Advisor, Payroll

Advisor, Payroll

At the Civil Aviation Authority, we don’t just keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure, we help shape the future of aviation.

• Help deliver accurate payroll services across the organisation
• Build expertise in payroll legislation and compliance
• Join a collaborative team supporting people across CAA

About the Role

As Advisor, Payroll, you'll play an important role in ensuring our people are paid accurately and on time. Working closely with the Manager, Payroll, the wider payroll team, People and Capability, and staff across CAA, you'll provide trusted payroll administration and advice while helping maintain compliance with payroll legislation and employment agreements. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys detail-oriented work, building strong relationships, and contributing to continuous improvement in a supportive team environment.

Please note this is a fixed term contract till February 2027.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll administration and processing services
• Interpret and apply employment agreements and payroll legislation
• Maintain payroll records and employee information with a high level of accuracy
• Process employee commencements, changes, and terminations efficiently
• Validate payroll data and resolve discrepancies before pay runs
• Process employee expense claims and payroll variations
• Provide responsive payroll advice and support to managers and staff
• Liaise with external agencies including Inland Revenue and ACC as required
• Support payroll-related projects and business improvement initiatives
• Contribute to payroll compliance, quality assurance, and process enhancements

Salary Section

The salary band for this role is $65,340 - $79,560. Starting salaries are based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

For more information on the role please view the position description.

What You'll Bring

You'll be someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where accuracy, customer service, and continuous improvement matter. You'll bring strong organisational skills, a proactive approach, and the ability to build positive working relationships while managing confidential information with care and professionalism.

To succeed in this role you'll demonstrate:

• Experience in payroll administration or a similar operational support role
• Understanding of payroll legislation and employment-related requirements
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, agreements, and payroll rules accurately
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work
• Confidence working with payroll systems and business software applications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet regular deadlines
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to resolving issues
• Commitment to providing outstanding customer service to internal stakeholders
• Enthusiasm for learning, adapting to change, and contributing to continuous improvement

About Us

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is New Zealand’s aviation safety and security regulator. We play a critical role in protecting the travelling public, supporting the aviation sector, and strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation.

Our vision is simple and powerful: A safe and secure aviation system – so people are safe, and feel safe when they fly.

Our values — Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration — guide everything we do. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone feels respected, safe, and valued. Our people are central to our success.

Why Join Us?

• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Vision assistance
• Flu vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Ready to Apply?

If you're looking for an opportunity to build your payroll career while contributing to an organisation with a meaningful public purpose, we'd love to hear from you. Join a team that values accuracy, collaboration, and continuous improvement while helping support the people who keep New Zealand's aviation system safe and secure.

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submitting your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience aligns with the requirements of this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz.

Applications close: Sunday 13/09/2026

Please be aware that we may start shortlisting as applications come in. We encourage early applications, as the advertisement may close sooner than stated.