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Posted 16 June, 2026

National Payroll Manager

whitehavencoal
Brisbane QLD, Australia Full Time
Reference: 487_674079_14030

About The Company

We’re one of Australia’s leading coal producers and we’re proud of it. Coal is in our DNA and our work is critical for people, industries and communities both here in Australia and overseas.

ASX listed, we operate six mines across NSW and QLD, producing metallurgical coal that’s critical for steelmaking and thermal coal that will support the world’s energy security as we move through the energy transition.

Whitehaven Coal is poised for continued growth through the optimisation of existing assets and the assessment of future acquisition opportunities. Our people, values and performance culture underpin our success.

About The Role

Reporting to the Group Manager – Shared Services, the National Payroll Manager is accountable for the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of payroll services across Whitehaven’s national workforce, with direct leadership accountability for the Queensland Payroll Manager and New South Wales Payroll Manager.

This role leads a multi-state payroll function operating within a Shared Services model, ensuring compliance with industrial instruments, legislation, and internal governance frameworks.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership across payroll operations, payroll projects, systems, controls, and continuous improvement, while partnering closely with Finance, People & Culture, and sitebased leaders to support operational continuity and workforce confidence.

What You'll Do

  • Ensure accurate, complete, and timely payroll processing across all states, entities, and employment types
  • Ensure strong governance, controls and compliance with payroll legislation and audit requirements
  • Develop strong working relationships with operational stakeholders
  • Oversee payroll reconciliations, reporting, and balance sheet integrity
  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis relating to labour and workforce costs
  • Strengthen payroll processes, accuracy and service outcomes in a highvolume, timecritical environment
  • Drive alignment, consistency and continuous improvement across statebased payroll operations
  • Lead payroll related audit activities and projects
  • Identify and mitigate payroll and compliance risks
  • Lead, develop, and retain a highperforming national payroll team
  • Foster a culture of service excellence, continuous improvement, and professional integrity

What You'll Bring

  • Tertiary qualification in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources or a related discipline
  • Extensive senior payroll leadership experience in large, complex, multisite organisations (preferably in mining, resources or heavy industry)
  • Strong working knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, industrial instruments, tax, superannuation, and leave obligations
  • Proven experience leading payroll within an ERP environment (e.g. SAP, Workday or Oracle)
  • Demonstrated capability in people leadership, process improvement and change delivery
  • Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills
  • Ability to remain calm, decisive and solutionsfocused under critical payroll timeframes

Why Whitehaven?

  • Opportunity to lead a critical national function within a growing ASXlisted organisation
  • Strong executive support and clear mandate to drive improvement and consistency
  • Attractive remuneration, performance incentives and longterm career opportunity

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