Payroll Officer
Commencing October 2026
Permanent Part-Time | 22 Hours Per Week
Work your hours across 3-4 days to suit your lifestyle
Peace Lutheran College is seeking an experienced Payroll Officer to join our supportive Administration Team in beautiful Cairns.
This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional looking for meaningful work, flexibility, and a positive workplace culture within a well-established Kindergarten to Year 12 school community.
Why Join Us?
- Flexible work arrangement: Work across 3-4 days. (Monday and Friday plus 1-2 other days that suit you).
- Permanent part time position
- Supportive and collaborative environment
- Competitive part time salary
- 12.75% Superannuation Contributions
- 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
- Employee Assistance Program
- Values and purpose driven workplace
About the Role
Reporting to the Business Manager, the Payroll Officer is solely responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for more than 100 employees and providing payroll-related support and advice to staff and management.
Working closely with the Administration and Leadership Teams, you will ensure payroll compliance, maintain employee records, assist with HR administration, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Key responsibilities include:
- End-to-end payroll processing
- Award and Enterprise Agreement interpretation
- Managing payroll compliance and reporting requirements
- Maintaining employee records and payroll documentation
- Generalist HR administration processes - contract writing, onboarding.
- Responding to payroll enquiries with professionalism and discretion
A Role Description is available for viewing.
About You
You are a payroll professional who enjoys working accurately, building positive relationships, and providing excellent service to employees. You take pride in getting the details right, maintain confidentiality at all times, and are confident navigating complex payroll scenarios.
To be successful, you will bring:
- Minimum two years' payroll processing experience
- Knowledge of Australian payroll legislation and compliance requirements
- Experience interpreting Awards and Enterprise Agreements
- Strong numerical aptitude with the ability to quickly identify payroll discrepancies, investigate variances and perform accurate calculations.
- Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
- Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Effective time management skills with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines.
- High levels of professionalism, integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills and experience using payroll and HR systems.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide support and advice to employees at all levels.
- A current Blue Card (Working with Children Check) or the ability to obtain one.
Experience within education, not-for-profit organisations, or complex multi-award environments will be highly regarded.
About Peace
Peace Lutheran College (Peace) is a co-educational Kindergarten to Year 12 day and boarding school located in beautiful Cairns in tropical North Queensland. The College provides an inclusive, multi-cultural educational environment where excellence is pursued, relationships are valued and where Christ is central. We value Integrity, Excellence, Honour and Empathy by nurturing grace, harmony, and high aspirations, and by showing respect for all through the building of positive relationships.
Apply Now
To apply for this position visit our dedicated careers page.
Applications, including a cover letter, resume and the names of two current referees, close at 4.00pm Friday 9 October 2026.
The College reserves the right to fill the position early by invitation or appointment, make an interim arrangement, extend the application date, or to re-advertise the position.
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