Do I need to reconnect to Xero every time we process payroll?

No, you do not need to reconnect to Xero for each payroll cycle. RosterElf maintains a continuous connection with Xero, ensuring seamless integration. This background process simplifies payroll management, allowing automatic data transfer whenever needed.

What businesses will benefit from RosterElf’s Xero Staff Rostering System?

RosterElf benefits a wide range of businesses, from small enterprises to large companies, including Home Care Providers, Bars & Nightclubs, Dentists, Hospitality Venues, and Swimming Schools. With a free 15-day trial, businesses can experience the benefits firsthand.

How important is Xero integration in Time Tracking apps?

Xero integration is crucial for Time Tracking apps and Clock In/Out systems. It allows business owners to easily pay employees based on tracked hours, whether from Time Clock, Adjusted Time Clock, Rostered Hours, or Custom Hours. This data is automatically pushed to Xero, streamlining payroll and ensuring accurate accounting.

Does Xero offer award interpretation for payroll?

No, Xero does not offer built-in award interpretation for payroll. However, you can use third-party tools like RosterElf to handle award interpretation automatically. RosterElf ensures compliance with relevant awards and seamlessly integrates with Xero by sending interpreted data as draft timesheets, ready for payroll processing.

Can Xero track hours?

Yes, Xero cannot track employee hours directly. However, you can use an add-on like RosterElf, which functions as a digital time and attendance system. With RosterElf, employee hours are tracked and can be reviewed before sending draft timesheets directly to Xero for payroll processing.

Does Xero have an employee scheduling system?

No, Xero does not include an employee scheduling system. However, you can integrate third-party tools like RosterElf to manage employee scheduling. RosterElf allows you to create and manage rosters, and once shifts are completed, it can send draft timesheets to Xero for payroll processing.

Can Xero handle automatic overtime calculations?

Xero itself doesn't have the ability to automatically calculate overtime. For businesses needing this feature, tools like RosterElf can be integrated. RosterElf handles overtime calculations by applying award rules or specific business settings and sends this data as draft timesheets to Xero, simplifying the payroll process.

Does Xero provide roster management for employees?

Xero does not offer native roster management. However, rostering features can be accessed through third-party integrations like RosterElf or Deputy, which sync with Xero to streamline payroll based on shift schedules.

Is there a scheduling feature in Xero for managing shifts?

No, Xero does not include a built-in scheduling system. For shift scheduling and employee rostering, you’ll need to integrate with external apps like RosterElf or Deputy, which then link with Xero for payroll purposes.

Can RosterElf handle payroll and payslip generation instead of Xero?

No, RosterElf focuses on managing rosters, award interpretation and export to Xero. The actual payroll and employee payslip generation are handled by Xero.

How does Xero Me compare to RosterElf for handling employee timesheets?

Xero Me allows employees to manually submit timesheets and manage leave, while RosterElf offers digital leave applications and time tracking to avoid errors and time theft.

Can employees clock in and out with Xero's platform?

Xero doesn’t support clock-in/clock-out functionality natively. However, you can integrate Xero with apps like RosterElf, which enable employees to clock in and out, syncing their work hours with Xero’s payroll and handling award interpretation too.

What features do apps for Xero, like RosterElf, have?

RosterElf offers seamless integration with Xero, automatic award interpretation, labour cost savings, and advanced budgeting methods. These features ensure smooth transactions and efficient workforce management, making RosterElf a comprehensive solution for Xero users.

How do I connect RosterElf’s Xero Scheduling System?

RosterElf connects to Xero via direct API integration, allowing easy data transfer without manual file uploads. The system is ready to go after setting up your platform, staff, and pay items. We offer a full support section and free onboarding assistance to ensure a smooth start.

Can employees clock in on Xero?

Employees can clock in using RosterElf’s digital clock-in system. This data syncs with Xero for real-time attendance tracking, ensuring payroll calculations reflect accurate work hours.

How does data synchronisation work with RosterElf’s Xero timesheet integration?

Our API manages data synchronisation once your RosterElf account is connected to Xero. The Xero file is treated as the primary source, and data matching Xero Pay Items is pushed into draft timesheets for approval. This automated process eliminates the need for manual updates.

Is this the best Rostering Software for Xero?

Yes, RosterElf is designed by business owners for business owners, making it an ideal choice for Xero users. The software is 'Magically Simple,' streamlining rostering and payroll processes, and is highly rated for its user-friendly design and robust features.

Can Xero do rostering?

Yes, with RosterElf’s integration, Xero can manage rostering effectively. The integration provides comprehensive solutions, including workforce management, making the system efficient and straightforward for businesses.

How do I set up staff in Xero?

Syncing employee records from Xero into RosterElf is straightforward. This integration allows you to manage and update employee details within Xero, keeping your rostering system up-to-date and streamlined.

How do I set up a rostered day off in Xero?

Setting up a rostered day off in Xero is simple with RosterElf. Schedule non-working days alongside regular shifts and sync this data with Xero to streamline management within your payroll system.

Can you automate payroll in Xero?

Yes, RosterElf automates payroll processing by interpreting awards and creating accurate timesheets. These timesheets are then approved and sent directly to Xero, ensuring efficient payroll processing with minimal manual effort.

Does Xero process payroll?

Xero processes payroll using timesheets approved in RosterElf. This integration ensures payroll accuracy and compliance with regulations, making the payroll process efficient and reliable for businesses.

What are the benefits of Xero Integration for Rostering?

RosterElf's integration with Xero provides several benefits: saving up to 4% on labour costs, reducing administration time, integrating pay rules, and enabling direct payroll processing from RosterElf to Xero. It also includes advanced Award Interpretation automation, enhancing payroll accuracy and compliance.

