Payroll Specialist

  • Full-time

Company Description

Steelmaking coal is an essential ingredient in blast-furnace steel manufacture, producing steel used for critical building and infrastructure around the world.  In Australia, we operate five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and have additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, as well as copper exploration projects underway in North West Queensland and Western Australia.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to provide specialist expertise across payroll governance, compliance and assurance activities.

Working within the People & Organisation team, this role is responsible for strengthening payroll controls, supporting compliance with employment obligations and providing expert guidance on payroll-related risk across the employee lifecycle. You will partner with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure payroll processes, systems and practices remain compliant, effective and aligned with legislative and organisational requirements.

Reporting to our Reward & People Services Manager, this role provides an opportunity to influence governance outcomes, support continuous improvement initiatives and help create a culture of accountability and compliance across the payroll environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide specialist advice on payroll governance, compliance obligations and risk management practices.
  • Maintain and continuously improve standards, controls and operating procedures.
  • Monitor legislative, industrial and regulatory developments, assessing impacts and implementing required changes.
  • Support payroll assurance activities, audits and control reviews to ensure compliance with employment obligations and internal governance requirements.
  • Review payroll processes, system configurations and pay rules to ensure employee entitlements are being applied correctly and consistently.
  • Identify, assess and manage payroll-related risks across the employee lifecycle, recommending practical solutions to strengthen compliance outcomes.
  • Investigate payroll compliance issues, exceptions and potential risks, supporting remediation activities where required.
  • Partner with People & Organisation, Finance, Payroll Operations, Employee Relations and external providers to drive continuous improvement and reduce compliance risk.
  • Develop and deliver guidance, education and training to improve organisational understanding of payroll obligations and governance requirements.
  • Support business initiatives, projects and system enhancements by providing payroll governance and compliance expertise.
  • Analyse data and trends to identify emerging risks, inform decision-making and support evidence-based recommendations.

Qualifications

You are a senior payroll professional who combines strong technical knowledge with a pragmatic and risk-based approach. You are comfortable operating in complex environments, influencing stakeholders and translating legislative requirements into practical business solutions. Ideally, you will come from a heavy industry environment with multiple enterprise agreements. 

You will bring:

  • Significant experience in payroll compliance, payroll governance, employment law, employee relations or a related specialist discipline.
  • Experience in SAP would be advantageous.
  • Strong understanding of Australian payroll legislation, industrial instruments, taxation requirements and employment obligations.
  • Demonstrated experience applying governance, risk management and assurance principles within a large or complex organisation.
  • Experience reviewing payroll controls, undertaking compliance assessments and supporting audit activities.
  • Strong capability in interpreting enterprise agreements, awards, roster arrangements and payroll-related obligations.
  • Experience identifying process improvements and implementing governance or control enhancements.
  • Well-developed stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to provide trusted advice at all levels of the organisation.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability with a focus on risk identification and mitigation.
  • Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Law, Commerce, Payroll, Business or a related discipline will be highly regarded.

Additional Information

Additional information

  • Permanent, full-time position based in our Brisbane Corporate Office.
  • Monday to Friday with flexibility options including work from home
  • Competitive Salary + 12% Superannuation
  • Annual bonus incentive program

What we Offer

When you join Anglo American, you can expect to enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package and a range of flexible work arrangements that support the balance of work, family and individual circumstances. But more than this, you’ll find yourself in an environment where the opportunities for learning and growth are second to none. From technical training to leadership programmes, we bring out the best in our people. There are plenty of opportunities to move onwards and upwards too. We’re a large, successful multinational company – and we’re still growing all the time. 

 

Who we are

We aim to lead the industry by pursuing ever safer and more responsible ways of working, demonstrating integrity, and showing care and respect for people and the planet. That means we are constantly seeking new opportunities to mine and process our products sustainably, using less water, less energy and more precise extraction technologies.  As the custodians of coal and other precious natural resources – diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum and other precious metals, iron ore and nickel – our extraordinary teams work safely and collaboratively, with the utmost consideration for local communities, our customers and the world at large.

Background checks

Successful candidates will be required to complete background screening which may include a criminal check and validation of qualifications.

Inclusion and Diversity

Anglo American is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

How we are committed to your safety

Nothing is more important to us than ensuring you return home safely after a day’s work. To make that happen, we have the most rigorous safety standards in the industry. Not only that, we’re also continually investing in new technologies – from drones to data analytics – that are helping to make mining safer.

Employee referral

Do you know someone who would fit this role? Employee referrals will be accepted for this job. Refer to your local Referral Guidelines for policy conditions and amounts.    

How to apply

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. You will have the opportunity to upload your CV and other relevant documentation as part of this process.

REF80549B

CLOSING DATE 

12 AUGUST 2026

Please note, screening and interviews may take place prior to closing date – applications may also close before this date.

Recruitment Agencies

Anglo American Steelmaking Coal does not accept unsolicited applications from Recruitment Agencies.

By clicking the link above or any third-party link within this posting, you are leaving this site and going to a third-party website where the third-party website's terms and privacy policy apply

Privacy Notice