Join Islands Petroleum as our Payroll Accountant

Islands Petroleum is seeking an experienced and technically strong Payroll Accountant to take ownership of key accounting, reconciliation, taxation and control activities supporting our end-to-end payroll function.

This is not simply a payroll processing role. We are looking for an accounting professional who understands the financial disciplines behind payroll - someone who can reconcile payroll accounts, validate tax calculations, establish robust working templates, maintain audit schedules, investigate variances and strengthen payroll controls.

The successful candidate will help ensure that payroll is accurate, compliant, fully reconciled and audit-ready, while partnering closely with Human Resources and Finance to continuously improve payroll processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing and supporting the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time
• Performing detailed payroll reconciliations, including reconciliation of payroll control accounts, deductions, benefits, taxes and other payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
• Preparing, reviewing and validating employee income tax calculations, statutory deductions and other payroll taxation requirements.
• Assisting with the preparation and submission of group tax reports, statutory returns and related payments.
• Preparing payroll journals and working closely with Finance to ensure payroll costs and liabilities are correctly recorded in the general ledger.
• Investigating payroll and accounting variances and ensuring reconciling items are appropriately supported, corrected and cleared.
• Developing and maintaining standard payroll reconciliation templates, calculation workbooks, control checklists and supporting schedules to improve consistency and accuracy.
• Establishing and maintaining comprehensive monthly, year-end and audit schedules with appropriate supporting documentation and clear audit trails.
• Conducting routine internal payroll audits, identifying control weaknesses and implementing corrective and preventative actions.
• Ensuring payroll transactions, employee records and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, securely maintained and readily available for audit.
• Producing accurate payroll reports, reconciliations and financial information for management, HR and Finance.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives aimed at improving payroll efficiency, financial controls, accuracy and productivity.
• Providing technical guidance, coaching and support to junior payroll team members.

Technical & Accounting Requirements:

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong capability in:

Payroll accounting and reconciliation;

• Payroll control and balance sheet account reconciliations.
• General ledger reconciliation and variance analysis.
• Payroll preparation, balancing and internal controls.
• Payroll journals, accruals and liability management.

Taxation and statutory compliance;

• Payroll income tax calculations.
• Preparation and reconciliation of payroll taxes and statutory deductions.
• Tax reporting and payment processes.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance requirements.

Audit and financial controls;

• Preparation of detailed audit schedules and supporting working papers.
• Internal payroll auditing and control testing.
• Investigation and resolution of discrepancies.
• Maintaining clear, accurate and traceable supporting documentation

Systems and analytical capability;

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to develop structured reconciliation templates and analytical workbooks.
• Experience using integrated payroll or ERP systems
• Knowledge of Pronto would be highly regarded.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving capability.

Qualification & Experience:

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, or a related discipline such as Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Statistics or Actuarial Science.
• At least 5 years' experience in payroll accounting, payroll administration or a closely related accounting role.
• Experience supporting payroll in a large and complex organisation, preferably involving more than 1,000 employees.
• Demonstrated experience performing payroll and account reconciliations.
• Exposure to auditing, financial controls and compliance activities.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and resolve complex payroll discrepancies.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with HR, Finance, management and external stakeholders.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional accountability.

The Candidate We Are Looking For:

You are likely to be an accountant who has developed strong payroll expertise, rather than someone whose experience has been limited to transactional payroll processing.

You will be comfortable moving between payroll calculations, Excel workbooks, reconciliations, tax calculations, general ledger accounts, audit schedules and payroll systems. Most importantly, you will have the discipline to ensure that every payroll cycle can be properly reconciled, explained and supported.

If you have a strong accounting foundation, enjoy solving reconciliation issues and want the opportunity to strengthen payroll controls and processes across a large organisation, we would like to hear from you.

What are the benefits for working with Islands Petroleum?

• Opportunity to work with a market leader within the Petroleum sector in PNG.
• Be part of a diverse, dynamic, cross-cultural setting, contributing significantly to our company's success.
• Join a company that values its employees and recognizes their contribution.
• Competitive remuneration and employee benefits
• Opportunities for career growth, learning, and development
• A culture built on teamwork, integrity, and accountability
• The opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the business and community.

At Islands Petroleum, we don't just offer jobs, we provide opportunities to build rewarding careers and be part of a team that drives success together.

TO APPLY:

This position offers a leading salary and benefits package, if you are interested in this exciting and challenging opportunity, please click on the link below to apply:

Payroll Accountant

To Apply

To apply, email your CV and other relevant documentation to [email protected]. Please include the Job ID "#28530" in the email's subject to ensure your application is processed.