Xero-Ready Rostering with RosterElf

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4.8 stars, 1570 ratings

Best-rated rostering software on Xero and Google.

Trusted by thousands of businesses

Why RosterElf is the top Xero rostering add-on

Save time, cut costs

The leading Xero-certified rostering integration

RosterElf is the #1 rated rostering app on the Xero App Store, based on customer reviews. It combines award interpretation, live labour budgets, and automated timesheet accuracy in one simple platform—trusted by businesses across Australia to keep payroll fast, accurate, and compliant.

RosterElf is a Xero-certified add-on designed to save time, reduce admin, and eliminate payroll headaches.

Thousands of businesses across Australia rely on RosterElf to streamline workforce management, cut labour costs, and keep payroll running smoothly every pay cycle.

5 Reasons RosterElf is the Best Xero Integration for Payroll & Rostering

Read our Support Guides on: Setting up Xero Integration

1. Save time and reduce admin

Manual payroll processes are draining. Exporting timesheets, re-entering data, and checking awards take hours every pay run. With RosterElf’s integration, timesheets, rosters, and leave approvals connect directly to payroll, so everything runs smoothly with minimal admin.

2. Accurate award interpretation

Keeping payroll compliant is one of the hardest tasks for business owners. RosterElf applies Fair Work award rules automatically, including overtime, weekend loadings, and public holidays. When you approve shifts, you can be confident that what flows into payroll is correct and compliant.

Support Resource: How RosterElf Handles Award Compliance

3. Real-time labour cost control

With built-in budget tools, managers can see the true wage impact of each roster before payroll is even processed. This allows proactive cost control and helps businesses keep wages within target percentages. By integrating rostering and payroll, RosterElf makes it easier to run efficient, profitable teams.

4. Loved by accountants and bookkeepers

Accountants recommend RosterElf because it simplifies reconciliation and reduces payroll errors. Every payroll run is backed by a full digital trail of rosters, timesheets, and approvals. This gives accountants clarity and ensures businesses always meet compliance requirements.

5. #1 rated on the Xero App Store

RosterElf is the #1 rated rostering app on the Xero App Store, based on customer reviews. It combines award interpretation, live labour budgets, and automated timesheet accuracy in one simple platform—trusted by businesses across Australia to keep payroll fast, accurate, and compliant.

RosterElf is more than just rostering software. By linking Employee Rostering, Time and Attendance, Leave Management, and payroll into one workflow, RosterElf ensures accuracy, efficiency, and compliance every pay cycle.

Easy setup

How to set up the RosterElf-Xero integration

Get started fast

Quick and simple setup process

Connecting RosterElf with Xero only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require any specialist knowledge.

Simply authorise the sync, match employees, and map pay categories once—then the system handles everything in the background.

With step-by-step instructions, live chat support, and a library of guides, setup is simple and stress-free, so you can start saving time straight away.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up RosterElf with Xero

Read our Support Guides on: Setting up Xero Integration

Why setup matters

Connecting your payroll system should be fast, simple, and accurate. With RosterElf’s Xero Integration, you can link employee rosters, timesheets, and leave balances directly to payroll. Getting the setup right means you save time on every pay run and avoid costly errors down the line.

Connect your accounts

The first step is authorising RosterElf to connect with your Xero account. Once linked, the systems can share information securely in real time. This ensures that changes in rosters, hours, or leave flow directly into payroll without the need for manual entry.

Support Resource: Authorising Xero Integration

Match employees correctly

After authorisation, you’ll match staff in RosterElf with their profiles in Xero. This step ensures that timesheets and leave requests are recorded against the correct employee, keeping records accurate. For businesses with larger teams, the bulk match feature speeds up this process.

Map pay categories

RosterElf allows you to map each staff member’s award category to the correct pay item in Xero. This is where award interpretation kicks in—ensuring overtime, allowances, and penalty rates are applied automatically. By aligning rosters with payroll categories, compliance is built into every shift.

Learn more: Award Compliance Software

Test with a payroll run

Once setup is complete, run a quick test by approving a roster and exporting timesheets into Xero. This will confirm that employees are matched correctly and pay items are aligned. If you spot errors, RosterElf provides clear prompts to help you fix issues quickly before they reach payroll.

Support Resource: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Help when you need it

If you need extra guidance, RosterElf’s support team is on hand with tutorials, videos, and one-on-one help. From your first setup to every future payroll cycle, you’ll always have expert backup when you need it.

Setup once, save every week

The best part about the integration is that setup is a one-time task. Once employees and pay categories are mapped, RosterElf continues to sync automatically. That means every roster you create and every shift staff clock flows seamlessly into payroll—no extra admin required.

By following a few simple steps, you can connect RosterElf with Xero in minutes. Setup ensures every future payroll run is fast, accurate, and compliant—saving you hours every week and reducing payroll stress.

Seamless sync

What data syncs between RosterElf & Xero

Eliminate double entry and mistakes

Automatic syncing for accuracy and reliability

RosterElf keeps both systems aligned by automatically syncing key information like employee details, approved timesheets, pay categories, and leave balances.

Every change you make updates instantly, ensuring accurate and reliable data flows without the risk of duplication.

No more double entry, mismatched records, or missed entitlements—just payroll-ready data in Xero every single time.

What Really Happens When RosterElf Syncs with Xero

Read our Support Guides on: Setting up Xero Integration

Why syncing matters

Payroll errors often come from mismatched data—staff details out of date, timesheets missing hours, or leave balances not lining up. With RosterElf’s Xero Integration, all the critical information flows seamlessly between systems. That means managers don’t waste time on double entry, and payroll stays accurate every time.

Employee records

When you sync RosterElf with Xero, your employee profiles stay aligned. This ensures that timesheets, leave, and payments are always tied to the right staff member. It also saves time for HR and payroll teams by removing the need to update records twice.

