Senior Payroll Systems Specialist

Xero, the cloud accounting software company, is looking for a Senior Payroll Systems Specialist to own the platforms, integrations and reporting that keep payroll running smoothly for teams across Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and the UK. This is a full-time, hybrid role with a base in Wellington, New Zealand, and options to work from Melbourne or Sydney. The right fit will enjoy shaping the technical backbone of payroll, turning business needs into tested changes, and delivering reliable, auditable systems.

The company has built a global payroll function that values clear collaboration between Pay, Finance, Technology and external vendors. The PX Systems team in Employee Lifecycle and Experience is expanding, and you’ll be the go-to payroll systems specialist, helping the Pay team while keeping the tech side focused on reliable delivery. If you like turning complex data and processes into practical, well-documented solutions, this could be a great match.

As a new team, there’s real room to influence how people work together, whether in person or online, and you’ll help shape the rhythm of collaboration without rigid office days.

Day-to-day work that keeps payroll humming

You’ll own the payroll tech stack, mapping and maintaining connections across platforms such as ADP, Infinet Cloud, Ramco, Tray and Workday, and you’ll manage who can access what. By translating what the Pay team needs into clear technical requirements, you’ll guide changes from testing through to launch and ensure they are well documented and supported. A big part of the role is spotting recurring errors, tracing their root causes, and redesigning workflows to reduce manual reconciliation, with automation and AI playing a part to keep people in the loop for checks.

In practice, you’ll work closely with Pay, Finance, Technology and external vendors to keep everyone aligned and informed. You’ll also focus on building reports that stakeholders can rely on, maintaining a clear trace of what’s been changed and why, and ensuring that the system changes stay connected to payroll policy and operations.

The core requirements and helpful extras

Must-haves include a hands-on background with payroll systems, from configuring and administering to providing technical support, and a solid understanding of how payroll processes, controls and system dependencies fit together. You should naturally trace data flows from end to end, mapping integrations, troubleshooting issues and identifying root causes so problems stay fixed. You’ll also need a tendency to rethink whole workflows rather than patch single steps, using automation and AI where they help while keeping people in the loop for checks. Excellent ability to explain technical changes in plain language and keep Pay, Finance, Technology and vendors on the same page is important, as is experience taking system changes from requirements all the way through testing and launch, plus building trustworthy reports. Familiarity with more than one payroll region and some exposure to the leading platforms is a plus.

• You have hands-on payroll systems experience, from configuration and administration to technical support, with a clear sense of how payroll processes, controls and system dependencies fit together
• You can trace data flows end to end, including mapping integrations, troubleshooting errors and root-cause analysis to prevent repeats
• You are poised to Go Bold by rethinking workflows, applying automation and AI where useful, and keeping checks in the loop
• You explain technical changes in plain language and keep Pay, Finance, Technology and vendors aligned
• You take changes from requirements through testing and launch, and you build reports that people can trust

Nice-to-haves include experience across more than one region, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada or the UK, and familiarity with ADP, Infinet Cloud, Ramco, Tray or Workday. Comfort with a new team and a hybrid way of working is also helpful.

Hybrid by design and a collaborative setup

The role is hybrid and based in Melbourne, Sydney or Wellington, with no set office days. You and the team will agree a rhythm that fits the work, and, as a new team member, you’ll have a real say in how collaboration happens both in person and online.

Tips to help you stand out

Put your hands-on payroll systems experience at the top of your resume, emphasising configuration, administration, and technical support, and highlight how you connect payroll processes, controls and dependencies across the platforms you’ve used (ADP, Infinet Cloud, Ramco, Tray or Workday).

Be prepared to describe a data flow you mapped from end to end, show the integrations involved, the errors you surfaced, and the root cause you identified to ensure the fix sticks.

Have a concrete example ready of a workflow you redesigned using automation or AI to cut manual reconciliation, including which tools you used and what impact it had on accuracy or time saved.

Think of a case where you explained a technical change to non-technical stakeholders and kept Pay, Finance, Technology and vendors on the same page, frames and outcomes you can share will help illustrate your approach.