19th February, 2025
Payroll Officer
Fulltime ongoing permanent
Our Region
Ingham is uniquely positioned just over an hour north of Townsville and approximately three hours south of Cairns and is within the tropical paradise of the Hinchinbrook Shire. With Ingham at its centre, the region is surrounded by rugged mountain ranges, giant waterfalls, the Great Barrier Reef, wild beaches and tropical islands. It’s a place where breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, world-class fishing experiences, delicious, locally sourced food, inspirational art and 60,000 years of culture are all weaved into one incredible story: The Hinchinbrook Way.
Our Council
Hinchinbrook Shire Council is proud to be one of the largest employers in the region, with a diverse team of around 200 people working across technical, administrative, operational, and senior management roles. We’re committed to creating a fair, flexible, and supportive workplace where our staff can thrive while enjoying the unique attractions and vibrant community life of Hinchinbrook. With benefits such as a nine-day fortnight for most roles, generous superannuation, and leave entitlements, we offer opportunities to grow your career while embracing the lifestyle you love. By joining us, you’ll be part of an organisation that values its people, promotes collaboration, and strives to make a lasting, positive impact on the Hinchinbrook community.
What Council Offers
- 72.5-hour fortnight with roster variations depending on the position (9-day fortnight - RDOs in accordance with Council policy)
- Up to 12.5% Superannuation employer contribution for contributing members
- 5 weeks annual leave plus 17.5% annual leave loading
- 15 days paid sick/parental leave
- Salary Packaging options
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officers
- Annual Flu vaccinations + Skin Checks
- Corporate Uniforms (annual allowance) and PPE supplied
The Opportunity Due to one of our valued team members transitioning to retirement, Council is excited to offer the opportunity for a new payroll officer to join the team and enjoy the unique opportunity of being provided training and support while working alongside our outgoing employee. The primary responsibilities of this position are to assist the Senior Payroll Officer in efficiently processing Council’s fortnightly payroll and associated functions and ensuring compliance with relevant award/s and/or agreements, company policies and in line with legislation and regulation requirements. This role also works closely with the Human Resource team.
Key Responsibilities - Complete the end-to-end processing of the fortnightly payroll for approximately 200 employees;
- Ensure payroll transactions are processed in a timely and accurate manner;
- Maintain accurate payroll records and employee information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality;
- Ensure compliance within the payroll function in relation to the relevant award/s and/or agreements, company policies along with legislation and regulation requirements;
- Respond in a timely and professional manner to payroll-related queries from employees at all levels; and
- Assist the Senior Payroll Officer to prepare reports for management based on company payroll data and trends with a focus on time and attendance data.
Our Ideal Candidate Ideally, you will be someone with a strong combination of technical expertise, reliability, and effective communication, along with a commitment to confidentiality and accuracy. A strong understanding of payroll processes and a background in payroll processing, preferably in a public sector or government organisation, is highly valuable. We are also offering an immediate start for the right applicant.
Please address each of the following criteria, detailing how you have demonstrated each skill or quality, and include relevant examples from your work, school, or extracurricular experiences. Candidates will be shortlisted based on how effectively these selection criteria are addressed.
Selection Criteria - Experience working in an end-to-end payroll function, coupled with experience using an HR/Payroll system;
- Acute attention to detail, excellent time management, problem solving and numerical skills;
- Intermediate to advanced skills using MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook);
- A strong sense of customer service, ideally having worked in an environment with a large volume of queries;
- Team player with a strong work ethic who can work under pressure and achieve strict deadlines; and
- Experience in professionally dealing with confidential information and ensuring security of sensitive data.
Desirable Criteria: - Qualifications in a relevant field such as Finance, Accounting, Payroll, HR, and Business.
General Salary Information Stream A Level 3 of the
Hinchinbrook Shire Council Local Government Officers (Stream A) Certified Agreement 2023.
The Selection Process We welcome candidates to inform us of any adjustments they may need to ensure a supportive and inclusive recruitment experience and workplace environment. Hinchinbrook Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and disadvantaged job seekers to apply.
Celebrating the rich diversity of our community, we are dedicated to attracting and employing people who reflect the community we serve. We value and respect the unique contributions of our employees and are committed to fostering an inclusive and safe workplace where everyone is supported to reach their full potential.
Please note that only individuals with the right to work in Australia are eligible to apply. As part of the recruitment process, the preferred candidate will need to undertake a National Police Check and pre-employment medical assessments, which may include drug and alcohol testing, to confirm their ability to meet the role's inherent requirements.
How to Apply
To apply, submit your application online by clicking 'Apply For Job' and follow the steps. Please provide:
- A current resume; and
- A cover letter addressing the “Our Ideal Candidate” section (max. 2 pages).
Applications close on ‘Wednesday 5 March 2025, at 5.00pm AEST’
Applications that do not meet the above requirements may not be shortlisted. The advertisement will be closed either when a successful applicant is identified or on the application close date, whichever is sooner.
For More Information: Thank you for your consideration and interest in this position. For a confidential discussion, contact Human Resources Manager, Jodi Spencer on 07 4776 4613 or 0497 307 239.
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