Approved timesheets

RosterElf’s Time and Attendance feature captures every clock-in and clock-out, then creates accurate timesheets ready for approval. Once approved, these timesheets flow directly into Xero with all pay rules applied. No spreadsheets, no manual entry, just payroll-ready data.

Support Resource: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Leave balances

Leave is one of the trickiest areas for payroll. With RosterElf, all Leave Requests are synced to Xero, ensuring balances remain accurate across both systems. This avoids confusion for staff and reduces the risk of incorrect entitlements being paid.

Support Resource: Requesting Leave as an Employee

Pay categories and awards

RosterElf doesn’t just send hours—it sends them with the correct award interpretation attached. Ordinary hours, penalty rates, and allowances are mapped to the right pay categories in Xero. This ensures compliance with Fair Work requirements and saves managers from hours of manual checking.

Real-time updates

The integration runs in real time, meaning changes to rosters, leave, or employee details are reflected instantly. If staff update their availability, managers approve leave, or sites adjust hours, everything is ready for payroll without delay.

One source of truth

By connecting Employee Rostering, attendance, leave, and payroll, RosterElf becomes the single source of truth for workforce data. Businesses no longer juggle separate systems or wonder which record is correct—everything is aligned and ready for action.

RosterElf keeps your data clean and payroll simple. With seamless syncing of employees, timesheets, leave, and pay categories, you can be confident payroll in Xero is always accurate, compliant, and stress-free.

SETUP IN MINUTES

Connect Xero in 3 steps

Connect Xero

One time Authorisation of RosterElf & Xero

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Map employees & pay items

Sync pay items in Xero to RosterElf account

Learn more

Approve hours & export

Send approved hours to Xero timesheets

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Fair Work ready

Award interpretation & payroll compliance

Accurate, compliant payroll

Automatic award rules applied to every shift

RosterElf automatically applies Fair Work rules to every roster and timesheet, removing the stress of manual calculations.

Ordinary hours, weekend loadings, overtime, and public holiday penalties are all handled seamlessly in the background.

By exporting payroll-ready data into Xero, you can be confident every staff member is paid correctly, every time, with full compliance and a clear audit trail.

How RosterElf Ensures Payroll Compliance with Xero

Read our Support Guides on: Roster Budgeting and Award Compliance

Why compliance matters

Award compliance is one of the biggest payroll challenges for Australian businesses. Misinterpreting overtime, penalty rates, or allowances can lead to costly back pay claims and compliance risks. RosterElf’s Xero Integration removes the guesswork by applying Fair Work rules automatically, ensuring staff are always paid correctly.

Automatic award interpretation

RosterElf handles the complexity of award interpretation in the background. Ordinary hours, weekend loadings, overtime, and public holiday penalties are applied automatically to every timesheet. By the time payroll data reaches Xero, it’s already fully compliant and ready to process.

Support Resource: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Payroll-ready rostering

With Employee Rostering, managers see live wage costs and compliance checks as they build schedules. This prevents issues like underpayment or over-allocation of overtime before the roster is even published. Compliance isn’t just checked at payroll—it’s built into the rostering process.

Real-time attendance and timesheets

Through Time and Attendance, staff clock in and out with GPS or kiosk systems, capturing accurate start and finish times. This means payroll is based on real data, not estimates, reducing the chance of disputes or errors.

Leave entitlements managed correctly

Leave entitlements are a common source of payroll mistakes. With RosterElf’s Leave Management, all approved leave is synced into rosters and payroll. This ensures balances stay accurate and entitlements are always paid in line with Fair Work rules.

Support Resource: Requesting Leave as an Employee

Peace of mind for managers and accountants

By exporting payroll-ready data into Xero, RosterElf gives managers confidence that staff are paid correctly. Accountants and bookkeepers benefit too, with a clear audit trail and simplified reconciliation. This reduces risk for businesses and strengthens compliance at every step.

Compliance without the stress

Instead of spending hours interpreting awards, RosterElf automates the entire process. Businesses save time, reduce admin, and avoid costly payroll mistakes—while staff trust that their pay is always correct.

With RosterElf, compliance is built in. From rosters to timesheets, leave to payroll, every step is automated and aligned with Xero. The result? A compliant, efficient, and stress-free payroll process.

Smart clock-ins

Time tracking & attendance Xero

Real-time attendance

GPS and kiosk options for accurate clock-ins

Staff clock in and out using a shared tablet kiosk or their own smartphone with GPS tracking to confirm location.

Every shift is time-stamped, and breaks are captured automatically, removing the chance of time theft or buddy punching.

Managers gain live visibility of attendance across multiple sites, making it easy to monitor coverage, respond quickly to no-shows, and keep wage costs under control.

Accurate Time Tracking That Keeps Payroll Clean

Read our Support Guides on: Clocking In and Out with RosterElf

Why digital time tracking matters

Paper timesheets and manual punch cards are open to mistakes and time theft. Missed breaks, buddy punching, and poor record-keeping create payroll headaches and compliance risks. With RosterElf’s Time and Attendance linked to Xero, every shift is captured accurately, providing clean, payroll-ready data.

Multiple ways to clock in

RosterElf gives businesses flexibility with both a tablet kiosk and mobile app. Staff can clock in and out using GPS verification on their phones, or through a shared on-site kiosk. Every shift is time-stamped, ensuring attendance is captured precisely.

Support Resource: Using the Time Clock App

Breaks captured automatically

Missed or unrecorded breaks are one of the most common payroll issues. RosterElf ensures breaks are recorded correctly, so staff are paid accurately and businesses stay compliant. Managers have visibility over who has taken their breaks in real time.

