Senior Payroll Officer

Senior Payroll Officer - Australian Compliance Location: Remote (Philippines)Hours: Flexible schedule with availability during Australian business hoursCompensation: PHP 45,000-60,000/month + negotiable performance bonuses APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS - READ CAREFULLY Do NOT apply via job boards or LinkedIn. Applications submitted any other way will not be reviewed. This is intentional - we want people who follow instructions and pay attention to details. About Scale Suite Scale Suite ( provides specialized finance and HR services to fast-growing Australian SMEs. We're a focused team delivering expert finance operations to businesses that need high-quality support without the overhead of full-time hires. The Role This is a flexible, multi-faceted role focused primarily on complex Australian payroll, with bookkeeping support as needed. The exact split will vary week-to-week based on client needs – some weeks you'll be processing multiple payrolls back-to-back, other weeks you'll spend more time on bookkeeping, reconciliations, or month‑end support. This is not a fixed‑scope, repetitive payroll processing job. You'll be handling complex, multi‑state Australian payroll across different industries and modern awards, while also being able to flex into other finance operations when needed. What makes this role unique: The versatility required will make you a more well‑rounded finance professional. You'll develop deep expertise in Australian payroll compliance while also building broader skills across bookkeeping and finance operations – making you more valuable and marketable in the long term. You won't be pigeonholed into one narrow function. If you thrive on variety, want to build deep expertise in Australian payroll, and enjoy being the go‑to person for complex scenarios, this role will suit you well. What You'll Do Complex Australian Payroll Processing Run end‑to‑end payroll for multiple Australian businesses across different states and awards Calculate and process termination payments, redundancies, and final pays (including accrued leave, notice periods, and tax implications) Handle modern award interpretations, penalty rates, overtime calculations, and allowances across different industries Process complex scenarios: unpaid leave, WorkCover claims, salary sacrifice arrangements, parental leave interactions, garnishments, and overpayment recoveries Reconcile payroll accounts monthly – ensuring wages, super, PAYG, and liability accounts all balance Manage STP reporting, payment summaries, and year‑end compliance Navigate state‑by‑state requirements (long service leave variations, payroll tax thresholds, WorkCover differences) Be the escalation point for difficult payroll questions from clients and employees Process accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions Bank reconciliations and transaction coding in Xero Support month‑end close activities Jump in on other finance operations as needed The Flexible Part: The workload mix will change based on client demands. Some weeks will be payroll‑heavy during processing periods. Other weeks you'll spend more time on bookkeeping when payroll is lighter. You'll need to be comfortable shifting between different types of work and managing competing priorities across multiple clients. What You MUST Have (Non‑Negotiables) 3+ years of Australian payroll experience – processed payroll through multiple year‑ends, dealt with Fair Work compliance issues, and understand the tax and super system comprehensively. Expert‑level Xero Payroll AND Employment Hero experience – configured awards, built pay templates, processed STP, and troubleshot technical issues. Deep Fair Work compliance knowledge – interpret modern awards, calculate redundancy payments correctly, understand when casual loading applies, and navigate enterprise agreements. State‑by‑state variations expertise – understand how long service leave differs across states, payroll tax thresholds vary by jurisdiction, and WorkCover requirements change by state. Final pay calculation expertise – processed numerous terminations, redundancies, and resignations. Know how to calculate payment in lieu of notice, when garden leave applies, and how to tax final pays correctly. Complex edge case experience – handled parental leave super obligations, salary sacrifice arrangements, FBT implications, garnishment orders, overpayment recoveries, unpaid leave impacts on entitlements, and other non‑standard scenarios. Payroll reconciliation skills – reconcile payroll liability accounts, investigate variances, and ensure everything balances back to the general ledger. Stable work history – stayed at previous roles long enough to become an expert (minimum 2 years per role preferred). If you commit to doing excellent work over time, we’re looking for you. Exceptional attention to detail – payroll errors can be costly; you catch mistakes before they happen. Strong English communication – explain complex payroll concepts clearly to clients and handle sensitive employee queries professionally. What Makes You Stand Out Experience working for an Australian accounting firm, bookkeeping service, or payroll bureau (multi‑client experience). Been the go‑to payroll person at previous roles. Handled payroll audits or Fair Work investigations. Accounting qualifications or pursuing CPA/CA. Trained others on payroll processes. Genuinely finds complex payroll scenarios interesting rather than frustrating. What We Offer Competitive Compensation PHP 45,000-60,000/month based on experience + quarterly bonuses for exceptional performance. Develop Broader Expertise Beyond becoming our payroll expert, you'll develop well‑rounded finance skills across bookkeeping and operations – making you a more versatile and valuable professional. Continuous Learning Paid access to Fair Work updates, payroll compliance training, and professional development resources. Variety & Challenge Different businesses, different industries, different scenarios. The work stays interesting. Fully Remote with Flexibility Work from anywhere in the Philippines with a flexible schedule that accommodates Australian business hours. Modern Tools Xero, Employment Hero, Slack, Google Workspace. Growth Opportunities Potential travel to Australia for client meetings and team collaboration as we expand. Why Scale Suite? You'll work with a high‑performing team where quality matters and attention to detail is essential. We hire experts and give them the autonomy to do excellent work. If you want to be recognized as a payroll expert, work with genuinely challenging scenarios, and build mastery in Australian compliance while developing broader finance skills, this is the right opportunity. Answers to these questions (in the body of your email): Question 1: Describe the most complex final pay calculation you've processed. What made it complex? How did you ensure accuracy? Question 2: A client calls concerned that an employee claims they were underpaid for the last 6 months. What's your process for investigating and resolving this? Question 3: List every Australian payroll system you've used (Xero Payroll, Employment Hero, MYOB, etc.) and your proficiency level (beginner/intermediate/expert) with each. CRITICAL: If you apply via a job board, LinkedIn, or any method other than email, your application will be automatically rejected. We need people who read instructions carefully – it's essential for payroll accuracy. Selection Process If your answers demonstrate the required expertise, we'll invite you to a video interview. Second interview will include a practical payroll scenario assessment. We're looking to hire within 3‑4 weeks. We're looking for someone who's excellent at Australian payroll, can handle complexity with confidence, and is comfortable working flexibly across different finance operations. If you're that person and meet the requirements above, we'd like to hear from you. Scale Suite is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr