Senior Payroll Officer

About this role

• Support your Team Leader and assist Payroll Officers with growth and development
• Based at our National Office in Wellington, enjoy our modern offices on the Terrace
• Two permanent positions available

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi'  –  There is only one purpose to our work:  the wellness and wellbeing of our people.  

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Senior Payroll Officer, you'll be responsible for managing complex payroll processing and queries for our rostered, casual, and salaried employees across all aspects of employment such as secondments, progression, allowance management, termination calculations with an in depth understanding of Collective Agreements and legislation.

You'll work closely with the Team Leader to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, enhance the customer experience, and support the development of our Payroll Officers through mentoring and training. Your ability to navigate technical payroll challenges and maintain data integrity will be crucial to our success.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys problem-solving, and is passionate about delivering high-quality payroll services. If you're proactive, detail-oriented, and ready to make a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You will be an experienced Senior Payroll Officer with the ability to:

• Provide accurate, sound payroll advice, ensuring a strong customer service focus approach.
• Ensure all Payroll processing activities are completed within agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and agreed payroll timeframe.
• Assist in identifying payroll errors and implementing corrective action where required which includes engaging with the business as required.
• Be proactive and maintain up to date knowledge (and what impact this has on payroll) across changes in legislation, Departmental Employment Agreements and Departmental Policies and share this knowledge across the Payroll Officers as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with the Payroll team and People Operations to ensure that all Payroll functions are undertaken to support the delivery of an effective and efficient payroll service.
• Provide initial support to Payroll Officers in queries or difficult tasks.

Please note: a credit check will be required for this role.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The midpoint of the salary range is $87,132 and the full range (85%-120%) is $74,063- $104,559. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Tuesday the 22^nd of July 2025.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact Sarah.Newbold@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.