Payroll Lead

About the role

Catalpa is a fast-growing civil construction and energy contractor delivering complex projects across Australia, and is part of Symphony Infrastructure Partners, an energy transition infrastructure services group with a portfolio of specialist businesses operating across Australia.

With a predominantly blue-collar, project-based workforce operating across multiple states, Catalpa's payroll environment is complex and governed by a combination of Enterprise Agreements, Modern Awards and individual employment contracts.

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Lead to join our Finance team. This is a hands-on role responsible for the accurate and timely delivery of Catalpa's end-to-end payroll, while also playing a key role in payroll reporting, compliance, process improvement and the implementation of a new payroll system.

Why Join Catalpa?

• Growing contractor with a diverse pipeline of civil and energy infrastructure projects
• Hands-on leadership role with genuine ownership of Catalpa's payroll function
• Opportunity to work across complex, multi-state payroll and industrial environments
• Supportive environment with close collaboration across Finance, HR, Operations and project teams
• Competitive salary package and long-term career opportunities

About the Role

Reporting to Symphony's Payroll Operations & Governance Manager based in Adelaide, the Payroll Lead will own and execute Catalpa's end-to-end payroll function across its project-based workforce.

You will be responsible for ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant and delivered on time, while providing payroll expertise across complex overtime, allowances, rosters, leave and other employment conditions. You will work closely with HR, Finance, site teams and the broader Symphony payroll function to ensure industrial and contractual requirements are accurately translated into payroll processes and systems

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage and execute the end-to-end payroll cycle, including timesheet validation, overtime, allowances, leave, terminations, back payments and off-cycle payments.
• Ensure payroll calculations and system rules accurately reflect applicable Enterprise Agreements, Awards, employment contracts and company arrangements.
• Partner with HR on the interpretation and application of industrial instruments, providing payroll expertise on the practical calculation and processing of employee entitlements.
• Complete payroll reconciliations and statutory requirements, including superannuation, PAYG, payroll tax and workers compensation obligations.
• Develop and maintain payroll reporting and labour cost analysis across projects, cost codes, overtime, allowances, leave and headcount.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, automation and employee self-service.
• Represent Catalpa in the selection and implementation of a new payroll and time-and-attendance system, including requirements gathering, configuration, testing, data migration and parallel pay runs.
• Provide clear and practical payroll advice to employees, managers, Finance, HR and project teams.

About You

You will bring strong end-to-end payroll experience within a complex, blue-collar or project-based environment, combined with strong technical knowledge and a high level of accuracy.

You will have:

• Significant experience managing end-to-end Australian payroll, ideally across multiple states and industrial instruments
• Experience in construction, infrastructure, resources, utilities or a similar industrial environment
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation, including superannuation, PAYG, payroll tax, leave and termination payments
• Demonstrated experience working with Enterprise Agreements and Modern Awards, particularly in relation to overtime, allowances, rosters, RDOs and other payroll-related entitlements
• Strong Excel and payroll reconciliation skills, with the ability to analyse and explain payroll data
• Experience with payroll or time-and-attendance system implementation, configuration or testing
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to work collaboratively with HR, Finance, Operations and project teams
• A proactive, hands-on approach with a strong focus on accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement

How to Apply

If you're an experienced senior payroll professional looking for a hands-on leadership role within a growing civil and energy contractor, we'd love to hear from you.