Accountant/Payroll Officer

FourQuarters Recruitment; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

2 days WFH after training

Job summary

Our client is a well-established national not-for-profit organisation based in Sydney's CBD. The Payroll Officer will own end-to-end payroll across the organisation, ensuring accurate payments and compliance with payroll tax and statutory obligations, with tight collaboration with the CFO and People & Culture team.

Alongside payroll, the role provides commercial analysis support to Finance, including management reporting, reconciliations and input into budgets and forecasts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in a payroll role.
• Experience across fortnightly and monthly pay cycles.
• Strong knowledge of superannuation, PAYG, STP, payroll tax and workers’ compensation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the wider MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for fortnightly and monthly cycles across multiple entities.
• Administer payroll system, maintain master data, pay rates, allowances and deductions.
• Serve as first point of contact for payroll and leave queries.
• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding related to payroll.
• Ensure payroll tax and STP reporting compliance and timely reconciliations.
• Support remuneration reviews with the CFO and People & Culture team.
• Maintain payroll records and respond to audit requests.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication

Excel

Payroll knowledge

Tools

Micropay

Job description

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Our client is a well-established, national not-for-profit organisation that represents and advocates for a major Australian industry. It works with a broad membership base of large and small businesses and professional service providers, and is known for its collaborative, values-driven culture.

My client is based conveniently in Sydney's CBD and can offer 2 days WFH once trained.

POSITION PURPOSE

This role owns end-to-end payroll across the organisation, ensuring every employee is paid accurately and on time, and that all payroll, tax and statutory obligations are met. The Payroll Officer is the first point of contact for payroll and leave matters and works closely with the CFO and the People & Culture team on remuneration, onboarding and compliance.

Alongside payroll, the role provides commercial analysis support to the Finance team, including management reporting, reconciliations and input into budgets and forecasts. The position also contributes to continuous improvement by strengthening payroll and finance processes, systems and documentation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll (primary focus)

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for fortnightly and monthly pay cycles across multiple entities, ensuring all payments are accurate and delivered on time.
• Administer the payroll and leave management system, maintaining accurate employee master data, pay rates, allowances and deductions.
• Act as the first point of contact for payroll and leave queries, providing clear, timely guidance to employees and managers.
• Coordinate payroll-related onboarding and offboarding, including system set-up, employee documentation and final pay calculations.
• Manage statutory payroll obligations, including superannuation, PAYG withholding, Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, payroll tax and workers’ compensation.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, leave accrual calculations and payroll journal postings each pay cycle and at month-end.
• Support the CFO with the annual remuneration review and incentive payment processes, working in conjunction with the People & Culture team.
• Liaise with the external payroll provider and relevant regulatory bodies to resolve issues and meet compliance deadlines.
• Maintain complete payroll records and ensure compliance with internal controls, legislative requirements and audit needs, including supporting payroll audit requests.

Accounts Support

• Assist with monthly management reporting, including variance analysis and commentary.
• Prepare month-end accruals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support business units with budgets, rolling forecasts and the annual budget process.
• Prepare ad hoc reports as required and support the internal and external audit process.

ABOUT YOU

Experience and qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in a payroll role, ideally managing end-to-end payroll across multiple pay cycles or entities.
• Strong working knowledge of superannuation, PAYG, STP, payroll tax and workers’ compensation obligations.
• Experience with Micropay or a similar payroll system.
• Exposure to management accounting, reconciliations or financial reporting would be highly regarded.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the wider Microsoft suite.

Skills and attributes

• High attention to detail, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A patient, positive and customer-focused approach to employee queries.
• Excellent communication skills, adapting style and message to the audience.
• Strong planning, prioritisation and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive, can-do attitude and a genuine team player.
• Discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information.