Live attendance visibility

Managers can see who is currently on shift, late, or absent across all sites. This allows quick decisions when someone hasn’t shown up or when demand suddenly increases. Live visibility reduces stress and keeps coverage consistent.

Fraud prevention built in

By using GPS location and photo capture options, RosterElf reduces the risk of time theft or buddy punching. Staff can only clock in when they are physically at work, giving managers confidence that hours worked are hours paid.

Payroll-ready timesheets

Once shifts are worked, RosterElf automatically builds timesheets that flow directly into Payroll Integration. Pay categories, overtime, and penalties are already applied. When managers approve shifts, the data is instantly ready for Xero—accurate, compliant, and without manual entry.

Support Resource: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Confidence in compliance

All attendance records are stored with a full audit trail, helping businesses meet Fair Work record-keeping requirements. This protects businesses in the event of an audit and builds trust with staff.

RosterElf makes time tracking accurate and stress-free. With digital clock-ins, real-time attendance, and seamless Xero integration, managers save hours each week while ensuring payroll is always correct.

One-click payroll

Seamless timesheet approval to Xero

Save hours every pay run

Approve and export without errors

With RosterElf, reviewing and approving timesheets is quick and error-free.

Pay rules are automatically applied, ensuring overtime, allowances, and penalty rates are captured correctly before exporting to Xero.

What once took hours of manual checking can now be completed in minutes, giving you peace of mind that payroll will always run smoothly and accurately.

Faster Timesheet Approvals, Cleaner Payroll in Xero

Read our Support Guides on: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Why timesheet approvals matter

Payroll accuracy starts with clean timesheets. Manual approval processes can be slow, error-prone, and stressful for managers, especially when overtime or penalty rates apply. With RosterElf’s Payroll Integration linked to Xero, timesheet approvals are quick, simple, and fully compliant.

From roster to timesheet in one click

When staff clock in using Time and Attendance, RosterElf automatically generates digital timesheets. Managers simply review and approve them before exporting to Xero. This removes the need for paper records or manual data entry.

Award rules already applied

By the time a timesheet is ready for approval, all Fair Work rules are already calculated. Overtime, weekend loadings, and public holiday penalties are applied automatically. Managers don’t need to interpret awards manually—everything is handled in the background.

Support Resource: Roster Budgeting and Award Compliance

Approvals in minutes, not hours

RosterElf presents managers with timesheets that are ready to approve, complete with shift data, leave, and breaks. A task that once took hours of checking against rosters and payroll rules now takes minutes. Managers can focus on their teams instead of admin.

Eliminate errors before payroll

The system highlights missing clock-ins, unmatched employees, or incomplete timesheets before approval. Managers get clear prompts to resolve issues, ensuring that payroll data exported to Xero is clean and error-free.

Support Resource: Timesheet Troubleshooting

Direct export to Xero

Once timesheets are approved, exporting to Xero is seamless. Data flows directly into payroll with award rules, allowances, and leave included. Managers can process payroll in a fraction of the time, confident that everything is correct.

Compliance and record keeping

All approved timesheets are stored with a full audit trail, ensuring businesses meet Fair Work compliance requirements. This protects businesses during audits and gives staff confidence their pay is always accurate.

With RosterElf, timesheet approval is no longer a chore. Managers save hours each week, payroll errors are eliminated, and Xero receives data that’s accurate, compliant, and payroll-ready.

No clashes

Simplified leave management with Xero

Transparency for managers and staff

Connected leave management and payroll

Leave requests flow directly into rosters, so managers never accidentally schedule clashes or risk non-compliance.

Balances remain in sync with Xero at all times, giving both managers and staff full transparency.

Approvals can be made instantly from desktop or mobile, while rosters update in real time, ensuring everyone knows who’s available and when without last-minute surprises.

How RosterElf Simplifies Leave Management with Xero

Read our Support Guides on: Requesting Leave as an Employee

Why leave management is critical

Managing staff leave on paper forms, spreadsheets, or emails leads to confusion and payroll errors. Balances get out of sync, managers accidentally roster unavailable staff, and employees lose trust in the system. With RosterElf’s Leave Management connected to Xero, leave is streamlined, transparent, and always accurate.

Digital leave requests

Staff submit leave directly through the RosterElf Mobile App, whether they’re at work, home, or on the go. Requests flow instantly to managers for approval, cutting out messy paper trails and lost emails. Employees can track their leave status at any time, creating full transparency

Balances that stay in sync

Once leave is approved in RosterElf, balances automatically sync with Xero. Managers and employees always see the same up-to-date entitlement records. This eliminates double handling and prevents payroll errors caused by mismatched balances.

Support Resource: Managing Leave

Conflict-free rostering

One of the biggest challenges with leave is avoiding roster clashes. With RosterElf, approved leave instantly blocks scheduling conflicts. Managers are alerted if they try to roster someone who’s unavailable, preventing last-minute scrambles and overtime blowouts.

All leave types supported

RosterElf supports annual, sick, personal, parental, and custom leave categories. Each request is tagged, stored, and synced with payroll. This ensures every type of entitlement is handled consistently and accurately, regardless of business size or industry.

Payroll-ready leave

Once leave is approved, it flows directly into Payroll Integration. Managers don’t need to manually update Xero—leave is already included when exporting payroll data. This saves hours of admin and prevents costly adjustments.

Multi-site visibility

For businesses operating across multiple locations, leave requests are consolidated into one system. Managers see who’s away at each site and can make smarter rostering decisions to maintain coverage.

RosterElf makes leave management simple and stress-free. From digital requests to synced balances and payroll-ready data, every step is automated. Managers save time, employees gain trust, and Xero receives accurate records every pay cycle.

Proven results

Success stories & testimonials

Trusted by accountants and owners

Real customers, real savings

Across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more, businesses are saving hours each week with RosterElf’s deep Xero integration.

