Register of Interest - Payroll Team Leader

Register of Interest Details

JOB TITLE - Register of Interest - Payroll Team Leader

LOCATION - ACT

AFP BAND - Band 07 ($118,673.00 - $127,101.00)

VACANCY REFERENCE NUMBER - 15026

CONTACT OFFICER - Chris Lucas, Chris.Lucas@afp.gov.au

APPLICATIONS CLOSE - 11:59pm (AEST) 26/06/2026

Role Summary

Payroll Services sits within the Business Services Branch, which is a multifaceted branch within the Chief Financial Officer Command. The AFP Payroll Services team delivers fortnightly pays to over 8,000 employees using SAP. We have a complex and fast-paced operating environment, and there is never a dull day and always something new to learn.

In Payroll Services our work is the administration of conditions of service and entitlements for AFP employees including processing of pay, leave and superannuation and the ongoing improvement of systems and processes to provide a high quality, accurate and timely service to the AFP and its members.

Team Leaders are responsible for leading a small team within Payroll Services to deliver sound pay outcomes to AFP employees. This is achieved through leading the team, managing capability, capacity and resources to ensure efficient and high quality outcomes. This is a pivotal role in developing people, managing change, influencing behaviours to maintain a supportive culture respecting the talent, perspective and value of each individual.

The Team Leader encourages innovation and continuous improvement in practices, systems and processes. By building and maintaining professional relationships in the team and with external stakeholders, the Team Leader works with the Payroll Services Leadership team to adapt to changing priorities in a high volume environment.

Team Leaders activities include supporting team members build capability and confidence, planning and organising work for the team, undertaking complex payroll processing and checking and leading or contributing to project activities on priority projects.

Team Leaders contribute to the achievement of outcomes in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance Instruments.

What will be challenging?

Payroll Services is a fast paced, dynamic place to work. Some cases are quite intricate and complex, requiring liaison with other areas within the AFP to correctly interpret and implement governance and legislation. Some employees can disagree with the organisational stance and so having strong communication skills and being able to deal with difficult and emotional people is required.

The high volume, high paced environment requires team leaders to be aware of the pressures of the workload on their team. It is critical that Team Leaders are able to work with their team to support them to build and demonstrate resilience and provide support and guidance in managing issues and challenges.

This role provides opportunities to extend beyond payroll processing and provide a significant contribution to the delivery of high profile or complex projects. This involves combining project management skills and alignment with the fortnightly payroll delivery cycles.

What will you do?

Payroll Service Team Leader you will be responsible for:

• Provide leadership as part of a team, to contribute to organisational outcomes
• Guide and Manage team members responsible for delivery of Payroll Services
• Engage with stakeholders to manage, prioritise and align payroll activities, systems and processes
• Undertake project and processing activities in accordance with relevant governance, frameworks and timeframes
• Delivering quality service and professional practices and standards including the application of legislation, policy and employment instruments
• Communicate payroll outcomes both in writing and verbally to employees, management and in formal briefs
• Influencing and implementing business improvements related to operational practices, procedures and guidelines
• Undertake payroll processing, including calculating employee entitlements and processing complex cases in accordance with strict deadlines
• Maintaining currency in subject matter expertise through on-going professional development and learning opportunities
• Undertake general administrative duties associated with payroll activities

What does success look like in this role?

• Collaboratively working with Payroll Services leadership team to achieve high quality payroll outcomes
• Developing team members to build their ability prioritise and work effectively as a team
• Interpretation and application of the AFP’s Enterprise Agreements, relevant legislation and governance to provide direction and advice on complex queries to AFP Employees and Payroll Team Members
• Regular positive engagement with key stakeholders
• Delivering on agreed outputs and outcomes to projects and activities
• Being open to constructive feedback and valuing differing opinions and ideas
• The ability to convey messages effectively and sensitively across multiple audiences, which may include executive and ill or injured AFP employees
• Leading the development and implementation of improvements within the team, systems and processes
• Demonstrating adaptability and resilience in dynamic, complex environments, and enjoy facing new

Essential Requirements

• Australian Citizenship
• A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one
• Contemporary Payroll and /or Human Resources experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience – Minimum 3 years
• Experience with Payroll Systems such as SAP or similar
• Problem solving / analytical skills

Desirable Requirements

• Project Management skills

Additional Information

• This process is a Register of Interest only, it is not a merit-based process, and you will not be contacted with an outcome from your application. You may be contacted by the AFP for further discussion about a current or upcoming opportunity for the role. 

As part of your Register of Interest you will be required to submit the following documents:

• Resume/CV
• Applicant pitch (maximum two pages) **please upload your CV twice for both the CV and Applicant Response attachment fields**

This process is an ROI, it is not a merit based round and you will not be contacted with an outcome from this application. You may be contacted by the organisation for further discussion for this role if identified as potentially suitable for a current or upcoming opportunity for the role  

Employment Suitablity

Should you successfully progress from the Register of Interest all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.