Comparison Guide

Affinity vs Payroll Metrics – comparing AU/NZ enterprise payroll platforms

For: Payroll Managers, HR Leaders, IT Decision-Makers|10 min read|Last updated: July 2026

This comparison is published by Affinity. Competitor information is based on publicly available sources. Contact each provider directly for their current capabilities.

Summary

Affinity and Payroll Metrics are both independently owned platforms serving Australian and New Zealand organisations, and both pair payroll with integrated workforce management and advanced rostering. Payroll Metrics is a local Australian vendor with a strong security and privacy posture and AU-based support. Affinity is an AU/NZ payroll specialist with 40+ years of local payroll innovation, a built-in intelligence layer, and three flexible delivery models. Both are ISO 27001 certified. This comparison helps you evaluate which fits your needs.

Why organisations compare Affinity and Payroll Metrics

If you are running payroll for a mid-to-large organisation and want an integrated payroll and rostering platform from an independent local vendor, Affinity and Payroll Metrics are likely both on your shortlist, and for good reason. Both are built for the Australian and New Zealand markets, both handle multiple awards and enterprise agreements, and both combine payroll with timesheets, workforce management, and rostering. The difference is in scale, NZ compliance depth, delivery-model breadth, and the intelligence layer.

Payroll Metrics is an independent Australian software vendor, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Oakleigh, Victoria. Its all-in-one platform integrates payroll, timesheets, workforce management, and advanced rostering for AU and NZ employers, supporting multiple awards and EBAs via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters, with STP and SuperStream through an accredited gateway. It holds a strong set of certifications, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701:2019, and ISO 9001:2015, is hosted in a Microsoft Azure Tier 1 Australian data centre with geo-redundancy, and runs AU-based support and development teams. For organisations that value an integrated platform from a focused local vendor with a strong security and privacy posture, Payroll Metrics is a genuine option.

Affinity is a payroll specialist, and independently owned in Australia and New Zealand. Payroll technology, payroll services, and payroll support: that is the entire business. With 40+ years of AU/NZ payroll innovation, 10+ industry firsts, and 500,000+ employees processed, Affinity brings scale and a long track record across both sides of the Tasman, backed by NZPPA-trained payroll managers.

Operating model and support

Both are independent local vendors, which is a genuine shared strength. The differences are scale, delivery-model flexibility, and NZ compliance depth.

Affinity

Payroll specialist: enterprise AU/NZ payroll is the entire business
Independently owned in Australia and New Zealand
40+ years of AU/NZ payroll innovation, 10+ industry firsts
500,000+ employees processed
Three delivery models on one platform, one team, one AU/NZ database
ISO 27001 certified, NZPPA-trained payroll managers

Payroll Metrics

Independent Australian vendor, founded 2013, HQ Oakleigh, Victoria
All-in-one payroll, timesheets, workforce management and advanced rostering
Multiple awards and EBAs via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters
STP and SuperStream via an accredited gateway
ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701:2019, ISO 9001:2015 certified
Microsoft Azure Tier 1 Australian data centre; AU-based support and development

Why this matters: both vendors are local independents, so the choice is not about global ownership here. It is about depth and breadth. Affinity brings 40+ years and 500,000+ employees of scale, purpose-built NZ Holidays Act compliance, a pre-payslip intelligence layer, and three delivery models on one platform and one AU/NZ database. Payroll Metrics brings a strong integrated platform, advanced rostering, and a notably comprehensive security and privacy certification posture. Same platform, same database, same accountable AU/NZ vendor regardless of which delivery model you choose.

Feature comparison

The table below reflects publicly available information. Where Payroll Metrics' capabilities are drawn from their website and publicly available material rather than direct testing, that is noted. For definitive information on Payroll Metrics' current feature set, contact Payroll Metrics directly.