Accountants highlight its accuracy and compliance, while business owners praise the cost savings and reduced admin workload.

Real stories from real users show how teams are transforming their payroll processes with RosterElf—delivering faster, more accurate results without the stress.

Real Businesses, Real Results: How RosterElf and Xero Transform Payroll

Read our Support Guides on: Setting up Xero Integration

Proof from the field

Software is only as good as the results it delivers. Across industries like hospitality, retail, and healthcare, businesses are proving that RosterElf saves time, reduces payroll errors, and improves compliance. The stories from real users highlight the practical impact on teams, managers, and accountants.

Hours saved every week

One common theme from customer feedback is the sheer amount of time saved. Managers who used to spend hours reconciling timesheets now approve payroll-ready shifts in minutes. With Time and Attendance data flowing directly into payroll, the admin workload is cut dramatically.

Support Resource: Reviewing and Approving Shifts on Payroll

Compliance made simple

Accountants and bookkeepers consistently point out the improvement in compliance. With Award Compliance built into the platform and leave balances syncing automatically, errors and underpayments are avoided. Businesses feel confident knowing payroll runs are Fair Work ready every time.

Transparent leave management

Employees also feel the benefits. Through Leave Management, staff can see requests, approvals, and balances in real time. This transparency reduces uncertainty and builds trust between teams and management. Feedback often highlights how smoother leave processes improve workplace culture.

Case study: hospitality efficiency

Hospitality businesses, where rosters change constantly, see some of the biggest gains. Owners report cutting payroll admin by half, while ensuring overtime and weekend penalties are always applied correctly. By linking Employee Rostering directly with payroll, last-minute schedule changes are no longer a compliance risk.

Loved by accountants

Many testimonials come directly from accountants who recommend RosterElf to their clients. They highlight the clean data exported into payroll systems, simplified reconciliation, and reduced end-of-year stress. With a full audit trail of rosters, shifts, and leave, accountants have complete visibility without chasing paperwork.

Proven across industries

From small cafés to national franchises, RosterElf delivers consistent results. Businesses save hours each week, reduce payroll errors, and cut labour costs—all while keeping staff confident their pay is accurate. The proof isn’t just in features, but in the real outcomes delivered every day.

RosterElf makes payroll simple and accurate. With real stories of time saved, compliance improved, and costs reduced, it’s clear why thousands of businesses across Australia trust the integration. The success stories speak for themselves.

For everyone

Benefits for every role

Less admin, more time

Owners, accountants, and staff all benefit

RosterElf delivers benefits across the board: business owners gain visibility on labour budgets and real-time costs, accountants and bookkeepers enjoy accurate payroll exports without messy adjustments, and employees get easy tools to clock in, track hours, and manage leave.

By reducing admin and errors for every role, the entire organisation runs more efficiently.

Less time on paperwork means more time to focus on customers, growth, and results.

How RosterElf Helps Managers, Accountants, and Staff Alike

Read our Support Guides on: Creating Your First Roster

One platform, many perspectives

Every role in a business experiences payroll and scheduling differently. For owners, it’s about controlling labour costs; for accountants, it’s about clean, compliant data; for staff, it’s about trust and transparency. RosterElf brings all three together in one seamless workflow, connecting Employee Rostering, Time and Attendance, Leave Management, and payroll.

Benefits for managers and business owners

Managers save hours each week by building rosters with live labour cost projections and built-in compliance checks. The Perfect Match tool ensures shifts are filled with the right staff, while automatic conflict alerts prevent scheduling mistakes. With live wage data connected to rosters, owners stay in control of costs without micromanaging payroll.

Benefits for accountants and bookkeepers

Accountants value RosterElf for its accuracy and transparency. Timesheets are generated from real clock-ins, award rules are applied automatically, and approved shifts export directly into payroll systems like Xero and MYOB. This reduces reconciliation work, ensures Fair Work compliance, and creates a clear audit trail for every pay run. For bookkeepers, it means fewer client queries and less back-and-forth chasing missing data.

Benefits for employees

For staff, RosterElf provides clarity and trust. Through the Mobile App, employees can see rosters instantly, request leave, and update availability from anywhere. Approved leave balances are always visible, and staff receive shift reminders to avoid confusion. Transparency builds confidence—staff know when they’re working, how much they’ll be paid, and that entitlements are handled correctly.

Support Resource: Requesting Leave as an Employee

A system that scales

Whether you manage a small café or a multi-site organisation, RosterElf adapts to your needs. Owners get oversight across locations, accountants enjoy clean payroll data, and staff interact through one connected app. By bringing everyone onto the same platform, communication improves and errors decrease.

Less admin, more trust

At its core, RosterElf reduces admin for everyone while building trust across the team. Owners see costs in real time, accountants process payroll faster, and staff feel confident about their schedules and entitlements. By aligning the needs of every role, RosterElf strengthens the business as a whole.

RosterElf works for every role. From owners and managers to accountants and employees, everyone benefits from accurate rosters, clean timesheets, and payroll-ready data. The result is a smoother workflow, stronger compliance, and a happier team.

Error-proof

Common errors & troubleshooting tips

Quick fixes with clear guidance

Built-in checks and smart alerts

RosterElf is designed with built-in safeguards to prevent payroll issues before they occur.

The system automatically flags common errors such as unmatched employees, missing pay categories, or incomplete timesheets before they reach Xero.

Clear on-screen prompts guide you through quick fixes, while support articles and live help are always available—ensuring payroll stays accurate, compliant, and hassle-free.

Avoiding Payroll Mistakes: Common Errors and How RosterElf Prevents Them

Read our Support Guides on: Setting up Xero Integration

Why payroll errors happen

Payroll mistakes usually come from small oversights—missing timesheets, unmatched employees, or leave not recorded correctly. These errors lead to frustrated staff, compliance risks, and wasted admin time. With RosterElf connected to payroll, most issues are flagged early, so they never make it into the pay run.

