Head of Payroll

At TheirCare, everything we do is centred around enriching communities and helping every child thrive. This includes supporting the incredible people who make it all possible. Since opening our doors in 2017, we’ve grown to become one of Australia’s leading Outside School Hours Care providers — but our mission has never changed: to deliver exceptional care, empower families, and make a genuine impact in the lives of children.

About The Role We’re seeking a skilled and strategic Head of Payroll to lead our payroll operations and drive best practice across our national network of services. In this pivotal leadership role, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the accurate, compliant, and timely delivery of payroll for all TheirCare employees. You’ll oversee the payroll function, collaborate with finance and partners across the business, and play a key role in maintaining trust, transparency, and operational excellence. This is a full‑time opportunity based at our Glen Iris HQ in Melbourne with the opportunity to work in a hybrid model.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage end‑to‑end payroll processing for all employees, including salaried, hourly, and contract staff.

Ensure full compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local payroll laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Oversee the direction, performance, and professional development of the payroll team, driving a culture of accuracy, accountability, and service excellence.

Maintain and enhance payroll systems, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and efficient software performance.

Collaborate closely with Finance and Employee Relations teams to align payroll with contracts, benefits, taxation, and reporting obligations.

Prepare and review monthly payroll reporting to support P&L, balance sheet reconciliations, and compliance filings such as superannuation, PAYG, and Work Cover.

Lead payroll audits, liaise with external auditors, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Stay abreast of payroll legislation and best practice, ensuring proactive adaptation to changes.

Support strategic decision‑making by providing insights, forecasts, and analysis on payroll trends and cost management.

Participate in special projects and system implementation as required.

About You

Hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

Bring a minimum of 5 years’ experience in payroll management or a similar leadership role.

Demonstrate strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, including the Fair Work Act, superannuation, and tax regulations.

Be proficient in payroll software (bonus points if you have experience in MYOB or Humanforce Payroll) and confident using Microsoft Excel.

Possess exceptional attention to detail, analytical ability, and problem‑solving skills.

Communicate clearly and effectively, with the ability to collaborate across departments and lead a team with integrity.

Be highly organised, adaptable to change, and committed to confidentiality and compliance.

If you’re a proactive and detail‑oriented leader ready to shape payroll excellence, strengthen operational integrity, and support a purpose‑driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and help us build a workplace where every team member is valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Human Resources

Industry: Education Management

TheirCare has an ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children, families, and staff involved in our programs.

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