Payroll Consultant

Cole School Experts is the leading provider of payroll, accounting and consultancy services to Independent Schools across Australia and New Zealand. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for an experienced Payroll Consultant to join our specialist team.

If you love the education sector, enjoy diving into complex payroll structures, and want to use your expertise across multiple schools and systems — this role offers variety, challenge and impact.

About the Role

As a Payroll Consultant, you will provide expert payroll services, system reviews, and compliance support to our school clients. This role combines technical payroll work, investigative process review, client advisory services, and project-based work.

You’ll work closely with our Software and Consultancy Manager, Payroll team, clients and service providers to deliver high-quality support and strategic solutions.

Primary Purpose

In this role, you will:

1. Conduct full Payroll Health Checks for schools, including process, setup and compliance reviews.
2. Provide payroll specialist services for client payroll projects as required.
3. Complete rectification work arising from Payroll Health Checks, including backpay calculations.
4. Assist Payroll Specialists with complex calculations (terminations, leave and other provisions).
5. Deliver training and support to Payroll Specialists as requested.
6. Provide strategic and commercial payroll advice to clients.
7. Develop, implement or maintain financial controls and processes for clients.
8. Maintain professional certification as required.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for:

1. Interpreting multiple Awards/Enterprise Agreements and current statutory legislation.
2. Investigating and reporting on client payroll processes, system setup and compliance.
3. Preparing reports and recommendations arising from Health Checks.
4. Actioning remediation and recommendations as required.
5. Delivering project work, including implementation of outsourced HR and Payroll software.
6. Working with vendors to ensure quality, compliance and system testing.
7. Collaborating with leadership to plan client work, project objectives and outcomes.

Objectives of the Role

As an important part of the Cole team, you will:

1. Build strong relationships with colleagues and leadership to support business operations.
2. Demonstrate professionalism with clients — be attentive, reliable and committed to understanding their needs.
3. Expand your knowledge, contribute to team discussions and support a collaborative, inclusive culture.
4. Bring innovation, ideas and continuous improvement to your work.
5. Embody what makes Cole distinctive: our people are our specialists.
6. “Together we are awesome.”

What You’ll Bring

1. Strong experience in school payroll (essential).
2. Understanding of financial controls, payroll compliance and Award/EBA interpretation.
3. Confidence reviewing systems, identifying issues and recommending solutions.
4. High-level organisation and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
5. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
6. A collaborative mindset and willingness to support others.

Other Requirements

You may be required to visit schools onsite. Applicants must be able to obtain:

1. National Police Check
2. Working With Children Check

Why Join Cole?

1. Work with a highly skilled team of specialists
2. Flexible and supportive environment
3. Professional development encouraged
4. Diverse work across multiple schools and systems
5. A workplace that genuinely values people

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

1. Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role.