Payroll Officer

Australian Human Rights Commission; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 89,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney (NSW) seeks an experienced Payroll Officer. The role covers end-to-end payroll processing, employee inquiries, and payroll accounting for the organisation’s Enterprise Agreement and legislations.

Join a small People & Culture team, work on payroll compliance, reporting, and support to managers with a flexible, hybrid work arrangement and a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Detailed knowledge of a computerised payroll systems and associated applications.
• Experience in the processing of payroll and superannuation.
• Understanding of APS and HR legislation, Enterprise Agreement provisions, workforce policies.
• Excellent administration and coordination skills for fortnightly payroll cycles.
• Strong written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Process employee salary entitlements, allowances and superannuation in accordance with audit procedures.
• Process employee variations in the payroll system including commencements, terminations, allowances, leave requests, deductions and adjustments.
• Provide advice to employees and managers on salaries and allowances, leave, superannuation, conditions of service and other entitlements under the Enterprise Agreement and legislation.
• Confidentially maintain records within the payroll system and personnel files.
• Source information from Commonwealth agencies to meet legislative obligations.
• Ensure compliance with policies to meet audit requirements.
• Prepare payroll and related reports on fortnightly, month-end and ad hoc basis.
• Collate data for reporting purposes including APS Census and gender equality reporting.

Skills

Payroll processing

Public sector payroll

Attention to detail

Communication

Administration

Job description

Australian Human Rights Commission – Sydney NSW

The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is Australia’s national human rights institution, dedicated to fostering a society where human rights are upheld, protected, and celebrated. We envision an Australia where every individual is valued equally in dignity and rights.

Our mission involves promoting and safeguarding the human rights of all Australians by:

• Advising all levels of government and various public and private organisations.
• Strengthening laws, policies, and practices while providing accessible investigation and conciliation services.
• Engaging inclusively with civil society, communities, and the private sector.
• Raising awareness about human rights and offering educational resources.
• Collaborating with partners to cultivate a culture of respect for human rights across the nation.

People & Culture team is a small team that leads strategic programs and operational activities across the entire employee lifecycle. The team manages programs and provides expert advice across a range of people and culture activities including employee relations, talent attraction and selection, onboarding, talent management, learning and development, organisational development, remuneration and reporting and workforce planning.

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Officer to join our supportive and collaborative team. In this role, you will take ownership of the end to end payroll function, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll while providing high quality payroll advice and support to employees and managers.

This full-time, ongoing position / non ongoing position offers a competitive salary range of $88,834 - $96,829 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation.

We offer flexible, hybrid work options.

What You’ll Do:

• Process employee salary entitlements, allowances and superannuation in accordance with audit procedures.
• Process employee variations in the payroll system including commencements, terminations, allowances, leave requests, deductions and adjustments.
• Provide advice to employees and managers on salaries and allowances, leave, superannuation, conditions of service and other employment entitlements under the Commission’s Enterprise Agreement and other relevant legislations.
• Confidentially maintain records within the payroll system and personnel files in accordance with information management and privacy policies and procedures.
• Source information from relevant Commonwealth agencies, as required, to ensure legislative obligations are adhered to.
• Ensure compliance with all policies and procedures to meet internal and external audit requirements.
• Prepare payroll and associated reports on a fortnightly, month end and ad hoc basis as required.
• Support the collation of data for reporting purposes including APSED workforce profiling data, APS Census, workplace gender equality reporting, senate estimates, questions on notice and the Commissioner’s reports as required.

Eligibility

• Detailed knowledge of a computerised payroll systems and associated applications with experience in the processing of payroll and superannuation.
• Previous payroll experience within the Australian Public Service.
• Understanding of and ability to interpret and apply relevant APS and human resources legislation, Commissioner’s Directions, Enterprise Agreement provisions, workforce policies and guidelines.
• Excellent administration and coordination skills to ensure the accurate processing and completion of payroll activities on a fortnightly basis.
• Well-developed planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple activities whilst ensuring accuracy.
• Attention to detail in the preparation of documents and in responding to correspondence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and liaise with staff from diverse backgrounds.

Notes

We value inclusivity and diversity and seek people who support and model the behaviours we promote in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations Australians, mature workers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, culturally and marginalised communities, carers, LGBTIQA+ and people with disability.

Why Join Us?

By becoming a part of our team, you’ll play a vital role in influencing public conversations about human rights and making a meaningful impact. If you’re ready to use your skills to support a cause that matters, we want to hear from you!

Applications close:12 October 2026 5pm AEDT

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability.

The Commission is committed to providing an accessible, inclusive work environment to enable people with a disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment. Applicants are encouraged to request reasonable adjustment as required to assist your participation in this recruitment process.

Please note that this position may be filled on either an ongoing or non-ongoing basis. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant would be employed for an initial period of up to twelve months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the Commission where the duties are of a similar nature.

For more Information

Information about the role and Commission practices may be sought from Merle Mendonca via **************@humanrights.gov.au

Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS). An Agency Head may waive the requirement for citizenship prior to engaging an individual where it is appropriate to do so.