Feature	Affinity	Payroll Metrics
Core payroll processing	Enterprise-grade cloud payroll with configurable functionality for complex AU/NZ scenarios	Integrated AU/NZ payroll within an all-in-one platform
Award / pay rule interpretation	Configurable engine handling complex modern awards (AU) and pay rules (NZ) across EBAs	Multiple awards and EBAs supported via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters – a recognised strength
NZ Holidays Act compliance	Purpose-built NZ Holidays Act support with configurable leave calculations and compliance checking	Supports NZ tax obligations and workplaces. Confirm Holidays Act depth directly
Intelligence / anomaly detection	Payroll IQ – automated anomaly detection, variance checking, pre-payslip risk flagging	Compliance automation and reporting available. Confirm whether a pre-payslip anomaly detection layer is offered
Workforce management / rostering	Integrated workforce management with real-time labour costing across up to 12 cost elements	Integrated timesheets, workforce management, and advanced rostering – a recognised strength
Reporting and analytics	200+ standard reports, SQL reporting database, Power BI integration, report scheduling	Reporting and compliance analytics available
Employee self-service	Self-service dashboards for employees and managers with mobile app access	Employee self-service available
STP and superannuation	Full AU compliance – STP Phase 2, modern award interpretation, superannuation	STP and SuperStream via an accredited gateway
Delivery models	Three models – SaaS, Supported, and Fully Managed – on one platform	SaaS platform; managed services may be available. Confirm directly
Security certification	ISO 27001 certified	ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701:2019, ISO 9001:2015; Azure Tier 1 AU data centre – a recognised strength
Scale and track record	40+ years AU/NZ payroll innovation, 10+ industry firsts, 500,000+ employees processed	Independent AU vendor, founded 2013; AU-based support and development

Where both platforms are strong, particularly integrated rostering, award handling, and independent local support, you should expect comparable outcomes. The differences become clearer around NZ Holidays Act depth, pre-payslip intelligence, delivery-model breadth, and scale.

Where Payroll Metrics excels

Payroll Metrics is genuinely strong in areas that Affinity does not compete in. Understanding these strengths matters because choosing the right provider depends on knowing what each one actually does well.

Advanced integrated rostering

Integrated timesheets, workforce management, and advanced rostering supporting multiple awards and EBAs via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters – a genuine, well-regarded strength of the platform.

Comprehensive security and privacy certification

A notably comprehensive certification set – ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701:2019, and ISO 9001:2015 – covering security and privacy management.

Azure Tier 1 Australian data centre

Hosted in a Microsoft Azure Tier 1 Australian data centre with geo-redundancy, backing a strong security and privacy posture.

Dedicated AU-based support and development

AU-based support and development teams, with the platform built and run entirely within Australia.

All-in-one integrated platform

Payroll, timesheets, workforce management, and rostering integrated within a single platform, which can reduce the number of connectors an organisation needs to manage.

Where Affinity excels

Affinity's advantages are specific to AU/NZ payroll depth – the areas where a specialist provider outperforms a smaller local one.

Deep AU/NZ award interpretation

Affinity's award interpretation engine handles complex modern awards, EBAs, shift penalties, and allowance stacking that define AU/NZ payroll. This is not a checkbox feature – it is the core product. For organisations with 10+ awards and complex pay conditions, the depth difference is significant.

Pre-payslip intelligence

Payroll IQ flags anomalies before the payslip runs – variance checking, unusual uplifts, missing allowances, award conditions that may not have applied correctly. It is purpose-built for AU/NZ award-specific scenarios rather than generic payroll variance.

Flexible delivery models

Three models on one platform: SaaS (self-managed), Supported (dedicated Affinity person alongside your team), and Fully Managed (Affinity runs payroll end to end). Same platform, same database, same team – move between models without reimplementation as your needs change.

Cross-Tasman coverage

One platform, one team for both AU and NZ payroll. Purpose-built engines for each jurisdiction – Modern Awards and STP in Australia, Holidays Act and KiwiSaver in New Zealand. Employees can move across the Tasman without changing platforms or providers.

