Payroll Compliance Officer

About Us

AXIS Services Group founded in 1994 in NSW by Clem Morfuni, and joined by George Spyropoulos in 1996, Axis Services Group has grown into a global network operating across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the USA. With over 700 employees worldwide, Axis delivers high-quality construction and maintenance services including hydraulic, mechanical, fire pipe systems, water features, and irrigation projects.

Axis is committed to long-term client relationships, continuous innovation, and expanding services to meet client needs. The company culture emphasises integrity, safety, people development, and operational excellence. Through its Personal Development Program and apprenticeship initiatives, Axis ensures its workforce is skilled, motivated, and future ready.

Safety is a top priority, supported by dedicated Group Safety Managers and comprehensive OH&S planning. Quality assurance is embedded in every project through tailored Quality Plans and ongoing process improvements.

Axis partners with clients throughout the full project lifecycle, from design and budgeting to construction and maintenance, delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.

Main Purpose of Position

The Payroll & Compliance Officer is responsible for supporting the accurate and timely processing of payroll and associated financial and compliance activities across the business.

The role is responsible for reviewing and validating employee time and attendance information, ensuring subcontractor invoices and petty cash submissions are accurate, completing end-of-month payroll processes, preparing statutory and industry returns, and assisting with the interpretation and application of Enterprise Agreements (EBAs) and relevant employment conditions.

The position requires a high level of accuracy, attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies before processing.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll & Timesheet Administration

• Review and analyse employee timesheets and timekeeping records to ensure all hours have been entered accurately into the payroll system.

• Identify missing, incomplete or incorrect timesheets and follow up with employees and managers as required.

• Verify ordinary hours, overtime, allowances, RDOs, leave and other payroll-related entries.

• Ensure employee hours are allocated to the appropriate projects, jobs or cost codes where applicable.

• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies prior to payroll processing.

• Assist with payroll preparation and processing within required payroll deadlines.

• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation.

Enterprise Agreement & Employment Conditions

• Interpret and apply relevant Enterprise Agreements (EBAs), Modern Awards and employment conditions when reviewing payroll.

• Ensure applicable rates, overtime, penalties, allowances and other employee entitlements are correctly applied.

• Assist with identifying payroll or entitlement discrepancies arising from EBA requirements.

• Maintain an understanding of changes to applicable EBAs, Awards and employee entitlements.

• Liaise with HR and management where clarification of employee conditions or entitlements is required.

Subcontractor Invoices

• Review subcontractor invoices to ensure they are complete, accurate and supported by appropriate documentation.

• Verify subcontractor hours, rates and charges against approved records and agreed rates.

• Identify discrepancies and liaise with relevant managers or subcontractors to have invoices corrected where required.

• Ensure approved subcontractor invoices are submitted for processing within required timeframes.

• Maintain accurate records of subcontractor invoice submissions.

Petty Cash & Expenses

• Review petty cash and employee expense submissions for accuracy and completeness.

• Ensure appropriate receipts and supporting documentation have been provided.

• Confirm expenses have been correctly allocated and approved.

• Follow up incomplete or incorrect submissions prior to processing.

End-of-Month Processing

• Assist with and complete required end-of-month payroll and finance processes.

• Prepare and process redundancy-related calculations and payments as required.

• Review employee entitlements and balances as part of termination and redundancy processing.

• Complete payroll reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.

• Ensure end-of-month documentation and records are maintained accurately.

Long Service Leave & Compliance Returns

• Prepare and submit quarterly Long Service Leave returns within required deadlines.

• Maintain accurate employee and wage information for industry and statutory reporting requirements.

• Reconcile payroll information against quarterly return requirements.

• Assist with other payroll, employment and industry compliance reporting as required.

General Administration

• Maintain confidential and accurate payroll, employee and financial records.

• Respond to payroll and entitlement queries from employees and management.

• Assist HR, Finance and operational teams with payroll-related information and reporting.

• Prepare reports and spreadsheets as required.

• Maintain organised electronic records and supporting documentation.

• Undertake ad hoc administrative, payroll, finance and compliance duties as reasonably required.

• Other duties as required

Key Relationships

Internal:

• HR Manager

• Payroll Team

• Finance/Accounts Team

• Directors and Senior Management

• Project Managers

• Site Managers and Supervisors

• Employees

External:

• Subcontractors

• Industry Long Service Leave Authorities

• Payroll and employment-related service providers

• Other relevant industry or statutory bodies

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience in payroll, payroll administration, finance administration or a similar role.

• Experience reviewing and validating timesheets and employee hours.

• Strong understanding of payroll processes and employee entitlements.

• Experience interpreting Enterprise Agreements and/or Modern Awards is highly desirable.

• Experience within the construction, plumbing or building industry is advantageous.

• Strong Microsoft Excel and general computer skills.

• High level of attention to detail and numerical accuracy.

• Ability to identify discrepancies and investigate issues independently.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

• Ability to manage competing deadlines, particularly around payroll and end-of-month processing.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to handle confidential employee and financial information appropriately.

Key Competencies

• Accuracy and attention to detail

• Payroll and numerical capability

• EBA and employment conditions interpretation

• Compliance awareness

• Problem solving and analytical thinking

• Organisation and time management

• Confidentiality and professionalism

• Communication and stakeholder management

• Ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines

Performance Expectations

The Payroll & Compliance Officer is expected to ensure that payroll information is accurate and complete prior to processing, discrepancies are identified and resolved promptly, statutory and industry returns are submitted within required timeframes, and employee entitlements are administered in accordance with applicable Enterprise Agreements and employment conditions.