COMPLIANCE
Strategic payroll
Jerome Smail, freelance journalist, presents the views of industry luminaries
T he remit of payroll has grown significantly in recent times. Even in just the last decade, new responsibilities, legislation and technologies have seen the function become more important to an organisation than ever. But to what extent is payroll playing a strategic role within business? To find out, I spoke to four shining lights at the sharp end of the industry: ● Karen Beckett BA(Hons) ChFCIPP , head of payroll & benefits, payroll & pension, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust ● Louise Gray ChMCIPP, head of transitions & operations, EY Absolute ● Michelle Sutton MCIPPdip, head of reward & pensions, SUEZ
● Sharon Tayfield MCIPP, GPS director, global outsourcing, BDO.
tax implication of their decision making. Efficiencies are also high on organisations’ agenda and they are looking at ways in which more can be automated both within payroll and how employees interact with the payroll teams. Louise Gray: With greater access to information and AI (artificial intelligence), the role of payroll has undergone a massive change in the last number of years. Payroll teams now have the capability to analyse information and identify the real-time trends and patterns, allowing them to make recommendations for improvement. The strategic payroll function enables an organisation to realise benefits that can then be directed to more strategic elements. Payroll is required to work closely with other teams within an organisation and embrace digital innovation; this means payroll personnel are required, with the right skills and knowledge, to step outside of their normal ‘payroll’ comfort zones and collaborate effectively.
In what ways is payroll now playing a more strategic role for organisations, as opposed to simply paying people the right amount at the right time? Karen Beckett: Payroll has been moving into all aspects of reward to include pensions and salary sacrifice schemes as well as looking at ways in which financial wellbeing contributes towards individuals’ health and wellbeing. Additionally, organisations are becoming aware of the importance of having payroll teams on board with certain decision making so that the impact on pay can be taken into account as well as ensuring that they do not fall foul of any
...capability to analyse information and identify the real-time trends and patterns, allowing them to make recommendations...
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | November 2020 | Issue 65 22
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