Payroll Officer

About the Role 

Opera Australia is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Officer to join our Finance team on a full-time, fixed-term contract for six months. Reporting to the Payroll Manager, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of payroll services across the organisation. 

The ideal candidate is someone who can own and deliver day-to-day payroll operations while taking a strategic approach to the end-to-end payroll activities, including payroll journals and superannuation processing. They will be hands-on, able to quickly come up to speed, and capable of thinking beyond BAU to identify process improvements and drive efficiencies.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who thrives in a complex environment, enjoys problem solving and takes pride in delivering an exceptional payroll service. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage the end-to-end processing of weekly and fortnightly payrolls, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. 
• Process payroll transactions including timesheets, leave, terminations, allowances, deductions and payroll adjustments. 
• Administer employee onboarding within the payroll system and maintain accurate payroll records. 
• Interpret and apply relevant Awards, Enterprise Agreements and employment contracts. 
• Process and reconcile superannuation contributions, PAYG withholding and other payroll liabilities. 
• Prepare payroll journals and support month-end and year-end payroll reconciliation activities. 
• Ensure compliance with Fair Work legislation, taxation requirements, Single Touch Payroll and other statutory obligations. 
• Prepare payroll reporting to support audits, workers compensation declarations, WGEA reporting and other compliance requirements. 
• Respond to payroll enquiries from employees and managers in a timely and professional manner. Maintain payroll system integrity and contribute to ongoing process improvements, documentation and system enhancements.  

About You 

You are an experienced payroll professional with exceptional attention to detail and a thorough understanding of Australian payroll legislation. You enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, can confidently interpret complex employment conditions and take pride in delivering an accurate and responsive payroll service. 

You’ll bring: 

• At least five years’ experience processing end-to-end payroll within a complex environment. 
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple Awards and Enterprise Agreements. 
• Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, Fair Work requirements, taxation and superannuation obligations. 
• Experience processing payroll reconciliations, payroll journals and Single Touch Payroll reporting. 
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills. 
• High attention to detail with the ability to maintain confidentiality. 
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills. 
• A relevant qualification in Payroll, Accounting or Business.  

About Opera Australia 

Opera Australia (OA) is Australia’s national opera company and one of the country’s leading performing arts organisations. With a rich history and an international reputation for artistic excellence, we present more than 500 performances each year, reaching over 650,000 people through opera, musicals and concerts. 

Our productions span iconic venues including the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, as well as regional centres across Australia. We are committed to artistic innovation, national reach and cultural leadership, nurturing Australian talent on and off the stage while collaborating with leading local and international artists. As Australia’s largest performing arts employer, Opera Australia plays a vital role in Australia’s cultural landscape. 

For more information about Opera Australia, please visit opera.org.au. 

What We Offer 

• As Australia’s national opera company, we’re committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and collaborative workplace where our people can thrive. Guided by our values of Curious, Creative, Collaborative, Brave and Inclusive, we offer a range of benefits including: 
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements. 
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Generous leave provisions, including cultural, wellbeing and parental leave. 
• Employee Assistance Program. 
• Discounted private health insurance. 
• Access to salary packaging through SmartSalary. 
• Discounts through our Swag Rewards platform and affiliated partners. 
• Complimentary tickets to selected Opera Australia performances.  

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you. Click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV and cover letter. 

Applications close: 4 September 2026 

For any enquiries about this role, please contact people@opera.org.au. 

Opera Australia recognises and acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands and waters across Australia on which we live, perform and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise, celebrate and respect all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first storytellers who carry the cultural wisdom, traditions and Dreaming of this ancient land. 

Opera Australia is committed to enabling and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. Our team comes from all walks of life. We acknowledge that individual differences, life experiences, self-expression and talent strengthen our culture and reputation. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression.