Payroll Lead - ANZ

Who are we?

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, and Continental. 

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.  

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team! 

Job Purpose

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Payroll Lead - ANZ to spearhead the end-to-end delivery of payroll for our Australia and New Zealand workforce. This is a high-impact role where you will manage complex payroll landscapes (including multiple Enterprise Agreements and Modern Awards) while leading a dedicated team and driving digital transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Excellence: Lead the end-to-end payroll cycle for Australia & New Zealand, ensuring 100% accuracy and on-time delivery for salaried and waged (factory) employees

• Compliance & Governance: Act as the subject matter expert on Australian legislation, including Single Touch Payroll (STP), Superannuation, Payroll Tax, and Long Service Leave across various states

• Award Interpretation: Oversee the complex interpretation of Modern Awards and Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs), ensuring pay rules in our systems (e.g., Workday/SAP) remain compliant

• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and upskill a payroll specialist (if any)

• Stakeholder Management: Partner closely with Finance, HR Business Partners, and Legal to provide insights into labor costs and ensure audit readiness

• Process Transformation: Lead payroll-related projects, such as system upgrades, automation of manual tasks, and integration of new HR technology.

• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external payroll providers and software vendors to ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are met.

• Audit Leadership: Act as the lead point of contact for all Internal and External Audits

What You’ll Bring

• Experience: 7+ years in payroll management within a large, complex organization (FMCG, Manufacturing, or Retail experience is highly regarded)

• Technical Mastery: Advanced knowledge of Australian payroll laws and the ability to interpret complex industrial instruments (Awards/EBAs)

• System Savvy: Proficiency in Workday, SAP, or ADP and advanced Excel skills. Experience with Time & Attendance systems (e.g., Kronos) is a plus

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead a team through change and manage high-pressure deadlines

• Analytical Mindset: Strong problem-solving skills with an ability to translate raw data into actionable insights for senior leadership

• Communication: Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to explain "payroll-speak" to non-technical audiences

What awaits you at Unilever?

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.

This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!

Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.