HRIS and Payroll Advisor

• Looking for your next challenge to provide excellent HRIS and payroll services in a diverse organisation.
• Join a friendly and supportive team environment!
• Great location - only minutes from Wellington Railway Station
• The ability to work from home two days per week + 3 extra Customs' service leave days

We’re looking for a passionate and experienced HRIS and payroll professional to join our team as HRIS and Payroll Advisor. If you thrive in a complex environment and have a passion for anything payroll, we would love to hear from you! This is a permanent full-time role based in our Wellington Customhouse.

About this role…

Reporting directly to the Team Leader HRIS Payroll and Reporting, you will be responsible for end-to-end payroll processing and maintaining the payroll data. In addition, you will be ensuring timesheets are processed accurately and in a timely manner. This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver payroll services in a complex rostered environment, with a team who take pride in providing great support and advice on payroll matters to the business.

To be successful as HRIS and Payroll Advisor, we’d expect you to have…

• 2+ years’ experience of computerised payroll processing (preferably PayGlobal) and knowledge of best practice payroll processes and operations.
• Experience in providing HRIS advice and support to managers, and an awareness of how their role contributes to an organisation achieving its outcomes.
• Ability to apply relevant legislation and organisational policy e.g Holidays Act, Income Tax Act, and ACC.
• Ability to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships with key stakeholders and managers.
• Good organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills including the ability to identify problems, mitigate risks and implement innovative solutions.
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills.
• Intermediate level experience with Excel and Word.

Working at Customs…

We aim to create a great place to work, where our people have a sense of belonging and the capability and desire to meet our future challenges.  We are an organisation that is clear about our mission, and this is underpinned by Te Pou Tokomanawa (the Foundations) and our Whanonga Pono (Values). Our work really matters to the safety and success of New Zealand.

As an employer, NZ Customs is committed to providing an enjoyable and challenging work environment with a focus on personal development.

We care about well-being, personal growth, and job satisfaction, which is supported through: 

• offering on-the-job training and career development.
• understand that everyone has a voice and every voice counts.
• fostering inclusive and supportive team environment with vibrant social and cultural groups.
• supporting flexible working - talk to us about how we can help you achieve your flexible working goals, within our operational requirements.
• care about people’s wellbeing.
• providing discounted health insurance, and free on-site gyms (in some locations).
• Three days of service holidays, in addition to four weeks of annual leave.

How to apply…

To join Customs in any role you must be a New Zealand citizen or NZ permanent resident. *

* This means:

• a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in NZ at time of application; OR
• a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in NZ at the time of application. You may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of six or more months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA. You will be required to provide overseas police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.

You must have a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service towards a recommendation of suitability for security clearance at a higher level. Due to the nature of Customs work, you must have a clear Police record.  The successful applicant will also be required to pass a drug test as well as being subject to random, ongoing drug tests during their period of employment with Customs.  (These requirements apply to all successful applicants for roles at Customs and Customs employees.)

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your skills and experience, via our online process. If you have any specific questions about the role, please contact Suzanne Leahy (Senior Recruitment Advisor) at [email protected]

Applications close at 11pm, Monday 16 February 2026.

We encourage you to apply early for this position as we will be assessing applications as they are received and potentially interviewing earlier than the closing date.

Please note Customs will be managing this recruitment independently in-house and will not be engaging with recruitment agencies at this stage.

Please apply directly online as we do not accept applications sent to email addresses.

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand and is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role. We also offer flexible working arrangements.