Payroll Officer

About Our School

Willunga Waldorf School is a thriving, contemporary, independent K to 12 school nestled in the beautiful Southern Vales of South Australia, close to magnificent coastline and surrounded by vines and almond groves. It is situated on the edge of the rural town ship of Willunga, fifty minutes’ drive from the city of Adelaide.

The School offers a strong, balanced and dynamic educational environment grounded in the values of Goodness, Beauty and Truth. Set on spacious grounds, the School provides a natural, calm and aesthetically rich setting that supports the wellbeing, imagination and healthy development of the children and young people in our care. The environment is intentionally designed to nurture the whole child and to foster a sense of belonging, purpose and connection to community.

The School acknowledges and honours its location on Kaurna Country, recognising the continuing spiritual and cultural relationship that Kaurna Peoples hold with the land. This respect for place and community is woven into school life through seasonal festivals, outdoor education, and a curriculum that encourages reverence for nature and an understanding of ecological responsibility.

The School environment is further strengthened by its community‑centred culture, where relationships between staff, students and families are valued as central to learning. Across all stages, the School environment is characterised by calm, purposeful activity; a strong sense of community; and a commitment to supporting each student’s growth into a capable, responsible and compassionate individual.

In 2024, the school began dual-streaming and embarked on an exciting journey of growth.

About You

The successful applicant will be a self-motivated, detail-oriented and reliable professional with excellent communication skills. They possess a genuine warmth and interest in supporting the School’s financial administration. They will be orderly, methodical and practical in setting priorities and completing tasks, and show a strong commitment to delivering exceptional and professional service within and outside the wider School community. Furthermore, they demonstrate a willingness to support the philosophy of Steiner education within the School community.

About the Role

The Payroll Officer reports directly to the Accountant, and is responsible for timely and accurate payroll processing, all associated reconciliations and monthly reporting. The role also includes some general administrative responsibilities.

Key Selection Criteria

• Proven work experience as a Payroll Officer, including hands-on experience with payroll and accounting software
• Strong math skills with an ability to spot numerical errors
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll-related Industrial Relations legislation
• Excellent time-management skills
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information professionally
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to learn/master new programs and software
• Demonstrated high level of written and spoken communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and within a team
• Experience working in a school environment is not essential but would be highly regarded
• Must have full and unrestricted working rights in Australia

Applicants must have appropriate qualifications in payroll or payroll-relevant field, be able to obtain a “not-prohibited” SA Working with Children Check and be willing to obtain full RRHAN-EC and Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting certificates before commencement of employment.

Terms of Appointment

This is a permanent part-time position comprising 37.5 hours per fortnight, spread across five days: 8am – 4pm Wednesday to Friday during payroll week, and Wednesday and Thursday during the off-payroll week.

Remuneration will be based on the current Willunga Waldorf School Enterprise Agreement, be commensurate with professional experience, and include six weeks annual leave.

Attachments:

• Payroll Officer Position Description.pdf

Application Instructions

Please review the full position description before submitting your application, also available on our website: https://wws.sa.edu.au/our-school/employment-opportunities/

Applications must include:

• A cover letter that addresses the Key Selection Criteria and indicates your earliest available start
• A professional resume
• Contact details of three referees who have worked in a supervisory capacity.

Please submit your full application via our website.

For questions and enquiries about this position, please contact Ms Antje Guenther via hr@wws.sa.edu.au or (08) 7232 1604.