different softwares for accounting and payroll in Australia

It is perfectly fine to use different softwares for accounting and payroll. In Australia, you can use below softwares.

🔹 Payroll (e.g., KeyPay/Employment Hero or Payroller) 🔹 Accounting/ERP (e.g., Xero, Odoo, or MYOB)

Many Australian businesses do this because no single software offers the "best" of both worlds — especially if you're trying to balance cost, features, and compliance.

✅ When it’s a good idea to use two systems

Scenario Example Tools Why it works well

• You want advanced payroll with STP & Super KeyPay + Odoo Odoo is great ERP but no AU payroll
• You want custom ERP but don’t want to build STP Zoho Books + Payroller Payroller handles ATO compliance
• You use Xero for accounting, but want better HR tools Xero + Employment Hero Sync payroll back into Xero
• You’re a startup with limited budget Wave (free) + KeyPay Cost-effective combo, fully compliant

🔗 Integration Options

✅ API-based integration (automatic syncing)

✅ Manual CSV imports/exports (weekly/monthly)

✅ Third-party tools like Zapier, Make.com, or custom scripts

Example:

Use KeyPay for payroll, and export journals monthly to Xero, Odoo, or MYOB.

🛑 Potential downsides of using 2 tools

• Double data entry (e.g., employee info) Use integrations or import/export
• Harder to reconcile reports Schedule regular syncs (e.g., monthly)
• Compliance responsibility split Ensure both tools are ATO-compliant (esp. STP)