepare payroll reports, journals, and reconciliations for Finance.
• Mentoring:
Support junior payroll staff with training and guidance.
Manage full payroll cycles including timesheets, leave, and termination payments.
• Compliance:
Ensure payroll adheres to Fair Work standards, superannuation, and STP requirements.
• Support & Queries:
Resolve employee payroll queries and assist HR with pay-related information.
• Month-End & Reporting:
Prepare payroll reports, journals, and reconciliations for Finance.
• Mentoring:
Support junior payroll staff with training and guidance.
Requirements and qualifications for a Senior Payroll Officer
• 3–5 years’ experience in payroll processing
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation and awards
• Experience with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, MicrOpay)
• Accurate and confidential approach to payroll
• Strong reconciliation and Excel skills
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation and awards
• Experience with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, MicrOpay)
• Accurate and confidential approach to payroll
• Strong reconciliation and Excel skills
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Qualified accountants remained the hardest to hire in 2024, with 40% of businesses citing them as the most difficult to fill, followed by transactional finance (17%) and payroll roles (14%). In-demand roles such as finance managers, systems accountants, and specialists in data analytics and sustainability reporting indicate a shift in workforce priorities.
To remain competitive in 2025, 75% of organisations will focus on automation and system improvements, with additional emphasis on upskilling (45%), cash flow management (37%), and compliance (33%). Many businesses are investing in professional development, including certifications, workshops, and AI skill training, to enhance their teams and adapt to new technologies.
86% of businesses preferred maintaining in-house teams for better communication, control, and compliance, and while many employers relied on internal hiring teams, 54% sought external recruitment support within a month, highlighting the ongoing value of recruitment agencies in securing top talent.
