CouncilFirst

What CouncilFirst does

CouncilFirst is a purpose-built SaaS Enterprise Resource Planning platform serving exclusively Australian local government councils. Founded in 2012 as a dedicated division of Adelaide-based Open Systems Technology (OST, est. 1992), the company delivers an integrated cloud ERP covering financial management, payroll and employee self-service, records management, procurement, rates, customer request management, regulatory management, building applications, inspections, work orders, and animal management. The platform is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and deployed via Microsoft Azure, integrating natively with Teams, SharePoint, Office 365, and Power BI, and is IRAP-assessed and certified by the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Modules can be adopted incrementally to support phased rollouts for small regional shires through to larger metropolitan councils.

Revenue is generated through annual SaaS subscriptions priced by module selection and council size, supplemented by implementation, consulting, training, and ongoing support services. Distribution is direct enterprise sales combined with a WALGA preferred supplier/panel arrangement in Western Australia. The customer base spans at least 14 named councils across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, with named clients including Shire of Dumbleyung, Shire of Leonora, Shire of Victoria Plains, Shire of Peppermint Grove, East Gippsland Shire Council, City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Tasman Council, West Coast Council, and Shire of Narrogin. The company is led by CEO Glenn Nanda and Head of Operations Kylie Visser, with delivery led by Natalia Carey and customer experience led by Nicole Berton, and operates from its Adelaide headquarters with no disclosed external institutional investment.

Name

CouncilFirst

Legal name

Open Systems Technology Pty Ltd

Website

https://councilfirst.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CouncilFirst is a SaaS ERP platform purpose-built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure for Australian local government councils, delivering modular finance, payroll, records, procurement, rates, and regulatory modules to small regional shires through metropolitan councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government ERP Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAEAEAG

Public Sector & Government ERP

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Platforms

Keywords

• Local government ERP
• Council management software
• Government financial software
• Procurement management software
• Payroll management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS ERP Subscriptions: CouncilFirst operates as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) provider, delivering its ERP platform via subscription. Councils pay for access to cloud-based modules including finance, payroll, records, procurement, rates, and other council-specific functions. The modular architecture allows councils to adopt modules as needed, with pricing scaling with usage and scope.
2. Implementation and Consulting Services: CouncilFirst provides implementation, consulting, training, and ongoing support services as part of its customer engagement model. This includes data migration, system configuration, staff training, and project management tailored to each council's requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CouncilFirst provides a purpose-built, modular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform delivered as a cloud SaaS solution specifically for Australian local government councils. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and deployed via Microsoft Azure, the platform integrates finance, payroll, records management, procurement, rates, customer request management, regulatory management, inspections, work orders, building applications, and animal management into a single connected system. The company also delivers implementation, consulting, training, and ongoing support services to onboard and sustain council customers.

Product overview

CouncilFirst is a SaaS Cloud Council Management System providing a purpose-built, modular ERP platform designed specifically for Australian local government. The core platform is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, featuring a familiar Microsoft-style interface. The solution comprises integrated modules including Financial Management, Records Management, Customer Request Management System (CRMS), Procure-to-Pay, Payroll and ESS (Employee Self-Service), Rates Management, Inspections, Work Order, Regulatory Management, Building Application, and Animal Management. These modules can be adopted flexibly based on council needs, allowing phased rollouts. The modular architecture enables councils to start where needs are greatest and expand over time, with all modules sharing a common data foundation for seamless information flow across departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CouncilFirst ERP Platform A purpose-built, modular Enterprise Resource Planning solution specifically designed for Australian local government. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and deployed via Microsoft Azure, it delivers integrated cloud-based functionality across finance, records, payroll, procurement, and customer service with a familiar Microsoft-style interface. Councils can adopt only the modules they need and expand over time.
• Financial Management Purpose-built financial management solution for local government. Manages general ledgers, budgets, receivables, payables, multiple bank accounts, project costings, and financial projections with real-time reporting and analytics. Designed for Australian local government finance teams.
• Records Management User-friendly electronic records management system with advanced content search, automated version control, email management, and automated retention schedules. Meets WA General Retention and Disposal Authority (DA 2023-005) requirements and is designed for council compliance and records teams.
• Customer Request Management System (CRMS) Unified solution for managing customer interactions that logs, tracks, and maintains customer records with automated workflows and real-time updates. Integrates with email, phone, live chat, customer portal, Snap Send Solve app, and social media. Designed for council customer service teams.
• Procure-to-Pay Comprehensive procurement solution that optimises the entire procurement process with centralised supplier and contract management, automated purchase order/invoice/receipt matching, real-time budget visibility, and approval workflows. Designed for council procurement teams.
• Payroll and Employee Self-Service (ESS) Integrated payroll and Employee Self-Service module with automated award interpretation, complex workforce scheduling, real-time reporting, and a mobile-friendly ESS portal for employees to manage timesheets, leave, and HR information. Designed for council payroll and HR teams.
• Rates Management Simplified rates solution with integrated property and land valuation systems, automated rate assessments, billing, payment tracking, arrears management, and a ratepayer self-service portal. Designed for council finance and revenue teams.
• Inspections Inspection management module that automates scheduling, logging, and reporting with real-time documentation and report generation on mobile devices, plus customisable inspection templates. Designed for council regulatory and field operations teams.
• Work Order Work order management solution that automates creation, allocates resources, tracks progress in real-time, and includes schedule boards and historical data analysis for maintenance planning. Designed for council operations and works teams.
• Regulatory Management Comprehensive regulatory management solution managing the complete lifecycle of applications, permits, infringements, and inspections. Automatically applies state-specific legislation and ensures compliance. Designed for council regulatory and compliance staff.
• Building Application Building application processing solution managing the full lifecycle of building approvals through a structured, end-to-end digital process from submission through assessment, inspections, and final determination, with built-in time tracking and automated alerts for legislated timeframes.
• Animal Management Animal management solution providing a single connected view of animal registration, ownership, and compliance. Links animals to owners, households, and properties while tracking local animal limits and automating workflows.
• Implementation and Consulting Services Professional services covering data migration, system configuration, staff training, project management, and ongoing support tailored to each council's requirements during ERP rollout and post-go-live operation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Payroll processing reduced from ~3 days/fortnight to ~1.5 days/fortnight for small councils (Shire of Dumbleyung)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability8 records

