Office address: Level 27, 580 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Website: www.elmosoftware.com.au
Year established: 2002
Company type: software development
Employees: 500+
Expertise: workforce planning & analytics, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning management, remuneration, expense management, succession systems, HR software, software as a service, HR automation, employee surveys
Parent company: K1 Investment Management
Key people: Joseph Lyons (CEO), Sarah Dart (CCO), James Haslam (COO and CFO), Joshua McKenzie (CTO), Kate Wilkinson (CPO), Luke Allen (SVP Sales)
Financing status: private equity-backed
ELMO Software, headquartered in Sydney with six offices across Australia and New Zealand, provides HR software solutions to ~2,500 clients. With about one million end users, the company helps mid-sized ANZ businesses manage the entire employee lifecycle with confidence. Their flexible, modular HR and payroll platform streamlines operations, strengthens compliance, and scales as you grow. Designed for local needs, ELMO's HR Software integrates with payroll systems, ensures accurate reporting, and supports ISO-certified security.
ELMO Software was founded in 2002 by Danny Lessem and Manuel Garber, and was designed to streamline and digitise the world of e-learning. Now it’s an end-to-end HR technology platform that automates the entire employee lifecycle.
The company offers a range of HR products and services designed to streamline HR and payroll processes. These include:
ELMO Software's solutions help businesses save time and money while ensuring robust HR operations and secure employee data. As a trusted HR partner, it supports organisations to manage the entire employee lifecycle with confidence.
The company fosters a diverse and inclusive culture, valuing the unique skills and experiences each employee, or ‘ELMOnian,’ brings to the workplace. The company promotes innovation, engagement, and growth within its team through a supportive and collaborative environment. It offers various employee benefits, including:
ELMO Software is deeply committed to corporate social responsibility, striving to contribute more to society than it takes. The company embraces its role as a global citizen by promoting sustainable practices and empowering communities through various initiatives. Its dedication to social and environmental responsibility is evident in its ongoing efforts to create a positive impact:
The company’s culture is rooted in four core values that guide every aspect of its operations. The company prioritises innovation, customer focus, and a commitment to helping others thrive. With fearless optimism, it consistently challenges norms to drive positive change and deliver meaningful impact.
Joseph Lyons became chief executive officer of ELMO Software in January 2024, leading the company's strategic growth and performance. His prior roles include managing director at Xero and chief customer officer at REA Group, and other leadership roles from various companies. Lyons holds degrees in marketing from the University of South Australia and international business from The State University of New York.
Supporting the CEO in leading the company are key executives who oversee various functions within the company:
Under CEO Joseph Lyons' leadership and focus on choosing the right HR technology, ELMO Software promotes the automation of processes to reduce reliance on manual systems. By enhancing HR technology, the company believes that providing better data and insights will empower businesses to manage their most valuable assets—people. The company is set to lead the future of HR with innovative solutions that streamline operations and drive meaningful change.
Recent findings from ELMO's 2025 HR Industry Benchmark Report show that greater success in HR now hinges on three factors: leveraging AI effectively, building flexible multi-generational work models, and strengthening the connection between people strategies and business results.