Payroll Officer - Awards

_{03rd September, 2026}

Payroll Officer - Awards
Centacare | Brisbane | Hybrid Working | Full-time
 
Make your payroll experience count in an organisation that makes a difference
If you're an experienced Payroll Officer who enjoys the rhythm of a busy payroll, understands the importance of getting the details right and is comfortable working across a large and diverse organisation, this could be a great next move.
Centacare is looking for an experienced Payroll Officer to join our collaborative payroll team, supporting a large workforce across a range of community services.
This is not an entry-level payroll position. We're looking for someone with around 2-3 years' payroll experience, ideally gained in a larger or high-volume environment. You don't necessarily need to have owned the entire end-to-end payroll process, but you will need solid hands-on experience with payroll processing and the confidence to work with awards, employee changes and terminations.
Experience working with the SCHADS Award and/or CSA will be particularly highly regarded.
 
About Centacare: Centacare is a non-profit community organisation that supports the strengthening of family and community relationships, particularly where there is vulnerability and disadvantage. Our services are available to the entire community regardless of religion, circumstance, ethnicity, economic situation, age, gender or ability. We strive to deliver professional and accountable services whilst empowering our clients to find solutions and achieve their goals.
 
The Opportunity
Working as part of a supportive and flexible payroll team, you will contribute to the accurate and timely processing of payroll across a large workforce.
The broader payroll environment supports approximately 4,000 employees, so this is an excellent opportunity for someone who is comfortable with volume, enjoys working as part of a team and understands how important accuracy and follow-through are in payroll.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the regular processing of high-volume payroll.
• Processing employee changes, adjustments and other payroll transactions.
• Calculating and processing employee terminations.
• Applying relevant awards, agreements and payroll conditions.
• Identifying and resolving payroll discrepancies and queries.
• Working with employees, managers and internal stakeholders to resolve payroll matters.
• Maintaining accurate payroll records and employee information.
• Supporting payroll checks, reconciliations and reporting.
• Contributing to a collaborative team environment during busy payroll periods.

While end-to-end payroll experience would be an advantage, it is not essential. What matters most is that you have strong payroll processing experience, understand the importance of awards and conditions, and can confidently manage your part of the payroll cycle.
 
About You
You will ideally bring:

• Around 2-3 years of hands-on payroll experience.
• Experience working in payroll within children's services, early education, childcare or OSHC would be a strong advantage
• Experience processing payroll in a high-volume environment.
• Previous exposure to a larger payroll team or complex organisation - highly regarded but not essential.
• Experience interpreting and applying modern awards and employment conditions.
• Knowledge of the SCHADS Award, with CSA experience highly desirable.
• Experience processing employee terminations.
• End-to-end payroll exposure - desirable but not essential.
• Strong attention to detail and confidence working with payroll data.
• The ability to manage deadlines and remain accurate during busy processing periods.
• A practical, approachable communication style and confidence working with different people across an organisation.
• A collaborative mindset - this is a team where people support one another and work together to get payroll delivered accurately and on time.
• Hold or willingness to obtain a BlueCard

 
Why Join Centacare?
This is an opportunity to build your payroll experience in a large, purpose-led organisation while being part of a supportive and experienced team.
You'll enjoy:

• Salary Packaging Benefits: Package up to $18,550 of your annual salary tax-free, helping increase your take-home pay.
• Hybrid Working: A flexible hybrid arrangement, with office and work-from-home days structured around the payroll cycle. This will typically include two work-from-home days one week and one the following week, with up to two days working from home where operational requirements allow.
• Flexible Working Hours: Some flexibility around start and finish times to help you balance work and life.
• Training & Development: Excellent opportunities to continue developing your payroll knowledge and build your career.
• Employee Assistance Program: Free and confidential counselling available to you and your family members.
• Purpose: The opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that supports individuals, families, and communities across Queensland.

If you enjoy payroll, want exposure to a sizeable and diverse workforce and are looking for a team where flexibility, collaboration and accuracy are genuinely valued, we'd love to hear from you.
 
Apply Now
Click Apply and submit your current resume.
We welcome applications from experienced Payroll Officers from a range of industries. Previous payroll experience within children's services, early education, childcare or another award-intensive community services environment will be particularly well regarded.
 
Our Commitment to Keeping our Staff and Children Safe: Centacare is dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children in its care and maintains a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse. The protection of children is our highest priority. To uphold this commitment, we conduct referee checks and criminal history screenings as part of our recruitment process, and all employees working with children must hold a current Queensland Working with Children Check (Blue Card).    Centacare is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage applications from all individuals, including those from diverse backgrounds.