Outsourcing your payroll can save hours of valuable time each month and ensure your company remains compliant. Whether your business is large or small, Spotlight Accounting can provide an efficient, accurate and professional payroll services to relieve the burden.
Discover outsourced payroll services with Spotlight Accounting
If you dread the monthly payroll process, you are certainly not alone. Payroll processes involve intricate calculations, including taxes, deductions, expense reimbursements and benefits, which can be error-prone without specialist knowledge.
Most small businesses can’t bear the cost of an in-house payroll department, so the task often falls to an overstretched senior team member. As well as the pressure of getting payroll right, it is extremely time-consuming, especially for a growing company.
If that sounds familiar, outsourcing your payroll requirements to Spotlight Accounting may be the answer. Our payroll experts can remove the administrative burden and process payroll on your behalf each month. This frees up your valuable time to concentrate on business growth and running your company.
Our fully managed payroll services ensure that all your employees are paid accurately and in a timely manner, keeping your company compliant with HMRC and the Pensions Regulator.
Spotlight Accounting Limited is a firm of Chartered Accountants based in Shropshire. We are a trusted payroll service provider to small, medium and large businesses throughout the UK.
Contact us today to learn more about our fully managed payroll services.
What are outsourced payroll services?
Payroll outsourcing means handing control of some or all of your payroll service functions to an outside provider, whether that be an accountant or a dedicated payroll company. They will take on the administration involved in paying your employees, including calculating pay and deductions and reporting it to HMRC.
Which payroll-related activities are included in the price of the service depends on the size and needs of the business. For example, a payroll with directors will differ from a payroll for a large retailer.
What are the benefits of payroll outsourcing?
There are numerous benefits to payroll outsourcing, not least fulfilling your legal responsibilities as a responsible employer.
Save time – The main benefit of outsourced or managed services like payroll is the time it saves, which can be significant for a small business owner.
Compliance – By hiring a professional payroll provider, you can be confident that your business is compliant with tax regulations and employment laws.
Accuracy – A professional payroll service ensures your staff are paid correctly and minimises the risk of errors.
Greater staff satisfaction – Employees who are paid correctly and on time are far happier and more motivated.
Cost savings – Payroll outsourcing can save costs associated with hiring and training in-house payroll staff and expensive software, as well as helping your company avoid costly fines.
Access to payroll technology – Payroll software is expensive and requires a degree of knowledge to ensure that all HMRC’s requirements are met. By outsourcing your payroll, you can access the latest payroll technology at a fraction of the cost.
When should a business consider outsourcing its payroll?
There is no definitive answer to this question, but when the complexities and time-consuming nature of managing payroll in-house become too much, or mistakes are being made, then it’s time to reach out for professional help.
If you have recently started a new business, you may be conscious of keeping costs at a minimum. However, outsourcing payroll can be a wise investment when you consider the penalties and reputational consequences of making a mistake. Starting a business is an exciting time, and outsourcing payroll can allow you to put all your energy into doing what you do best.
Outsourcing payroll services can be particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses that lack the resources or expertise to manage payroll and keep up with the ever-changing tax regulations and statutory requirements.
Our expert payroll services
We are experienced payroll providers offering a range of payroll-related services. Whatever your company’s requirements, you can expect a personal service from our dedicated team, tailored to your needs and business objectives.
Inputting payroll data – hours worked, bonuses, holiday pay, etc.
Calculating Income Tax and National Insurance contributions
Auto-enrolment declarations, notifications and submissions
Issuing employee payslips either via email or our dedicated online portal
Preparation of P45s, P60 and P11ds
Pay period reports, including employer summary and P32 detailing amounts due to HMRC
Paying employees
How does the Spotlight Accounting payroll service work?
Our fully managed payroll service aims to make company payroll as pain-free as possible. All our clients are allocated a dedicated payroll manager who understands their business.
