Childcare payroll and bookkeeping need specialist knowledge. We help with payroll under Awards and enterprise agreements, including classifications, allowances, leave, super and retention payments, keep parent and supplier accounts in order, and explain what your figures mean for your centre. We work with Australian childcare, preschool and OSHC providers, including not-for-profit services.
See an indicative weekly fee without a discovery call. Your detailed quote is fixed up front, with no hourly billing or surprise invoices.
From payroll and parent accounts to BAS and committee reports, we handle the financial work that keeps your service running.
We work out which Award or enterprise agreement applies to each employee and the classification they belong in, and confirm it with you. This includes educators and early childhood teachers covered by the Children's Services Award or the Educational Services (Teachers) Award, and employees covered by your service's enterprise agreement. We calculate ordinary pay, allowances and loadings, and keep track of sick leave, annual leave, rostered days off and long service leave. Where the ECEC Worker Retention Payment applies, we calculate the additional wages and prepare the required reporting. If your service pays payroll tax, we calculate it and lodge the returns. From setting up a new employee to processing the pay run and super contributions, we keep the records behind each calculation and explain the figures when you or your staff have questions.
We match parent payments and subsidy receipts to your centre's accounts, reconcile bank transactions and follow up differences in the records. That gives you a clear view of what has been paid and which amounts are still outstanding. We also record supplier bills, check them against statements and advise on payments coming due. We prepare supplier payments for your approval and submit them once you approve. Keeping this work up to date gives you reliable figures for day-to-day decisions and the reports you need at month end.
We manage the day-to-day work in your childcare management system (CCMS), from setting up enrolments and processing cancellations to updating bookings when a family's care needs change. We keep enrolment details up to date, check customer reference numbers and dates of birth, and submit attendances from your centre's records. We also process parent payments, prepare statements and CCMS reports, and answer parent account queries. We reconcile Child Care Subsidy (CCS) receipts with the account records and investigate differences, so you can see what has been paid, what is outstanding and which issues need attention.
As registered BAS Agents, we prepare, check and lodge your Business Activity Statements (BAS) and Instalment Activity Statements (IAS), including reporting the tax withheld from staff pay. We work through the figures with you and keep track of lodgement dates. We also communicate with the ATO on your behalf about your BAS obligations, including queries, reviews and payment arrangements. If your service pays payroll tax, we prepare and lodge the payroll tax returns with your state or territory revenue office. At year end, we provide your accountant with reconciled books and supporting records so they have the information needed for their work.
We use your centre's income, wages, supplier costs and unpaid fees to build a budget and cash flow forecast that reflect how your service operates. We allow for the changes you expect through the year, such as enrolment changes, school holidays or upcoming expenses. Each month, we compare the actual figures with the budget and explain where they differ. This connects the day-to-day bookkeeping to the bigger picture, helping you plan payments, understand running costs and make decisions with a clearer view of the months ahead.
We work with not-for-profit childcare centres, community preschools and outside school hours care (OSHC) services. We run payroll under the applicable Award or enterprise agreement, including pay rates, allowances and leave. For services managed by a committee, we prepare monthly financial reports that help the treasurer and committee understand income, spending and available funds. We track grant income and expenditure against the relevant funding requirements and prepare the supporting reports. Throughout the year, we organise reconciliations and financial records for your annual audit. We also explain the figures and answer questions so the committee has the information it needs to oversee the service's finances.
We work with all major childcare & accounting platforms
BAS and payroll work for childcare centres is regulated. These are the registrations behind it.
Both registrations are current and listed on the Tax Practitioners Board public register.
Childcare rules keep changing, and keeping up with them is our whole job rather than one industry among many. What we work out for one centre, the next centre gets the benefit of. Doing the same specialised work all day also makes us quicker at it, and that saving goes into your fee rather than ours. And we are not only looking at this week’s transactions — we build the budget too, so we can see where your centre is heading.
You can plan a switch at any time of year. Access to your accounting and CCMS software usually provides most of what we need, and we work through any missing records during setup.
See how switching works →Reviews from the childcare operators and centre directors we work with.
“I have been using The Child Care Bookkeeper for my childcare centres for the past 14 years and have always been extremely satisfied with their service. They are consistently punctual in responding to any requests and provide valuable advice on managing expenses, budgeting and generally improving our financial processes. Their reliability and professionalism has given me complete confidence that tax obligations are handled accurately and on time. Oxana is very knowledgeable in the child care sector, she is trustworthy, and is an important part of keeping our businesses running smoothly. I highly recommend her services to any operator looking for a dependable and experienced bookkeeper.”
Common questions about our specialist childcare bookkeeping and compliance services across Australia.
Stay up to date with the latest legislation, award rates, and compliance rules affecting early learning providers.
A new 8-level classification structure started on 1 March 2026, with pay increases applied in stages from March and from 30 June 2026, and further changes for some levels each 30 June from 2027 to 2029. The 2026 Annual Wage Review added a further 4.75% for most employees from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
Superannuation Guarantee is now due each payday instead of quarterly. In most cases the employee's fund must receive the contribution within 7 business days of payday, or 20 business days for a new employee's first contribution. The ATO's Small Business Superannuation Clearing House closed permanently on 1 July 2026.
The ECEC Worker Retention Payment has been extended to 30 June 2028 and expanded to In Home Care and Family Day Care. Current participants don't need to reapply: the Department sends grant extension offers in October 2026, acceptance is due by mid-December, and Year 3 of the program starts on 1 December 2026.
Since 5 January 2026, every CCS-eligible family can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Families get 100 hours if they have more than 48 hours of recognised participation a fortnight, and for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child regardless of participation.
Need help with payroll under an Award or enterprise agreement, or with CCMS account management? Feel free to reach out to us.