Little Zak's Academy is privately owned and family run. Our aim is to provide early childhood care and education in a safe, welcoming, adopting and nurturing environment.

Our staff are dedicated professionals who value the importance of maintaining an optimum level of care and education for all children. We select our staff based on knowledge and values, vision for children and learning, and commitment to families.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Payroll & Accounts Officer to join our Support Office in Ryde. This is a full-time, office-based role, Monday to Friday.

About the Role

As our Senior Payroll & Accounts Officer, you will take ownership of key payroll and accounts functions across the organisation, ensuring our financial and payroll processes are accurate, compliant and completed within strict deadlines.

This is a senior hands-on role suited to an experienced finance professional who is confident managing end-to-end payroll, accounts payable, reconciliations and month-end processes in a high-volume environment.

You will work closely with our Finance, HR and Operations teams, providing advice, resolving complex issues and helping maintain strong financial and payroll controls across the business.

Key responsibilities include: Accounts Payable

- Manage and oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process.
- Process and review invoices, ensuring transactions are coded correctly to the appropriate GL accounts.
- Manage the AP inbox, responding to supplier queries and resolving issues promptly.
- Complete payment runs and maintain accurate vendor accounts.
- Reconcile AP transactions and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
- Maintain and reconcile the prepaid card system.
- Process family refunds following appropriate verification and approval.
- Ensure supplier records and accounts payable information are accurate and up to date.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen AP controls and processes.
- Provide support to the wider Finance team as required.

Payroll

- Manage the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring payroll is accurate and processed on time.
- Review and verify timesheets, allowances, deductions, employee changes and payroll adjustments.
- Ensure payroll is processed in accordance with ATO requirements, employment legislation and applicable Childcare sector awards.
- Manage PAYG and superannuation remittances and ensure all payroll obligations are met.
- Oversee payroll tax requirements and related reporting.




- Manage workers' compensation reimbursements and claims.
- Review payroll data and identify, investigate and resolve complex discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
- Respond to payroll queries from employees and internal stakeholders and provide accurate and timely advice.
- Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure employee information is kept up to date.
- Complete and review payroll reconciliations and payroll-related reporting.
- Work closely with HR and Operations to ensure employee changes are accurately reflected in payroll.
- Identify payroll risks and maintain appropriate controls and processes to minimise errors.
- Provide support and guidance to internal stakeholders on payroll matters.
- Working additional hours during payroll weeks when required to ensure payroll is processed accurately and within deadlines.

Month-End & Reconciliations

- Take ownership of payroll and accounts payable month-end processes.
- Complete and review relevant balance sheet and GL reconciliations.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies and unusual transactions.
- Assist with month-end close and financial reporting.
- Prepare payroll, AP and other financial reports as required.
- Ensure all month-end tasks are completed accurately and within strict deadlines.
- Working additional hours during month-end periods when required to meet reporting and financial deadlines.

Finance & Process Improvement

- Maintain strong financial controls and compliance processes across payroll and accounts payable.
- Review existing processes and identify opportunities for improvement and greater accuracy.
- Assist with finance system improvements, reporting and implementation of new processes.
- Maintain accurate finance procedures and documentation.
- Work collaboratively with HR, Finance and Operations to resolve issues and improve processes.
- Provide accurate information and reporting to support the Finance team and wider business.

Why Join Us?

- Competitive salary package
- Up to 50% childcare discount
- Wellbeing Day each year (available after 12 months of service)
- $50 monthly wellness allowance




- $1,000 referral bonus
- EAP (Sonder) for confidential wellbeing support
- Supportive and high-performing team environment
- Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation

About you We are looking for an experienced finance professional who can work independently, take ownership and confidently manage payroll and accounts responsibilities in a rapid-paced environment.

You will ideally have

- 5+ years of experience across payroll, accounts payable, accounting or finance operations.
- Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end payroll for a medium to large workforce.
- Strong knowledge of Australian payroll legislation, ATO requirements and relevant employment awards.
- Experience working with high-volume payroll and multiple sites or business locations.
- Strong understanding of accounts payable, reconciliations and month-end processes.
- Experience identifying and resolving complex payroll and accounting discrepancies.
- Strong understanding of financial controls and compliance.
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large amounts of financial and payroll data.
- Strong experience with payroll and accounting systems.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and strict deadlines.
- Ability to work independently while also contributing positively to a wider Finance team.
- Previous experience in childcare, education, healthcare, retail, hospitality or another high-volume workforce environment will be highly regarded.

Little Zak's Child Safety Commitment Little Zak’s Academy is a Child Safe Organisation. We prioritise the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all children and maintain a strong culture of child safety across our services. As part of our commitment, we have a rigorous recruitment and screening process in place, including comprehensive reference checks, Police checks and child-safe employment checks.

By applying for a role with Little Zak’s Academy, you acknowledge and agree to undergo all required child safety checks as part of our employment process.

We are an equal opportunity workplace where diversity is embraced. We foster a culture that supports inclusion and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

📌 Senior Payroll & Accounts Officer (Ryde)
🏢 Little Zak's Academy
📍 Ryde