To assess whether your business is ready for managed payroll, consider if your payroll processes are time-consuming or costly, if compliance has become challenging, or if your team lacks specialist expertise to keep pace with regulatory updates. Leaders can also review the volume and complexity of pay cycles, the frequency of errors, and the resources currently required for payroll. If these factors are impacting efficiency or exposing the business to risk, it may be the right time to explore managed payroll solutions.

Among the providers featured are both global firms with broad service coverage and local Australian specialists known for in-depth local knowledge. The guide will highlight options such as The Access Group ADP Australia, Aurion, Datacom Datapay, Employment Hero, helping leaders quickly compare providers that best match their business requirements.

1. The Access Group – Best for Australian businesses seeking managed payroll support for complex awards, EBAs, and a shift-based workforce
2. ADP Australia – Best for organisations requiring managed payroll with global requirements
3. Aurion – Best for government, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations seeking Australian-managed payroll expertise
4. Datacom Datapay – Best for large and enterprises seeking fully managed payroll with strong data security and service delivery
5. Employment Hero – Best for SMEs needing managed payroll with HR, payroll, and an employment platform

Disclaimer: Information is based on publicly available data as of June 2026 and is subject to change. Features, pricing, and capabilities should be verified directly with each vendor as offerings vary based on specific business requirements and configurations.

The Access Group is a trusted business partner with over 40 years of experience, serving more than 10,000 businesses across Australia. Our reputation is built on customer feedback, verified features, and in-depth industry research. We’re proud of our people and payroll software solutions. Our mission is to help businesses find the ideal solution from our portfolio that meets their unique needs and delivers the best business fit.

1. The Access Group – Best for complex awards, EBAs, and shift-based workforces

The Access Group delivers managed payroll services across Australia and New Zealand. Backed by over 40 years of experience, it supports organisations of all sizes and complexity, with flexible service models ranging from managed to fully managed payroll.
Its offering is part of a broader payroll and workforce management ecosystem, including tools such as Definitiv Evo for rostering, time and attendance, and award interpretation.

Key features and services:

• Australian-based payroll specialists focused on accuracy and timeliness
• STP Phase 2, PAYG, superannuation and Payday Super processing
• Modern Award and EBA interpretation for complex, multi-site workforces
• End-of-financial-year reconciliation and compliance reporting
• Data processing and storage in Australia for data sovereignty
• Scalable from single employee to 25,000+
• All in one workforce management and payroll solution - Definitiv Evo

Pricing: Pricing on request

Pros:

• Built for complex Modern Awards, EBAs, and multi-site workforces
• Flexible service model across managed and fully managed payroll
• Australian-based specialists with data stored onshore
• Scales from a single employee to 25,000

Cons:

• The greatest value for organisations with an award or EBA complexity.
• May be too advanced for very simple payroll needs.

Best suited for: Organisations of any size that want to hand over payroll, but still maintian control, particularly those managing complex Modern Awards, EBAs, or multi-site workforces.

2. ADP Australia – Best for organisations with global payroll requirements

ADP Australia provides global payroll services for organisations. It supports multinational businesses with complex, cross-border payroll requirements, delivering compliance and visibility across regions through localised payroll delivery models.

Key features and services:

• End-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries
• Global payroll compliance and regulatory support across jurisdictions
• Multi-jurisdiction reporting and workforce analytics
• Dedicated payroll service teams, depending on engagement scope and region
• Employee self-service functionality via ADP platforms (implementation dependent)
• Support for large-scale, distributed workforces

Pricing: Pricing on request

Pros:

• Strong global payroll capability across multiple jurisdictions
• Suitable for complex multinational workforce structures
• Scales effectively for large enterprise environments
• Standardised global payroll processes and compliance frameworks

Cons:

• Enterprise-focused offering may exceed the needs of smaller organisations
• Global capabilities may be unnecessary for single-country operations

Best suited for: Large and multinational organisations requiring payroll delivery across multiple countries and jurisdictions.

 3. Aurion – Best suited for government, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations 

Aurion provides managed payroll services designed for Australian organisations, widely used across government, education, and not-for-profit sectors, where payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, and structured workforce management are priorities.

Key features and services:

• Payroll processing and administration are supported through managed service arrangements
• Australian payroll compliance and legislative support
• Leave, entitlement, and payroll reconciliation management
• Payroll and employee information management capabilities
• Reporting aligned to public sector and regulated reporting requirements
• Employee and manager self-service functionality

Pricing: Pricing on request

Pros:

• Strong alignment with Australian public sector payroll requirements
• Experience supporting structured and highly regulated workforce environments
• Supports payroll and employee administration in compliance-heavy organisations
• Suitable for organisations with complex governance and reporting needs

Cons:

• Less suited to small businesses with simple payroll requirements
• May offer more structure than required for low-complexity payroll environments

Best suited for: Government, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations requiring structured Australian payroll and compliance-focused administration.

