Senior Payroll Officer

The Senior Payroll Officer at Flying Bark Productions manages end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of all payroll cycles. This includes maintaining employee and payroll data, resolving payroll-related inquiries, ensuring compliance with legislation and company policies, and preparing financial and statutory reports. The role requires a high level of accuracy, strong analytical skills, and an in-depth understanding of payroll systems, taxation, awards, and employment legislation, ideally within a corporate or production finance environment.

Must Have

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing, including collating timesheets, validating hours, overtime, allowances, and leave entitlements.
• Ensure payroll reconciliations are performed at each cycle.
• Calculate and process all statutory and voluntary deductions.
• Lodge and remit payments to the ATO, superannuation funds, and other authorities.
• Ensure payroll compliance with relevant awards, Fair Work Act, legislation, and tax regulations.
• Assist with year-end activities such as STP finalisation and annual reconciliations.
• Maintain accurate employee records in the payroll system.
• Monitor and audit payroll information for data integrity.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports.
• Provide financial and analytical reports to Finance, HR, and external bodies.
• Be the point of contact for payroll-related enquiries.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, and department managers.
• Lead or support payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementation initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in payroll or accounting, ideally within corporate or production finance.
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
• Payroll system implementation or major upgrade experience is essential.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of Australian payroll legislation, awards, superannuation requirements, and tax obligations.
• Exceptional attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and commitment to confidentiality and data integrity.
• Willingness and ability to work on-site in Sydney.

Perks & Benefits

• Work on exciting projects like Avatar: The Last Airbender feature film, Netflix's Ghostbusters and Stranger Things animated series.
• Industry-leading studio space in Alexandria with cinema, quiet room, Zen Garden, games room, and state-of-the-art animation facilities.
• Daily breakfast provided.
• Cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & culture club social calendar.
• Paws for a Cause fundraising arm for charities.
• Dog-friendly studio.
• Hybrid approach to work with flexible work from home days.
• Career development, training, and support opportunities.
• Inclusive and celebrated culture.
• Access to mental health resources and free counselling via Employee Assistance Provider, Support Act.
• Holistic wellbeing support through discounted health insurance with Bupa.
• Financial wellbeing initiatives from Media Super.
• Access to staff qualified in Mental Health First Aid.

Flying Bark Productions is a dynamic and innovative animation studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The Last Airbender feature film, Netflix's Ghostbusters animated series and Stranger Things animated series, as well as our production Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan.

Prioritising candidates based in Sydney, no remote opportunities available.

The Senior Payroll Officer manages the Accounts/Payroll Clerk, and is responsible for overseeing end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring the timely and accurate processing of all payroll cycles. This includes maintaining employee and payroll data, resolving payroll-related enquiries, ensuring compliance with legislation and company policies, and preparing financial and statutory reports. The role requires a high level of accuracy, strong analytical skills, and an in-depth understanding of payroll systems, taxation, awards, and employment legislation.

About the role:

Payroll Processing

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing, including collating timesheets, validating hours, overtime, allowances, and leave entitlements, and ensuring accurate and timely payments to all employees.
• Ensure payroll reconciliations are performed at each cycle to confirm accuracy before final submission.

Deductions, Compliance & Statutory Obligations

• Calculate and process all statutory and voluntary deductions, including PAYG, superannuation, salary packaging, garnishees, and child support payments.
• Lodge and remit payments to the ATO, superannuation funds, and other authorities in required timeframes.
• Ensure payroll compliance with relevant awards, the Fair Work Act, state and federal legislation, tax regulations, and internal governance standards.
• Assist with year-end activities such as STP finalisation, annual reconciliations, and preparing payment summaries where applicable.

Employee Data & Record Management

• Maintain accurate employee records in the payroll system, including onboarding new hires, processing terminations, and updating pay rates, classifications, and entitlements.
• Monitor and audit payroll information to ensure data integrity and compliance with audit requirements.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports, including payroll journals, super and tax reconciliations, and general ledger integrations.
• Provide financial and analytical reports to Finance, HR, and external bodies such as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as required.
• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting inputs related to payroll costs.

Query Management & Stakeholder Support

• Along with the Payroll Officer, be the point of contact for payroll-related enquiries, delivering accurate information and resolving issues efficiently.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, and department managers to ensure consistent application of payroll policies and award interpretations.

Systems, Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementation initiatives, including process documentation and training.
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes and enhance accuracy, automation, and reporting capabilities.
• Perform ad-hoc duties and contribute to broader finance projects and initiatives.

About you:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in payroll or accounting, ideally within a corporate or production finance environment.
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, with prior involvement in system configuration or optimisation.
• Payroll system implementation or major upgrade experience is essential.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, including formulas, pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis functions.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with proven ability to manage high-volume data entry accurately and efficiently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple teams and stakeholders in a Sydney office environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of Australian payroll legislation, awards, superannuation requirements, and tax obligations.
• Exceptional attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and a commitment to confidentiality and data integrity.
• Willingness and ability to work on-site in Sydney, supporting regular face-to-face collaboration with the finance team and broader business.

What do we do?

Flying Bark Productions is a renowned independent producer of family-focused animation entertainment. For over 50 years, our 2D and 3D production facility has created award-winning feature films and TV series.

Why work with us?

• We work on some pretty cool projects - check out our website: https://www.flyingbark.com.au/
• We have an industry leading studio space in Alexandria, complete with a cinema, quiet room, Zen Garden, games room, and state of the art animation facilities.
• Breakfast is served daily - on us!
• We have cake days, movie nights, wrap parties & a culture club dedicated to coordinating our busy social calendar!
• The Barkers have big hearts too, with our Paws for a Cause fundraising arm raising much needed funds for charities such as Beyond Blue, RSPCA and the Cancer Council.
• We love dogs and you will often see some of our regular fluffy companions in the studio.
• We have a hybrid approach to work with flexible work from home days on offer.
• Career development is important to us so we offer training and support opportunities whenever possible.
• Our employees say our culture is the best they've ever experienced - everyone is welcome and celebrated!
• You'll have access to mental health resources and free counselling via our Employee Assistance Provider, Support Act.
• Enjoy holistic wellbeing support through discounted health insurance with Bupa, financial wellbeing initiatives from our superannuation partner Media Super, and access to staff qualified in Mental Health First Aid.