Senior HRIS and Payroll Specialist

We’re looking for a passionate and skilled HRIS and payroll professional to join our team as Senior HRIS and Payroll Specialist. If you thrive in a complex environment and have a passion for anything payroll, systems and data, we want you on our team! 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 combining the work of payroll services and system support, as well as helping the team in the capturing the management of data. 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.

• Strong experience in an HRIS / Payroll processing position.
• Previous experience in PayGlobal is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in providing advice and support to managers, and an awareness of how their role contributes to an organisation achieving its outcomes.
• Ability to apply relevant organisational policy and New Zealand legislation, e.g. Holidays Act , Income tax Act, ACC and ensuring Customs payroll practices are consistent with best practice and relevant human resource policies.
• The ability to extract and analyse data and present in high quality, user friendly written reports.
• Some experience in back‑end system support, or the desire to learn.
• Experience to at least an intermediate level 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.

The salary range for this role is paying between $82,000 – $95,000 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role .

We Care About Well‑being, Personal Growth, and Job Satisfaction

• 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

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 .

Applications close at 11 pm, Tuesday 25 November 2025.

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 We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role. We also offer flexible working arrangements.

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