4. Datacom Datapay – Best for large and enterprises seeking fully managed payroll services, delivered by specialist teams

Datacom Datapay offers fully managed payroll services supported by dedicated payroll specialists who handle end-to-end payroll administration. It is designed for organisations that want to reduce internal payroll workload while maintaining strong governance, compliance, and operational control.

Key features and services:

• End-to-end payroll operations delivered as a managed service
• Dedicated payroll specialists supporting client payroll processing
• Payroll compliance and legislative requirements managed within service delivery
• Leave, entitlement, and payroll administration services
• Payroll reporting and reconciliation support
• Secure payroll operations with established governance controls

Pricing: Pricing on request

Pros:

• Payroll operations managed by dedicated specialist teams
• Strong focus on payroll accuracy, compliance, and governance
• Reduces internal payroll administration requirements
• Suitable for large and enterprise environments with complex payroll needs

Cons:

• Reduced direct internal control compared to in-house payroll processing
• Pricing is not publicly disclosed
• May require additional systems for broader workforce management or HR functions

Best suited for: Best for large and enterprises seeking fully managed payroll services, delivered by specialist teams.

5. Employment Hero – Best for SMEs needing managed payroll with HR, payroll, and an employment platform

Employment Hero provides managed payroll services delivered via a payroll platform that has integration to their HR solution. It is designed for SMEs and growing businesses that have payroll and workforce administration requirements.  

Key features and services:

• End-to-end managed payroll processing and pay run support
• ATO reporting and compliance, including STP and superannuation
• Leave, timesheet, and workforce data integration into payroll
• Employee and manager self-service functionality via platform portal
• Payroll reporting and visibility across the organisation

Pricing: Pricing on request

Pros:

• Managed payroll with optional HR, onboarding, and workforce management. 
• Reduced administrative workload for payroll.
• Suitable for SMEs and scaling businesses
• Strong employee and manager self-service capabilities
• Supports compliance, including STP and super reporting

Cons:

• Managed payroll service scope may vary depending on plan and configuration
• Less suited to highly complex enterprise award or EBA environments
• Platform depth and features depend on the selected tier

Best suited for: SMEs and growing businesses seeking managed payroll with HR, payroll and an employment platform. 

Managed payroll services are end-to-end solutions where specialist payroll providers takes responsibility for running payroll, including operations and compliance. This allows internal teams to focus on core business priorities while payroll experts manage each pay cycle.

How it compares

Payroll software: A tool or platform your team uses to run payroll in-house. It automates calculations and workflows, but your business retains full responsibility for accuracy, compliance, and exception resolution.

Managed payroll services: A service-led model where a provider runs payroll on your behalf. Responsibility shifts to the provider for processing, compliance and issue resolution, supported by payroll specialists.

In-house payroll: Payroll is managed fully by your internal team, across systems, staff and compliance. This requires dedicated resources, training and ongoing oversight.

Managed payroll service often includes:

• Gross-to-net pay calculations, including PAYG, superannuation, and leave entitlements
• Award and EBA interpretation
• Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 lodgements
• Payment processing and bank file generation
• End-of-financial-year reconciliation and rollover
• Payroll and compliance reporting
• Employee self-service support
• Payday Super processing (from July 2026)

Managed payroll services combine technology, compliance expertise and outsourced delivery. Choosing the right provider ensures you fully realise these benefits:

• Reduced payroll and compliance risk - stay aligned with Fair Work, ATO and STP Phase 2 requirements
• Greater efficiency and cost control - minimise manual work and ongoing admin overhead
• Improved accuracy and employee trust - reduce errors, underpayments and rework
• Scalability as your business grows - adapt to workforce changes, new locations and expansion
• Access to reporting and insights - gain visibility with payroll data and analytics

Use this checklist to evaluate and compare providers in Australia:

• Deep expertise in Australian payroll compliance and legislation 
• Robust payroll technology platforms and integrations 
• Local Australian payroll support and service teams 
• Transparent pricing models for managed payroll services 
• Industry‑specific payroll experience 
• Data security, certifications, and data sovereignty 

Knowing every pay run is accurate and compliant is worth more than ever. Put payroll in the hands of Australian specialists, so that your team can focus on work that matters.