Why payroll professionals must embrace automation to stay ahead ADVERTORIAL
Joe Lines, Product Lead for Business Payments, Modulr, highlights recent research which suggests how updating payroll payment methods can grow your business and put you ahead of the competition
P ayroll is no longer a back-office task; it’s becoming central to cash flow management and building employee trust. Payroll professionals have access to real-time workforce data and are in a unique position to translate numbers into meaningful insight. As organisations face growing pressures, this expertise is increasingly being recognised as a strategic opportunity. Modulr’s recent report, ‘ The Fractional CFO Playbook ’, highlights how forward- thinking finance leaders are tackling this by embracing real-time insights and digital- first payment solutions. This demand for additional services is driving the rise of the fractional chief financial officer (CFO), and with it, the opportunity for payroll professionals to play a more influential role than ever.
professionals are under pressure to modernise, but they’re also positioned to benefit most from doing so. How to stay competitive Clients expect seamless payroll execution, real-time financial insights and the ability to make fast, informed decisions based on accurate data. Payroll professionals who cannot deliver are at risk of being left behind. Modernising payments allows payroll professionals to improve client satisfaction and unlock new opportunities by offering services such as integrated payroll, treasury management and cash flow forecasting. By using solutions like Modulr, payroll professionals can take control of payment processes in a way which enhances their advisory role, rather than burdening them with time-consuming administrative work. The key advantages include: l automation of payroll and accounts payable, freeing up time for strategic work l seamless integration with payroll platforms like Xero, Sage and BrightPay, ensuring real-time tracking and transparency l scalability to support business growth without adding complexity l enhanced compliance and security, ensuring payroll, supplier and HM Revenue and Customs payments are handled with full control.
insights businesses require. Where automation has been adopted, the impact is transformative. Pixie Payroll reduced client admin by 24 days a year and cut payment fees. Accountability Edinburgh’s Payroll Manager, Michelle Heller, also cut payroll processing time by 90% for their clients. These examples prove that modernising payroll isn’t abstract; it directly delivers efficiency, client satisfaction and stronger relationships. What’s the future of payroll leadership? The future of payroll is about more than just getting people paid on time. It’s about delivering financial insight, streamlining business operations and helping clients manage their cash flow with confidence. By embracing automation and digital-first payment systems, they can step into a leadership role which sets the direction for strategic planning and builds trust with clients and employees. Those who embrace automation will stay ahead and define the future of the profession. Our latest whitepaper, ‘ The Fractional CFO Playbook ’, dives deeper into how payroll and accounting professionals can leverage modern payment solutions to unlock new opportunities and future- proof their services. o Read the whitepaper here: https://ow.ly/mKEN50X2FVa, or visit Modulr’s website: https://ow.ly/ b7Ae50X2FWj.
Key findings from the report
Expanding services In the past five years, business strategy advisory has grown by 75%, forecasting by 73% and payroll-related services by 70%. Outdated systems stall progress 34% of professionals face inflexible payment infrastructure, while 30% lose time to manual processes and 28% lack transparency in workflows. Time savings from automation 46% of those surveyed believe automation could free more than three hours a week from reconciliation and administration. These findings show that payroll
From bottlenecks to breakthroughs
Manual processes and outdated systems don’t just slow things down; they prevent payroll professionals from delivering the
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 115 | November 2025
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