APS4 Payroll Officer

HorizonOne Recruitment; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 98,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

HorizonOne Recruitment is collaborating with a Canberra-based Australian Government agency to fill a Payroll Officer role. The position supports payroll operations through an outsourced service delivery model, ensuring accurate transactions and timely staff advice.

You will contribute to reporting, compliance and audit work, liaise with an external payroll provider, and help improve payroll processes in a precision-focused, service-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Payroll experience or exposure to HR/payroll processes.
• Experience with payroll systems and data handling.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in payroll outputs.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and queries effectively.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new processes.

Responsibilities

• Process payroll transactions accurately within required timeframes.
• Provide employees with timely, accurate payroll advice and resolve queries.
• Support payroll reporting, compliance and audit requirements.
• Liaise with the outsourced payroll provider on transactional matters.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of payroll processes and procedures.

Skills

Payroll processes

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Administrative skills

Learning agility

Communication

Tools

Aurion

Job description

This Australian Government agency delivers payroll services to its workforce through an outsourced service delivery model.

You’ll join a team works closely with an external provider to ensure accurate, compliant and timely outcomes for employees.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity for an experienced Payroll Officer who enjoys working in a collaborative environment and takes pride in accuracy, service and strong stakeholder support.

You’ll play a key role in supporting payroll operations through an outsourced model, ensuring transactions are processed correctly and employees receive timely, accurate advice, with a strong focus on payroll reporting, compliance and audit support.

You’ll have an opportunity to:

• Build on your payroll experience within a structured, supportive APS environment
• Have variety and development, with exposure to reporting, compliance and audit work
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and an external payroll provider, rather than in isolation
• Contribute ideas to the continuous improvement of payroll processes
• Join a team that values precision, professionalism and getting the detail right

The Role

You’ll manage day-to-day payroll transactions and support the broader payroll function under an outsourced service delivery model.

Your responsibilities include:

• Processing payroll transactions accurately and within required timeframes.
• Providing employees with timely, accurate payroll advice and resolve queries.
• Supporting payroll reporting, compliance and audit requirements.
• Liaising with the outsourced payroll provider on transactional matters.
• Contributing to continuous improvement of payroll processes and procedures

The Ideal Person

You’re a capable and motivated payroll professional who takes pride in accuracy and delivering the right outcome for employees.

With a calm, adaptable approach, you’re comfortable managing competing priorities and navigating complexity when required, and you’re keen to keep building your payroll expertise in a forward-thinking, supportive environment.

You will bring the following skills and experience:

• Payroll experience or exposure to HR/payroll processes
• Experience working with Aurion (essential)
• Solid Microsoft Office skills
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate outcomes
• Confidence engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, internal and external
• A strong aptitude and willingness to learn, with good administrative skills

Salary / Rate

• $50/hr – $60/hr + Super
• Initial 6-month labour hire contract
• Based in Canberra, with hybrid working available.

HorizonOne is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and we encourage applications from people of all cultures, capabilities and backgrounds.