Named local support

Named AU/NZ-based support contacts who know your configuration, your awards, and your pay run – not a global service desk routing your ticket offshore.

Scale and track record

40+ years of AU/NZ payroll innovation, 10+ industry firsts, and 500,000+ employees processed – a long track record across both sides of the Tasman, backed by NZPPA-trained payroll managers.

Who is each platform best for?

Choosing the wrong payroll platform is expensive in ways that go beyond licensing. A poor fit means reimplementation within a few years, compliance gaps during transition, and split accountability when something goes wrong.

Choose Affinity if you:

Want a dedicated AU/NZ payroll specialist with 40+ years of track record and 500,000+ employees of scale
Have significant New Zealand operations and need purpose-built Holidays Act depth
Need flexible delivery models and the ability to move between SaaS, Supported, and Fully Managed without changing platforms
Operate across both New Zealand and Australia and want one platform and one database for cross-Tasman payroll
Want a built-in intelligence layer, Payroll IQ, for automated variance detection before every pay run

Consider Payroll Metrics if you:

Want an all-in-one integrated platform with advanced rostering from an independent local Australian vendor
Place high priority on a comprehensive security and privacy posture (ISO 27001:2022 / 27701:2019 / 9001:2015)
Value an Australian Azure Tier 1 data centre with geo-redundancy
Want AU-based support and development teams
Operate primarily in Australia with integrated timesheets, workforce management, and rostering needs

Frequently asked questions

How do Affinity and Payroll Metrics compare on rostering and awards?

Both are strong. Payroll Metrics offers advanced integrated rostering and supports multiple awards and EBAs via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters. Affinity's configurable engine handles complex modern awards and EBAs with real-time labour costing across up to 12 cost elements. For award complexity and rostering, expect both to perform well and evaluate each against your specific requirements.

Which is better for New Zealand payroll?

Affinity provides purpose-built NZ Holidays Act support with configurable leave calculations and compliance checking, backed by 40+ years in the NZ market and NZPPA-trained payroll managers. Payroll Metrics supports NZ tax obligations and workplaces. Based on publicly available information, if you have significant NZ operations you should confirm the depth of Payroll Metrics' Holidays Act handling directly and compare it against Affinity's native NZ compliance.

How do the two compare on security certifications?

Both are strong here. Payroll Metrics holds a notably comprehensive set, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701:2019, and ISO 9001:2015, hosted in a Microsoft Azure Tier 1 Australian data centre with geo-redundancy. Affinity is ISO 27001 certified with data held in AU/NZ. If a broad, multi-standard certification posture is a priority, review Payroll Metrics' certifications in detail alongside Affinity's.

Can I switch between delivery models with Affinity?

Yes. Affinity offers SaaS, Supported, and Fully Managed from a single platform. You can move between models as your needs change without data migration, re-implementation, or switching vendors. Payroll Metrics offers an all-in-one SaaS platform; confirm directly whether it offers a comparable fully managed, end-to-end processing service.

What is Payroll IQ and does Payroll Metrics offer something similar?

Payroll IQ is Affinity's intelligence layer. It provides automated anomaly detection, variance checking, and pre-payslip risk flagging, explaining what changed and why before the pay run is finalised. Payroll Metrics provides compliance automation and reporting. Based on publicly available information, confirm directly whether Payroll Metrics offers an equivalent automated pre-payslip anomaly and variance detection layer.

Does Affinity handle both NZ and AU payroll?

Yes. Affinity handles full NZ and AU compliance from the same platform, including Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, and IRD payday filing in New Zealand, and STP Phase 2, modern awards, and superannuation in Australia. One database, one vendor, one set of compliance rules across both countries. Payroll Metrics supports both AU and NZ employers; evaluate the depth of its cross-Tasman NZ compliance for your needs.

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