The guide we wish we'd had
Be the treasurer your kinder can rely on.
The 2026 Guidelines for Kindergarten, Preschool and Childcare Treasurers. Practical steps, a monthly checklist and plain-English explanations, free to download.
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Inside the guide
From your first week to your next budget
The treasurer role today is about checking and understanding the finances, not doing the books yourself. The guide shows you exactly what to check, and how.
- 01p. 3
About the guidelines
Who they are for and how to use them across not-for-profit preschools, childcare centres and kindergartens.
- 02p. 5
The treasurer role, responsibilities and goals
What you are responsible for, and what you are not.
- 03p. 7
Starting the treasurer role
Obligations, finance processes, funding sources and agreements, the last audit, record keeping, key statements and protecting your service from fraud.
- 04p. 19
Ongoing tasks and responsibilities
Reviewing tasks with a checklist, and reporting tasks for your board.
- 05p. 27
The budgeting process
How to build and review the annual budget with your director and finance team.
- 06p. 30
Industry tips
Best practice and insights from across the early childhood sector.
Checklist included
A monthly review you can finish before the meeting
- ReconciliationDo the accounts match the bank?
- Accounts receivableAre invoices going out and being paid on time?
- Accounts payableWhat is owed, and is the service leaning too much on credit?
- Super, GST and PAYGAre compliance filings and payments up to date?
- Budget varianceIs income as predicted, and is spending on track?
Why + how for each
Written by someone who has sat in your chair
Even with a commercial background, he was not quite sure where to start.
Michael Kent is a Chartered Accountant and the CEO of Slate Accounts. He was also treasurer of his daughters' kindergarten.
He has since advised dozens of treasurers of early childhood services, and saw the need for a simple guide that shows treasurers where to focus. This is the how-to he wished he had.
More than a guide
When you would rather have a team behind you
Slate Accounts runs the finance function for kindergartens, preschools and childcare services. Use us for one piece, or all of it.
- Started by a kinder treasurer
- We know what it is like to sit on a committee, sign off on budgets and answer to families.
- Continuity when your committee changes
- We keep your organisation's finances stable through each handover, with clear documentation and onboarding sessions for new treasurers.
- Reports your committee can act on
- Occupancy, fee income, staffing costs and cash flow against budget, every month. Grant income tracked separately for easier acquittals.
- Support that fits around your team
- Bookkeeping, payroll or reporting on their own, or a fully managed finance function with CFO-level advice.
"Since engaging Slate to assist us with the financial aspects of running a childcare centre, we have learnt a great deal. Their team is always available to help, whether it's with something big or small, and their support has been invaluable to us.
They have been instrumental in helping us tidy up our accounts, keep us on track and improve many of our financial processes. From payroll and budgeting through to financial reporting and auditing, Slate has helped us develop better systems and a clearer understanding of our financial responsibilities.
We really appreciate their ongoing support, guidance and willingness to assist whenever we need it."
"Great people, great systems. Have been using Slate for over 11 years and they have always been there for us. Would highly recommend."
"Truly professional and extremely thorough. It is great to have a bookkeeping and accounts provider that I can rely on and trust."
Fair questions
Before you hand over your organisation's finances
Is handing over our finances a risk?
It is a big decision and we treat it that way. You get experienced people on your numbers and a clear process for every step of the handover.
We like our current bookkeeper.
Keep them. We can work alongside your accountant or staff, and build the service around what you need.
Your finances are in safe hands. Start with the guide.
Download it now and walk into your next committee meeting knowing what to check.