Finance Manager

Little Zak's Academy

Ryde

On-site

AUD 120,000 - 150,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Up to 50% childcare discount

Wellbeing Day

Wellness allowance

$1,000 referral bonus

EAP for wellbeing

Job summary

Little Zak's Academy in Ryde is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to lead the financial operations across multiple early childhood centres. You will oversee accounts payable, payroll, reconciliations, budgeting and reporting, ensuring accuracy and cost control.

You will partner with Centre Directors and Operations to monitor financial performance, drive efficiencies, and maintain compliant financial processes using Xero, Lightyear and Tanda.

Qualifications

Relevant qualification in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or related discipline.
Previous experience as a Finance Manager, Management Accountant, Senior Accountant or similar.
Experience managing finance across multiple sites, centres or business units.
Strong accounts payable and reconciliation experience.
Strong budgeting, forecasting and cost control experience.
Experience analysing budget versus actual performance.
Experience managing labour costs and payroll-related financial processes.
Experience with BAS and GST reconciliations.
Strong Xero experience.
Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
Excellent Excel skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strong communication skills and confidence working with Centre Directors and operational management.

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end finance operations across multiple centres.
Oversee accounts payable, payroll, reconciliations, and BAS/GST.
Prepare monthly financial reports, budgets and forecasts.
Monitor centre budgets and cost control; report variances.
Collaborate with Centre Directors and Operations for financial performance.
Ensure compliance and maintain financial controls.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Cost control

Accounts payable

Payroll management

Forecasting

Cash flow management

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

Xero

Lightyear

Tanda

Job description

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 Finance Manager to join our Support Office in Ryde. This is a full-time, office-based role, Monday to Friday.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Finance Manager to oversee the financial operations of a portfolio of early childhood education and care centres.

This role will have end-to-end responsibility for the finance functions associated with the allocated centres, including accounts payable, fortnightly payroll, daily bank reconciliations, monthly revenue reconciliations, budgeting, cost control, financial reporting and quarterly BAS.

The Finance Manager will work closely with Centre Directors and Operations to monitor financial performance, control costs, manage budgets and ensure the financial operations of each centre are accurate, efficient and compliant.

Key responsibilities include:

Accounts Payable

Manage the full accounts payable function for allocated centres.
Process and review supplier invoices through Lightyear.
Ensure invoices are correctly coded, approved and allocated to the appropriate centre and cost centre.
Monitor supplier accounts, outstanding invoices and payment schedules.
Investigate and resolve invoice and payment discrepancies.
Review supplier costs and identify opportunities to control expenditure.
Maintain accurate accounts payable records in Xero.

Cost Control & Budget Management

Take ownership of cost control across the allocated centres.
Prepare, monitor and manage centre budgets in consultation with Centre Directors and Operations.
Track actual expenditure against budget and investigate significant variances.
Monitor labour costs, supplier costs and other major centre expenses.
Identify areas of overspending and work with Centre Directors to implement corrective actions.
Review expenditure to ensure purchases are appropriate, approved and within budget.
Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary expenditure while maintaining operational requirements.
Prepare regular budget versus actual reports.
Assist with annual budgeting, forecasting and financial planning.
Provide Centre Directors and management with clear financial information to support decision-making.

Payroll

Manage and coordinate fortnightly payroll processes for the allocated centres using Tanda.
Review payroll data for accuracy, including timesheets, leave, allowances and payroll adjustments.
Monitor labour costs against centre budgets.
Investigate payroll discrepancies and work with Centre Directors and Payroll to resolve issues.
Ensure payroll information is reviewed and submitted within required deadlines.
Maintain accurate payroll-related financial records.

Bank Reconciliation

Complete daily bank reconciliations for the allocated centres.
Reconcile bank transactions in Xero and investigate unreconciled items.
Ensure all transactions are accurately recorded and allocated to the correct centre and account.
Identify and resolve discrepancies promptly.

Revenue Reconciliation

Complete monthly revenue reconciliations for each allocated centre.
Reconcile centre revenue against relevant systems and financial records.
Investigate revenue variances and resolve discrepancies.
Monitor outstanding revenue and follow up on issues as required.

Financial Reporting

Prepare monthly financial reports for the allocated centres.
Analyse revenue, expenditure, labour costs, budgets and centre profitability.
Prepare budget versus actual reports and investigate material variances.
Provide financial commentary and identify areas requiring management attention.
Assist with forecasting and financial planning.
Provide Centre Directors with clear and practical financial information.

BAS & Compliance

Assist with the preparation and lodgement of quarterly BAS.
Complete and review GST reconciliations.
Ensure financial records are accurate and maintained appropriately.
Assist with financial audits and other compliance requirements.
Maintain appropriate financial controls across the allocated centres.

Centre Finance Support

Act as the key finance contact for the allocated Centre Directors.
Provide financial guidance on budgets, expenditure and cost control.
Work closely with Centre Directors to improve financial performance.
Support centre leadership in understanding financial reports and budget performance.
Ensure finance processes and controls are consistently followed across all centres.

Systems & Software

The successful candidate will ideally have experience using:

Xero – accounting, reporting, reconciliations and financial management.
Lightyear – accounts payable, invoice processing and approvals.
Tanda – HR, payroll, timesheets, leave and labour cost management.

Experience with other accounting, payroll or finance systems will also be considered.

Why Join Us?

Competitive salary package plus superannuation
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

The successful candidate will be an experienced finance professional with strong accounting, commercial and analytical skills and the ability to manage the financial operations of multiple centres.

You will ideally have:

Relevant qualification in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.
Previous experience as a Finance Manager, Management Accountant, Senior Accountant or similar.
Experience managing finance across multiple sites, centres or business units.
Strong accounts payable and reconciliation experience.
Strong budgeting, forecasting and cost control experience.
Experience analysing budget versus actual performance.
Experience managing labour costs and payroll-related financial processes.
Experience with BAS and GST reconciliations.
Strong Xero experience.
Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
Excellent Excel skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strong communication skills and confidence working with Centre Directors and operational management.

Desirable

Experience in a multi-site business environment.
Experience in early childhood education and care, healthcare, retail, hospitality or a similar industry.
Experience using Xero, Lightyear and Tanda.
Experience managing centre-level budgets and operational expenditure.
Experience working with Centre Directors or other operational leaders.

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.

Additional information