Missing or incorrect timesheets

When staff forget to clock in or out, payroll data can become incomplete. RosterElf’s Time and Attendance automatically builds timesheets from digital clock-ins, ensuring accurate records. Managers are alerted to missing punches before approval, reducing the chance of incorrect pay.

Support Resource: Clocking In and Out with the App

Employee mismatches

If staff aren’t matched correctly between RosterElf and payroll systems, timesheets won’t sync. During setup, RosterElf prompts managers to link employees properly, and flags any mismatches in future payroll runs. This safeguard ensures hours always land against the right employee in Xero or MYOB.

Pay category errors

Incorrect mapping of pay categories is another common source of payroll issues. With Award Compliance built in, RosterElf applies the correct rules automatically—covering overtime, allowances, and penalty rates. Managers simply approve shifts, knowing the right pay category is already applied.

Support Resource: Roster Budgeting and Award Compliance

Leave not syncing

Unapproved or incorrectly recorded leave can cause payroll discrepancies. With Leave Management, all requests are submitted digitally, approved instantly, and synced directly into payroll. Managers are blocked from rostering staff on approved leave, removing another major source of error.

Support Resource: Requesting Leave as an Employee

Fixing issues quickly

When errors do occur, RosterElf provides clear, on-screen prompts to resolve them. Whether it’s a missing clock-in, a mismatched pay item, or incomplete data, managers know exactly what needs fixing before exporting to payroll.

Confidence every pay run

By catching problems early, RosterElf ensures payroll data is always clean, compliant, and ready to export. Businesses save hours of troubleshooting, staff are paid correctly, and accountants receive error-free records for reconciliation.

With RosterElf, payroll errors are no longer a constant headache. From digital timesheets to automated leave syncing, the system prevents common issues and gives managers confidence every pay run.

XERO TRACKING CATEGORIES

Map Xero tracking categories to sites or positions

SETUP IN MINUTES

Cleaner reporting by site, store or cost centre

Xero tracking categories let you tag timesheets to the right department or cost centre, so payroll spend rolls up cleanly in your P&L.

In RosterElf, you can link Xero tracking codes to either Sites (when each department has its own roster) or to Positions (when one roster covers multiple areas).

Once mapped, approved timesheets export to Xero with the correct tracking attached—no manual edits. Evidence like photo/GPS stays in RosterElf; pay runs and employee master data remain in Xero.

Read our Support Guides on: Xero Tracking Codes

1) What are Xero tracking codes (tracking categories)?

Tracking codes let you tag payroll costs to the right place in Xero—by site, department, project, or cost centre—so your Profit & Loss and management reports stay clean. When RosterElf exports approved timesheets to Xero, those entries can carry the correct tracking attached automatically.

2) Two simple ways to map in RosterElf

Every business structures work differently, so RosterElf gives you two mapping options:

By Sites – Best when each venue or department has its own roster. Link a site to a Xero tracking option and all shifts at that site inherit the code.
By Positions – Ideal when one roster covers multiple areas (e.g., Front of House, Kitchen, Bar). Map each position to a different tracking option for granular reporting.
Either way, once saved, your approved timesheets export to Xero with tracking—no manual edits.

3) Set up in minutes (step-by-step)

In Xero, create your tracking categories (Accounting → Advanced → Tracking categories).
(Optional) In Xero Payroll Settings, choose relevant timesheet categories.
In RosterElf, open your Sites or Positions, select the Xero Tracking Code from the dropdown, and save.
Approve shifts, then export to Xero—tracking included.
Full walkthrough with screenshots: Linking Xero tracking codes. You can also browse the Xero Integration Help Centre for related setup topics.

4) Cleaner reporting and faster month-end

With tracking mapped at the source (the roster), payroll spend lands in the right Xero buckets automatically—by site, position, or cost centre. That means:

Tidy P&L by tracking without spreadsheet reshuffles.
Consistent cost allocation across pay periods.
Less back-and-forth at month-end for your bookkeeper or accountant.
Pair this with live budget views in RosterElf Rostering for tighter labour-to-sales control before payroll is even processed.

5) Best practices (so you don’t fix it later)

Agree a naming convention in Xero (short, human-readable labels).
Choose one mapping approach (Sites or Positions) to avoid overlap.
Test with one pay period first: approve a handful of shifts, export, and confirm tracking in Xero’s timesheet view.
Keep timezones and periods aligned between RosterElf and Xero to avoid off-by-one-day edge cases.
Review quarterly: if you add new sites/roles, map their tracking immediately so nothing falls to “Unassigned.”

6) What’s included (and what isn’t)

Included: approved timesheets with mapped earnings (ordinary, OT, penalties/allowances) and your chosen tracking codes.
Stays in RosterElf: photo/GPS clock-in evidence and the audit trail.
Stays in Xero: employee master data, leave balances/accruals, and pay runs.

7) Get started

Connect RosterElf to Xero, map tracking, approve shifts, and export with one click:

Product overview: RosterElf ↔ Xero Integration
Setup guide: Linking Xero tracking codes
More help: Xero Integration Help Centre

With tracking codes handled at the roster level, your payroll flows cleanly to Xero—and your reports reflect how the business actually runs.

Customer Love

Xero scheduling reviews

Switch to RosterElf

Moving to RosterElf?

Thinking of moving to RosterElf? It’s super easy! Our team is here to support you every step of the way, from importing employees from Xero to setting up rosters and training you on payroll integration.

