Senior Payroll Specialist

About the role

Transpower, the National Grid owner and System Operator, is looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Financial Operations team in the Wellington CBD. The role supports over 1,100 employees, including shift workers, and offers a mix of hands-on payroll, business support and process improvement. It follows the retirement of the current incumbent and involves working with HR, Finance, managers, employees, IT, software suppliers, auditors and external agencies.

Key responsibilities

• Manage fortnightly and off-cycle payroll, including employee changes, leave, benefits, deductions and accurate payroll and HRIS records
• Provide payroll advice, resolve queries and deliver internal and external employee-related reporting, keeping records confidential, controlled and audit-ready
• Process ACC claims under the Transpower Employer Reimbursement Agreement and calculate, verify and reconcile payments to IRD, MOJ, MBIE, superannuation providers and other counterparties
• Support general ledger reconciliations and prepare payroll-related tax and year-end processes
• Give technical guidance and user acceptance support to the Finance Systems team for system issues, upgrades and changes
• Improve and document processes, identify automation opportunities, contribute to projects and train colleagues

Required profile

• At least five years' payroll experience, supported by NZPPA certification or equivalent recognised payroll qualifications
• Excellent understanding of New Zealand employment legislation applied to payroll, especially tax and annual leave
• Good understanding of payroll audits, reconciliations, internal controls, process mapping and documentation
• Experience contributing to payroll system upgrades, integrations, testing, legislative change or process improvement
• Ability to give clear, accurate payroll advice to employees, managers, HR and Finance
• Sound judgement, organisation and attention to detail under pressure; existing eligibility to work in New Zealand (residency or citizenship preferred)

Required skills

• Advanced working knowledge of payroll and HRIS systems such as Dayforce aPay, Oracle or comparable enterprise payroll and financial systems
• Payroll and HRIS systems

What we offer

• A supportive team with adaptable start and finish times
• Office or on-site work of at least three days per week
• Employee health and wellness benefits

Applications close on 4 November; a handover in mid-December is ideal but a January 2027 start can be accommodated. Apply with a CV and cover letter.