Senior Payroll Specialist

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte!

Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.

Where and how you can work

While we’re open to remote work anywhere in Australia, there’s a preference for Sydney-based candidates as the immediate team is located here. Our flagship campus in Sydney offers amazing coffee and good vibes! We also have a campus in Melbourne and co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. But you have choice in where and how you work, we trust our Canvanauts to choose the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals.

About the team

At Canva, we’re on a mission to empower everyone to design anything, anywhere. Behind the scenes, our Payroll team plays a crucial role in ensuring our Canvanauts are supported and paid accurately and on time.

Part of the Finance and Legal group, our payroll function spans across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas, navigating the complexities of rapid global expansion. We’re more than processors—we’re trusted advisors involved in cross-functional projects, compliance, and process innovation.

This 12-month fixed-term contract opportunity is perfect for a payroll expert looking to make an impact in a fast-paced, people-first environment while being part of Canva’s exciting growth story.

What you’d be doing in this role

In this 12-month fixed term contract role, you’ll own the end-to-end payroll processes for selected APAC countries, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness. The APAC countries may include one or multiple of these countries : Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea & Singapore. While 85% of your focus will be on end-to-end payroll, there’s also room to innovate and collaborate on transformative projects.

Here’s what your days might look like:

• Taking ownership of end to end payroll processing for selected APAC countries, ensuring compliance with local tax laws, labor regulations, and company policies.
• Managing compliance filings with government agencies and ensure accurate reporting of taxes, contributions, and benefits.
• Identifying opportunities to streamline and automate payroll processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy across manual and automated workflows.
• Collaborating with teams like People Ops, Legal, and Finance teams to communicate and implement payroll-related changes, policies, and procedures.
• Serving as the go-to resource and subject matter expert for all APAC payroll-related matters, including future payroll or Employer of Record (EOR) expansions within the region.
• Supporting the implementation of various team’s initiatives and cross-functional projects.

You're probably a match if you

• Have a proven track record of managing end-to-end payroll processing, reporting and compliance for multiple countries.
• Are tech-savvy with strong Excel/Google Sheets skills, and an ability to manage large datasets with precision. Experience in Workday or ADP a plus.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements across APAC.
• Are a collaborator with exceptional communication skills with a knack for async communication tools across time zones.
• Are a problem solver and a detail-oriented who can navigate ambiguity and competing priorities with grace.
• You handle sensitive data with the utmost care and professionalism.

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard - and we do - but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.