All we ask is for you to send us the following payroll information, and we’ll take it from there:
Details of starters and leavers
Hours worked for variable rate employees
Adjustments to pay, such as days sick, holidays taken, commissions and bonuses
Approval of processed payslips
Where we process payments, the total net pay is transferred into Modulr.
We will ensure the correct tax and National Insurance is deducted from your employees, issue payslips, send real-time information submissions to HMRC, report pension contributions and deal with auto-enrolment submissions (including sending notifications to staff).
Auto-enrolment service
Auto-enrolment is a mandatory UK workplace pension program requiring employers to automatically enrol eligible employees into a qualifying pension scheme and make contributions.
As part of our payroll service, we can assess each employee’s eligibility, manage auto-enrolment for new and eligible staff, advise on the right pension scheme for your company, register you with the Pensions Regulator and communicate with your employees about their pension rights.
We’ll take care of the ongoing administration to ensure that pension contributions are made correctly. We can also provide valuable advice on salary sacrifice schemes to help minimise staff costs.
Why choose our payroll services at Spotlight Accounting?
As a firm of Chartered Accountants, Spotlight Accounting has been providing payroll services for over 16 years, so you can be sure your payroll is in safe hands.
Our team of payroll experts is dedicated to assisting businesses of all sizes, ranging from small to large, across various industries such as day nurseries, restaurants, and manufacturers. Whether you need weekly or monthly payroll services, have small or multiple teams to manage, and whether you pay fixed salaries or hourly wages, we have the expertise to ensure payroll goes without a hitch.
Entrusting your payroll service to us not only frees up your valuable time but will leave you safe in the knowledge that your staff have been paid correctly and that HMRC is happy!
Call us today, and let’s explore a payroll solution for your business.
Frequently asked questions about payroll
Why do I need a payroll service?
There are so many benefits to using an accountant to manage your company’s payroll, primarily cost-saving, time-saving and ensuring compliance.
Typically it is the business owner that runs payroll in-house. If that person is you, then we’re sure you agree that your time is far better spent on business development than fiddling about with employee tax codes! Time spent strategising with your sales team is far more valuable than processing payroll. In that sense, the costs of outsourcing payroll far outweigh the benefits.
Do you use Xero’s online payroll software?
Our dedicated online portal is designed to run multiple payrolls with optimum efficiency and functionality. We believe that it offers the best user experience to our clients.
Our payroll software integrates effortlessly with Xero (as well as other accounting software), so we can post the payroll into the company accounts.
What happens if my company fails to comply with payroll regulations?
Failing to comply with payroll regulations in the UK can have significant consequences for your business.
For example, HMRC can impose fines and penalties for missed tax payments, late filings, or inaccurate reporting. These can be substantial, especially for repeated or serious non-compliance. Also, incorrect wages can lead to disgruntled employees and potential legal claims for unpaid wages or breach of contract.
Payroll mistakes can also be disastrous for your company’s reputation, making it harder to find new employees. It may lead to a high turnover of staff, decreased productivity and low morale.
Additionally, lenders may be wary of providing credit to businesses with a history of non-compliance, making it harder to secure funding for future growth.
Investing in reliable, online payroll services from a trusted chartered accountant like Spotlight can help mitigate the risks of non-compliance and its associated consequences.
See our helpful blog article for more information on this topic – What happens when I get payroll wrong?
Should I outsource payroll to an accountant or payroll company?
While there are many reputable and efficient payroll companies offering UK payroll services, it can be beneficial to use an accountant. Accountants have a wide range of financial expertise and a deep understanding of tax regulations and broader business operations. They can integrate payroll services with other essential accounting services like bookkeeping and tax planning to take a more holistic and strategic approach.
Can I integrate payroll services with other accounting services?
Absolutely. Spotlight Accounting offers a comprehensive range of chartered accountant services such as bookkeeping, tax planning, annual accounts preparation, business advisory and cash flow forecasting. The benefit of keeping all of your accounting functions under one roof is that it enables more informed strategic decision-making and better long-term planning.