Switching to RosterElf: Seamless Xero Integration and Top-Notch Support

Making the switch to RosterElf from another provider is a game changer for businesses seeking a reliable and seamless rostering solution that integrates effortlessly with Xero. Recently, one of our users shared their experience, stating: “We switched to RosterElf and are so pleased we did. Their integration with Xero is faultless. Rostering and payroll consistently run smoothly now.”

This feedback highlights why so many businesses are making the transition to RosterElf and enjoying smoother, more efficient operations. From day one, we ensure that your business experiences minimal disruption and maximum support, allowing you to focus on running your business while we handle the complexities of employee scheduling and payroll integration.

Why Switch to RosterElf for Xero Integration?

Simple Employee Import. Switching to RosterElf is incredibly easy, especially if your business already uses Xero. Our system allows you to import employees from Xero directly into RosterElf with just a few clicks. No more manual data entry—your team members’ details, including contact information and payroll details, are automatically synced, saving you hours of administrative work.

Faultless Xero Integration. One of the top reasons businesses are switching to RosterElf is our faultless integration with Xero. Payroll processing can be a tedious task, especially when transitioning from one provider to another. With RosterElf, once timesheets are approved, the data is seamlessly sent to Xero, including award interpretation, overtime, penalties, and allowances. This eliminates the need for double data entry and ensures your payroll is always accurate and compliant.

Excellent Customer Support. We know that switching to new software can be daunting. That’s why RosterElf offers dedicated customer support to guide you through the process. From importing employee data to setting up your rosters, our team is there every step of the way. Whether you have questions during setup or need ongoing assistance, our support team ensures a smooth transition.

Free Payroll Integration Training. At RosterElf, we want our customers to be confident in using the platform, which is why we offer free payroll integration training. Our onboarding sessions teach you how to use RosterElf’s integration with Xero to streamline both scheduling and payroll processes. By the end of the training, you’ll know how to manage timesheets, approve payroll, and handle employee attendance seamlessly.

Core Benefits of Switching to RosterElf:

Smooth Transition: Import employees from Xero, set up rosters, and begin managing your team with minimal disruption.

Seamless Xero Integration: Enjoy error-free payroll processing by sending approved timesheets directly to Xero.

Top-Notch Support: Our dedicated support team helps you every step of the way, making sure your switch to RosterElf is smooth and efficient.

Free Training: Learn how to maximize the benefits of our Xero staff rostering add-on with tailored training sessions.

Time-Saving Automation: Once set up, RosterElf automates everything from scheduling to payroll, allowing your business to operate more efficiently.

Switching to RosterElf from another provider is an easy decision for businesses looking to improve both rostering and payroll processes. With seamless Xero rostering integration, easy employee imports, and excellent customer support, RosterElf makes the transition simple and effective. Let RosterElf handle the complexities of scheduling and payroll so you can focus on what really matters—running your business.

Accountants and Bookkeepers

Xero accountants love RosterElf

Accountants and bookkeepers are increasingly recommending RosterElf for their small business clients due to its easy-to-use interface and seamless Xero integration.

How RosterElf Streamlines Timesheet Approval and Integration with Xero

Why Accountants and Bookkeepers Are Choosing RosterElf for Their Clients

More and more accountants and bookkeepers are turning to RosterElf as the go-to staff rostering and payroll integration solution for their clients. As an accounting firm, we received feedback from one of our clients: “We have been using RosterElf for our small business clients and cannot speak highly enough of it. Our clients love how easy it is to use, and the integration with Xero is a winner.”

This is becoming a common sentiment among accountants who are recommending RosterElf to their small business clients. With Xero integration, accurate payroll processing has never been easier, and businesses benefit from a streamlined approach to rostering, time and attendance tracking, and shift swaps.

Why RosterElf is Great for Clients.

RosterElf’s intuitive interface makes it simple for businesses to manage their staff schedules. From creating rosters and handling shift swaps to tracking time and attendance, RosterElf ensures businesses have complete control over their workforce management.

Clients love how easy it is to:

Create and update rosters with just a few clicks.

Allow employees to request time off or swap shifts directly through the app.

Track employee hours in real-time, ensuring attendance is accurate.

Why RosterElf is Great for Accountants.

For accountants, RosterElf has become a powerful tool in ensuring payroll accuracy and efficiency. By integrating seamlessly with Xero, approved timesheets are sent directly to payroll, eliminating manual entry and reducing errors. This makes payroll processing faster and more reliable.

Accountants can easily:

Approve and review draft timesheets that sync directly to Xero.

Ensure award interpretation and payroll compliance is automated and accurate.

Save time by reducing manual payroll tasks and data entry errors.

Benefits for Both Clients and Accountants:

Easy to Use: RosterElf is designed to be user-friendly for both business owners and accountants, making staff management and payroll processing a breeze.

Seamless Integration: RosterElf’s Xero payroll integration allows for seamless transfer of timesheet data, ensuring timely and accurate payroll.

Real-Time Attendance: The system tracks employee attendance and shift details in real-time, providing accountants and managers with up-to-date data.

Error Reduction: Automated award interpretation and timesheet approvals ensure fewer errors in payroll, improving efficiency for accountants.

With the increasing demand for streamlined rostering and payroll solutions, it’s no wonder that accountants and bookkeepers are recommending RosterElf to their clients. By combining ease of use for businesses and simplified payroll processing for accountants, RosterElf has become a trusted solution that saves time, reduces errors, and ensures compliance. For any accounting firm looking to provide more value to their small business clients, RosterElf is the ultimate tool.

Help when you need

Xero roster integration help

At RosterElf, customer support is at the heart of everything we do. We provide fast, responsive assistance to ensure that our users always get the help they need, while our seamless Xero integration simplifies scheduling and payroll processes, saving businesses time and reducing errors.

