Finance & Payroll Officer

Aurora Early Education is a leading provider of early childhood education in Melbourne, committed to delivering excellence through quality, innovation, and care. Guided by a Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, Aurora fosters a culture of respect, inquiry, and collaboration, empowering children, families, and educators to reach their full potential.

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Finance & Payroll Officer to support the organization's financial and operational functions. This position plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of Aurora's financial management, ensuring compliance, and contributing to effective strategic decision-making.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Finance & Payroll Officer will manage all aspects of financial administration, payroll processing, and compliance reporting across the Aurora group. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical capability, strong communication skills, and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Experience within the childcare or education sector will be highly regarded but is not essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Data entry and processing of bank feeds
• Banking, cash flow management, and creditor payments
• Invoicing and debtor management
• Financial spreadsheet preparation and analysis
• Apprenticeship claims and related administration
• Account reconciliations across multiple entities
• Payroll processing (fortnightly and monthly), including:
• Award interpretation
• STP (Single Touch Payroll) reporting
• Superannuation, payroll tax, and WorkCover compliance
• Month-end and year-end journals, accruals, and depreciation
• Inter-company invoicing, banking, and journals
• Budgeting and project forecasting
• Management of trusts and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs)
• Preparation and lodgement of BAS, PAYG, and PAYG Instalment Tax (PAYG IT)
• Management reporting, including financial, non-financial, and consolidated group reports
• Liaison with external accountants and tax agents
• Completion of ad-hoc financial and analytical tasks as requirement

Systems & Software

• QuickBooks Online
• Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Gmail, Drive)
• OWNA (Childcare Management Software)
• Department of Education systems
• Employment Hero
• Fathom (Consolidation and Management Reporting Software)

About You

The successful candidate will possess:

• A minimum of three years' experience in finance, accounting, or payroll
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with the ability to develop and manage complex spreadsheets
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation
• Sound knowledge of Australian payroll, accounting, and taxation compliance
• Demonstrated experience with QuickBooks Online (essential)
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills
• A high level of accuracy, discretion, and professional integrity

Why Join Aurora Early Education

At Aurora, our vision is to nurture confident, capable, and compassionate learners. Our team is guided by principles of collaboration, continuous learning, and excellence.

We offer:

A professional and supportive working environment

Flexibility to support work-life balance

Opportunities for professional growth and development

The ability to contribute to an organisation committed to quality, transparency, and leadership in the sector

Competitive remuneration commensurate with experience and qualifications

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing your experience and suitability for the position.

And for more about Aurora and our philosophy, please visit our website at