Why We Run Payroll In-House at Contract Personnel
At Contract Personnel, our mission is to provide top-tier recruitment services across Norfolk and Suffolk – but it doesn’t stop at matching the right candidates with the right roles. We also ensure our workers are paid accurately and on time, every time. One way we achieve this is by running our payroll entirely in-house, led by our experienced Payroll Manager, Stacey Kerry, and her assistant, Lisa Fleet.
Expertise You Can Trust
Stacey has been with Contract Personnel for nearly 19 years, bringing a wealth of experience to the team. She explains:
“Mastering payroll software, understanding compliance with tax laws and regulations, and accurately processing payroll in a timely manner are all part of my role. Payroll is a critical function in any business, but specifically in the recruitment sector, it’s important to have an in-house payroll department to help our workers directly with wage queries and explain the complexities of tax and National Insurance.”
Having an in-house payroll means that our workers can speak directly with someone who can explain their current employment circumstances, rather than dealing with an outsourced company that may not have a vested interest in their workforce.
Accuracy and Reliability
Ensuring payroll accuracy is one of our top priorities. Stacey highlights the steps we take to get it right:
“We follow a high standard set of procedures each week to avoid errors, which are reviewed and updated in line with the current employment legislation. We also have several checklists to verify and track what we do, and the software we use has programmable functions to ensure our calculations are accurate.”
This attention to detail reflects Stacey’s efficient approach:
“As a methodical person, I prefer to work in an organised, logical manner, and I do have a tendency to be meticulous…perfect for payroll!”
Handling Challenges with Care
Payroll in recruitment comes with its own challenges. Stacey points out one of the trickiest aspects:
” HMRC tends to treat everyone generically, which can cause confusion and frustration, especially for new starters that have worked for multiple Employers in the same tax year, one the of the challenges is explaining why a worker’s tax code has changed and how it affects their pay. I’ve referred to overpayments of tax as a really bad savings account in the past – thankfully the worker understood my joke!”
By managing payroll internally, we can explain these nuances directly to our workers, reducing stress and building trust.
The Benefits of In-House Payroll
Running payroll in-house allows us to:
- Respond quickly and personally to wage queries
- Ensure accurate and timely payments
- Maintain compliance with tax laws and regulations
- Offer clarity on complex payroll issues directly from the people handling it
For Contract Personnel, payroll isn’t just a back-office function—it’s an essential part of the support we provide to our workforce.
Life Outside Payroll
Stacey also knows the importance of balance:
“To unwind, I attend a lot of exercise classes at my local leisure centre and enjoy strength training in the gym. I’ve recently bought a house and am returning it to its former Victorian glory, but that’s more labour than fun to be honest!”
With a dedicated, knowledgeable payroll team like Stacey and Lisa, our workers can focus on what they do best – while we ensure their pay is handled accurately, efficiently, and with care.