Why Our Customers Love RosterElf: Exceptional Support, Fast Responses, and Seamless Xero Integration

More and more businesses are turning to RosterElf for their rostering and payroll needs, and for good reason. We pride ourselves not only on offering an intuitive Xero staff rostering add-on, but also on providing exceptional customer support with fast responses—because we know you're busy. One of our happy clients expressed it perfectly: “I absolutely love it! And what a fantastic support team! A very special thanks to Stacy! You are one of a kind with your beautiful Irish accent. Thank you for making this process a breeze of fresh air.”

At RosterElf, we don’t just offer a tool, we offer a full solution that integrates seamlessly with Xero for timesheets and payroll processing. Our team is always ready to help, offering fast and friendly customer support, video training, and support content that ensures your business can transition smoothly to our platform. With Xero rostering integration, payroll has never been easier or more accurate.

Key Features That Make Us Stand Out

Dedicated and Fast Support: We provide fast, responsive customer support to answer your questions quickly. Our team, like Stacy, is always on hand to ensure that your queries are answered promptly. We understand your time is valuable, which is why our goal is to minimize any interruptions and keep your business running smoothly with our Xero payroll and rostering tool.

Video Training and Support Content: Our support content includes training videos and articles that make the setup process for our Xero timesheet integration easy and fast. Whether you need help connecting RosterElf with Xero or learning how to approve timesheets, our resources are there to guide you.

Minimal Setup, Maximum Savings: As our reviewer pointed out, the time invested in setting up RosterElf’s Xero roster add-on is small, and the time saved across just a few pay runs more than makes up for it. With Xero payroll integration, manual data entry is eliminated, helping businesses avoid payroll errors and ensure compliance with award rules.

Seamless Xero Integration: RosterElf’s Xero rostering integration allows businesses to manage their scheduling, time and attendance, and payroll all in one platform. Timesheets are approved in RosterElf and sent directly to Xero, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing. Our Xero time and attendance tracking feature syncs all employee clock-ins, attendance, and shifts with your payroll system, so no hours are missed.

Customers love RosterElf for its seamless integration with Xero and fast, helpful customer support. We make it easy to set up, use, and manage everything from employee scheduling for Xero to payroll processing with our Xero timesheet integration. Our responsive team, combined with our comprehensive training and support, ensures that the transition to RosterElf is smooth and time-saving. If you're looking for an easy, accurate, and efficient Xero staff rostering add-on, RosterElf is the best choice.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Rostering and Payroll Software Questions? We have the answers.

RosterElf offers seamless integration with Xero, automatic award interpretation, labour cost savings, and advanced budgeting methods. These features ensure smooth transactions and efficient workforce management, making RosterElf a comprehensive solution for Xero users.
RosterElf connects to Xero via direct API integration, allowing easy data transfer without manual file uploads. The system is ready to go after setting up your platform, staff, and pay items. We offer a full support section and free onboarding assistance to ensure a smooth start.
Employees can clock in using RosterElf’s digital clock-in system. This data syncs with Xero for real-time attendance tracking, ensuring payroll calculations reflect accurate work hours.

No, you do not need to reconnect to Xero for each payroll cycle. RosterElf maintains a continuous connection with Xero, ensuring seamless integration. This background process simplifies payroll management, allowing automatic data transfer whenever needed.
RosterElf benefits a wide range of businesses, from small enterprises to large companies, including Home Care Providers, Bars & Nightclubs, Dentists, Hospitality Venues, and Swimming Schools. With a free 15-day trial, businesses can experience the benefits firsthand.
Xero integration is crucial for Time Tracking apps and Clock In/Out systems. It allows business owners to easily pay employees based on tracked hours, whether from Time Clock, Adjusted Time Clock, Rostered Hours, or Custom Hours. This data is automatically pushed to Xero, streamlining payroll and ensuring accurate accounting.
No, Xero does not offer built-in award interpretation for payroll. However, you can use third-party tools like RosterElf to handle award interpretation automatically. RosterElf ensures compliance with relevant awards and seamlessly integrates with Xero by sending interpreted data as draft timesheets, ready for payroll processing.
Yes, Xero cannot track employee hours directly. However, you can use an add-on like RosterElf, which functions as a digital time and attendance system. With RosterElf, employee hours are tracked and can be reviewed before sending draft timesheets directly to Xero for payroll processing.
No, Xero does not include an employee scheduling system. However, you can integrate third-party tools like RosterElf to manage employee scheduling. RosterElf allows you to create and manage rosters, and once shifts are completed, it can send draft timesheets to Xero for payroll processing.
Xero itself doesn't have the ability to automatically calculate overtime. For businesses needing this feature, tools like RosterElf can be integrated. RosterElf handles overtime calculations by applying award rules or specific business settings and sends this data as draft timesheets to Xero, simplifying the payroll process.
Xero does not offer native roster management. However, rostering features can be accessed through third-party integrations like RosterElf or Deputy, which sync with Xero to streamline payroll based on shift schedules.
No, Xero does not include a built-in scheduling system. For shift scheduling and employee rostering, you’ll need to integrate with external apps like RosterElf or Deputy, which then link with Xero for payroll purposes.
No, RosterElf focuses on managing rosters, award interpretation and export to Xero. The actual payroll and employee payslip generation are handled by Xero.
Xero Me allows employees to manually submit timesheets and manage leave, while RosterElf offers digital leave applications and time tracking to avoid errors and time theft.
Xero doesn’t support clock-in/clock-out functionality natively. However, you can integrate Xero with apps like RosterElf, which enable employees to clock in and out, syncing their work hours with Xero’s payroll and handling award interpretation too.
RosterElf integrates with payroll systems like MYOB and Xero, automating timesheet approvals and ensuring payroll accuracy. Streamline your payroll by exploring our seamless integrations for businesses on the Xero Apps Marketplace.

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