Job Description

Department of Personnel Management

Designation : Team Leader-Health Sector Payroll Support (Code- DPM 14-14)

Job Description / Responsibilities:

1. IDENTIFICATION

AGENCY:

Department of Personnel Management

SYSTEM POSITION# (10-Digits):

 

REF#:

DPM14-14

OFFICE:

Office of the Public Service HR/Payroll Services

DESIGNATION/CLASSIFICATION:

Team Leader/Grade 14

DIVISION:

HR/Payroll System Governance & Training

LOCAL DESIGNATION:

Team Leader - Health Sector Payroll Support Team

BRANCH:

HR/Payroll System Governance & Oversight

REPORTING TO:

Manager

SYS POS# (10-Digits):

 

REF#:

DPM14-09

SECTION:

Health Sector Payroll Support Team

LOCATION:

Central Government Office, Level 3, Waigani, NCD
       

HISTORY OF POSITION

 

 

FILE REFERENCE

DATE OF VARIATION

DETAILS

AGENCY REFERENCE/FILE NO:

Structure Approved Date:

27th March 2025

2. PURPOSE:

To provide leadership and oversight to the Payroll Support Team in conducting detailed fortnightly scrutiny of payroll transactions across government agencies to ensure compliance with approved personnel emoluments thresholds. The position ensures that agency fortnightly expenditures remain within approved limits and drives prudent payroll management practices. This contributes to strengthened payroll governance, fiscal control, and overall public sector accountability.

3. DIMENSIONS:

Financial Scope: Oversight of total fortnightly payroll expenditure valued in billions of Kina across all National Departments, Provincial Administrations, Statutory Bodies, and other funded government institutions.

Staff Supervision: Directly supervise 3 Payroll Officers/Analysts.

Reporting: Provides fortnightly threshold performance reports to the Management and relevant oversight bodies on the specific Sector Agencies assigned to the Payroll Support Team.

Systems: Uses the Ascender Pay Integrated HR/Payroll System and related digital tools for monitoring and analysis.

4. PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  1. Ensure all government-funded agencies remain within their approved fortnightly payroll expenditure thresholds.
  2. Identify and report anomalies, overspends, and non-compliance issues in personnel emoluments.
  3. Provide real-time payroll monitoring updates to inform executive decisions.
  4. Strengthen payroll transparency and accountability across the public service.
  5. Support enforcement of corrective measures to maintain payroll integrity.

5. MAJOR DUTIES:

The position will be responsible for:

  1. Leading the Payroll Support Team in the execution of fortnightly payroll reviews for all agencies.
  2. Monitoring agency-level payroll expenditures to ensure they align with pre-approved agency-specific fortnightly threshold amounts.
  3. Detecting variances or anomalies in payroll data and coordinating prompt action to address non-compliance.
  4. Providing accurate and timely reports on fortnightly payroll performance for management and decision-makers.
  5. Supporting the escalation of identified irregularities to the Manager – Payroll Monitoring for further investigation or intervention.
  6. Liaising with agency payroll focal points to verify transactions, clarify anomalies, and reinforce compliance measures.
  7. Maintaining payroll audit trails and data tracking systems for accountability and reference.
  8. Facilitating the capacity building of team members to enhance payroll monitoring competencies.
  9. Contributing to the continuous improvement of payroll compliance frameworks, tools, and standard operating procedures.
  10. Upholding strict confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism in managing sensitive payroll information.

6. NATURE AND SCOPE:

The role is situated within the Public Service Payroll Office under the Department of Personnel Management. It reports directly to the Executive Manager - HR/Payroll System Governance & Training, and works closely with other units including Payroll Processing, Systems Administration, and Agency Liaison.

The position is central to enforcing fiscal controls on payroll spending and promoting accountability across public sector agencies.

6.1 Working Relationship:

(a) Internal:

  • Manager - HR/Payroll System Governance & Oversight
  • Other Branches in the Payroll Division
  • ICT/System Support Teams
  • Public Service Payroll Office

(b) External:

  • Payroll focal points in Government Agencies
  • Department of Finance - Budget and Treasury Division
  • Department of Treasury - Expenditure Review Units
  • Auditor General’s Office (when required)
  • OSPEAC

6.2 Work Environment:

The position is administrative and analytical in nature, with specialist responsibilities in payroll oversight and financial compliance. The job requires technical acumen with digital payroll systems and financial reporting tools. Most duties are carried out in an office environment using data systems and analytical platforms.

7. CONSTRAINTS FRAMEWORK AND BOUNDARIES:

Rules/Procedures:

  • Public Services General Orders (4th Edition)
  • Public Finance Management Act (PFMA)
  • Public Service Management Act
  • Government Payroll Guidelines
  • NEC Decisions and Department Circulars

Decision:

  • Authority to flag and report agencies in breach of expenditure thresholds
  • Authority to recommend remedial action and engage agencies in compliance efforts

Recommendations:

  • Recommend withholding of overpayments or reversal actions
  • Recommend changes in threshold levels based on structural shifts (e.g., mergers, policy reforms).

8. CHALLENGES:

The biggest challenge is managing real-time payroll monitoring across a complex and decentralized public service structure, where data quality issues and last-minute changes can affect threshold accuracy. Coordinating with under-resourced or non-compliant agencies while maintaining data integrity under time-sensitive constraints adds to the difficulty of the role.

9. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Business Management or a related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in payroll operations, public financial management, or HR/payroll systems in a public sector environment.
  • Demonstrated experience in compliance monitoring, expenditure tracking or audit functions.

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Strong knowledge of payroll systems, preferably Ascender Pay IHRP or similar platforms.
  • Excellent analytical, numerical and investigative skills.
  • Understanding of government budgeting and personnel emoluments framework.
  • High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting tools.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to manage and lead a small technical team.

Personal Attributes:

  • High level of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct.
  • Results-oriented with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
  • Team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

Job Type:

Full Time

Language Requirements:

English

Salary(per annum):

K46696.00

Job Location:

Waigani

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