About the role:

This is an 18-month fixed-term opportunity for an experienced Payroll Specialist to support business-as-usual payroll activities principally for Swire Shipping’s New Zealand operations, while also overseeing Australia and supporting selected Pacific offices. You will be the subject matter expert for New Zealand and Australian payroll and a trusted partner to employees, managers, People & Culture and Finance.

A key focus of the role will be supporting the transition of Pacific payroll processing to our overseas processing centre in 2028. You will help review current payroll processes and work with the People team to support a smooth and well-controlled transition while maintaining accurate and timely business-as-usual payroll delivery.

Some of the key responsibilities and accountabilities

Process end-to-end New Zealand payrolls through the internal payroll system MYOB Acumatica and oversee Australian payroll through an outsourced provider.

Administer payroll activities across the employee lifecycle, including new starters, terminations, salary changes, promotions and transfers.

Calculate and process overtime, penalty rates, shift allowances, leave entitlements, leave loading, incentive payments, bonuses, termination and redundancy payments, back payments and adjustments.

Reconcile payroll data, validate reports and prepare accurate payroll journals for Finance.

Act as the New Zealand and Australian payroll compliance subject matter expert, monitoring legislative and regulatory changes and maintaining procedures, controls and documentation.

Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, support audits and provide payroll reporting and evidence as required.

Provide responsive payroll advice and support while building strong working relationships across People & Culture, Finance, employees, managers and external providers.

Review and document Pacific payroll processes, identify opportunities to automate and streamline activities, and support the transition of Pacific payroll processing to our overseas processing centre in 2028.

About you

You will be an accomplished payroll professional who combines deep technical expertise with exceptional accuracy, sound judgement and a strong customer focus. You are comfortable working independently, managing critical deadlines and collaborating across teams and locations.

A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing New Zealand and Australian payroll within a medium-to-large organisation.
Demonstrated expertise in New Zealand and Australian payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
Experience with payroll and HRIS platforms. MYOB Acumatica experience is essential; Sage Micropay experience would be beneficial.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including reconciliations, XLOOKUPs, reporting and data analysis.
NZ or Australian Payroll Association certification, or an equivalent payroll qualification, is highly regarded.
Exceptional attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving capability, integrity and discretion.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management and customer service skills.

In return

You will join a multinational organisation that believes its people are its greatest asset and is committed to developing their strengths. This 18-month fixed-term role offers the opportunity to support a critical cross-border payroll function, maintain reliable business-as-usual delivery and contribute to a significant payroll transition across the Pacific.

About us

Swire Shipping is the wholly owned deep-sea shipping arm of John Swire & Sons Ltd, a privately held company with a long and distinguished history of trading and operating in the Far East. Swire Shipping has provided more than 150 years of shipping services across the globe. Its head office is in Singapore, with regional offices in the UK, US, China, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand and across the Pacific Islands.

Applications

Please send us an updated CV, together with a letter explaining why you are the right person for the role. Applications should be submitted directly via the Seek website.

By submitting your CV, you acknowledge that the Company will collect and use your personal data for the purposes of recruitment and employment assessment, in accordance with the Company’s Recruitment Data Privacy Policy available on our website.