Feature17 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wellington Shire Council (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Wellington Shire Council and East Gippsland Shire Council formed Victoria's first Memorandum of Understanding for local government shared ICT services. Under this innovative agreement, EGSC was able to utilise WSC's ICT capabilities and experience. This collaboration model enabled the shared services arrangement and digital transformation project that resulted in the Highly Commended Award for Excellence from MAV in 2017.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCouncilFirst is built entirely on Microsoft technology — Dynamics 365, Azure, Modern Workplace, and Power Platform. This partnership provides the foundational technology infrastructure for all CouncilFirst ERP solutions, including enterprise-grade security (IRAP assessed, ACSC certified), AI capabilities, and seamless integration with Microsoft tools such as Teams, SharePoint, Office 365, and Power BI. CouncilFirst is a Microsoft Gold Partner.
• Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCouncilFirst is a panellist and preferred supplier to WALGA, the peak body representing Western Australian local governments. This status provides formal procurement pathways for WA councils and positions CouncilFirst as a trusted, pre-approved ERP provider for the sector.
• Open Systems Technology (OST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncilFirst is a dedicated division of Open Systems Technology (OST), an Adelaide-based consulting organisation founded in 1992. OST brought extensive experience in ERP and CRM implementations across private and public sectors, and recognised the gap in technology available to local governments, leading to the creation of CouncilFirst in 2012. OST is CouncilFirst's parent company and Microsoft Gold Partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oracle Government: Global ERP and cloud applications provider with public-sector offerings across financials, HR, and procurement. Relevant for tier-1 Australian councils standardised on Oracle infrastructure or weighing it as a one-stop ERP alternative.
• Infor: Global enterprise software vendor with a Public Sector suite (including finance, HR, procurement) that some Australian councils evaluate as a broader-platform alternative to CouncilFirst's vertical solution.
• SAP Public Services: Global ERP incumbent with a Public Sector industry solution covering finance, procurement, HR, and analytics. Relevant competitor for the largest metropolitan councils that may prefer global-tier suites over vertical specialists.
• Tyler Technologies: Large US-listed public-sector software provider with deep local government ERP, payments, and civic services portfolio. Comparable product breadth but US footprint only; relevant as a benchmark for vertical SaaS scale economics in LG.
• Granicus: Global govtech vendor focused on digital services, citizen engagement, records management, and workflow automation for local government. Overlaps with CouncilFirst on records management and regulatory workflows in particular.

Emerging players

• OpenGov: US-based govtech SaaS provider serving state and local governments with budgeting, permitting, and asset management modules. Increasingly entering adjacent local government back-office workflows with a modern cloud-native stack.

Direct peers

• TechnologyOne: ASX-listed Australian SaaS ERP vendor with an established Local Government & Utilities solution covering finance, HR, payroll, and asset management. Directly competes with CouncilFirst for Australian council ERP deals and is the most credible incumbent in the same vertical.
• Magiq Software: Australian-based local government software vendor delivering ERP, rates, regulatory, and document management solutions to councils. Competes in the same product categories — finance, rates, animal management, regulatory management — targeting the same Australian LG buyer base.
• Civica: Global public-sector software specialist with an Australian local government presence (formerly known for authority and rates platforms). Competes for council finance, rates, and regulatory workflow wins and overlaps with CouncilFirst's target customer profile.

Others

• Datacom: Large Australasian IT services provider with government and local government practices delivering systems integration and Microsoft Dynamics implementations. Adjacent competitor — particularly relevant when councils procure bundled implementation services alongside the CouncilFirst-style product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/councilfirst

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CouncilFirst