In this exciting leadership role, you will oversee a professional team dedicated to delivering exceptional payroll services and activities. You’ll be at the forefront of integrating processes and driving continuous improvement, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of payroll across the organisation. By collaborating with multiple departments and teams, you will play a key role in shaping the future of payroll operations, all while aligning with our university’s strategies and goals.

• Based at our Geelong, Waterfront Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and continuing
• Attractive remuneration package + 17% Superannuation (pro rata, part time)

Why work with us?

At Deakin you will have access to benefits such as a variety of leave options including generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow your career; an inclusive and supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.

Who are we?

Deakin is a cutting-edge public university in Victoria, revolutionising education with 61,000 students across seven campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, Deakin University Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI), GIFT City, India and our dynamic online Campus. We're proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world's universities.

As a Senior Manager, Payroll, you will:

• Lead & Inspire: Mentor a dynamic team of payroll professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment while guiding their growth and development through strategic initiatives.
• Deliver Payroll Excellence: Ensure the accurate and timely delivery of payroll services for the university, including salary payments, deductions, and payroll-related reporting to government bodies.
• Stay Ahead of Legislation: Keep the team updated on Australian employment laws, tax obligations, and university-specific enterprise agreements, ensuring compliance with payroll regulations.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with the People Services senior leadership team to align service delivery across departments, managing complex stakeholder issues and driving change to meet financial and people strategies.
• Innovate & Improve: Identify, develop, and implement payroll process improvements, ensuring the team is engaged, trained, and supported, while monitoring KPIs to assess and report on the success of these initiatives.

In a typical day, you will:

• Champion and promote accountability, inclusivity, and alignment with Deakin’s strategic goals, ensuring staff feel valued and motivated.
• Empower problem-solving while ensuring innovative, sustainable solutions and guiding the team toward success.
• Promote a customer-first approach, measure satisfaction, and implement strategies to improve service delivery.
• Cultivate partnerships with stakeholders, offering expert solutions and adapting strategies as needed.
• Foster innovation and challenge existing processes to continuously improve and innovate.
• Lead through challenges & model resilience, turning obstacles into opportunities, and coach others through adversity

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Proven expertise in the management of significant human and material resources.
• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience and understanding of payroll legislation, university-specific agreements, and the ability to lead a team in a dynamic, compliance-driven environment in a large complex organisation.
• Knowledge of and technical expertise in payroll service, including improving processes, and ensuring customer satisfaction in payroll services
• Experience leading a payroll services team and project management skills
• An understanding of tools, technologies and practices to deliver an effective, efficient and compliant payroll service
• Deep knowledge of payroll compliance, reporting and risk management

Here's how to apply: 

Please submit your updated resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience by clicking the 'Apply' button.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Jill Delaney, acting Associate Director, People Services via jill.delaney@deakin.edu.au 

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

 PD, Senior Manager Payroll Services.pdf

Applications for this position close at 5:00pm, Sunday 2nd March, 2025.

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.