THE woman who helped hire a Rockhampton fraudster was in disbelief when she heard her replacement had stolen over $100,000 from businesses across Central Queensland.

Jacinta Rachael Murphy was sentenced to four years jail in the Rockhampton District Court on Wednesday after she used false tax invoices to gain funds during her employment as an administration officer at Energy Power System's Rockhampton branch between 2009 and 2011.

She will be released on probation after 12 months.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said Murphy took over the position when she went on maternity leave.

"I'd spent many unpaid hours making that job the best it could be for the company," the woman said.

"I feel so disheartened that she was able to do that to something I'd worked so hard for."

The woman said when she started her position at the company in 2007, the branch was only small.

"It basically needed to be started from scratch," she said.

After hearing the news of Murphy's actions, the woman said she was "shocked" and "angry".

"She had fantastic answers to everything," she said of Jacinta's job interview.

"But I always knew something wasn't right.

"She was full of lies and we all believed her."

The woman said she believed Murphy should have been ordered to serve more of her sentence.

"The businesses don't get their money back," she said.