Our Services - Payroll Health Check

Payroll Health Check & Independent Payroll Audit Services

Get objective insight into accuracy, controls, and compliance. We review processes, data, and evidence to surface overpayments, control gaps, and reconciliation issues with a practical plan to fix them.

Error and overpayments detection with root cause
Control framework review against good practice
Payroll to HRIS and finance reconciliations
Compliance review for HMRC and internal policy
Data quality checks and evidence packs
Actionable fixes prioritised by risk and effort

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Request a health check

Share scope and pay cycles. We will respond with a tailored payroll audit plan in 24 hours.

Payroll health check that reduces risk and restores trust.

A payroll health check is a focused payroll audit of accuracy, controls, and compliance across HR, payroll, and finance touchpoints. We test data, trace processes, and verify reconciliations so leaders see where money leaks, where controls fail, and which fixes matter most. The outcome is a clear control framework, fewer overpayments, and faster month end. You get findings you can defend, with practical actions that close risk quickly.

Accuracy & Overpayments Review

We test recent cycles to quantify accuracy and spot patterns. Sampling covers starters, leavers, retro, proration, and statutory elements. Variance analysis highlights overpayments and underpayments and links each issue to a clear root cause. We assess data quality upstream in HRIS, timesheets, and integrations to see where errors originate and how they spread through the run. We then calculate impact, recoverability, and risk by employee group and entity. Findings include worked examples and screenshots so Finance and HR can close items fast. By tackling causes not just symptoms, the payroll health check reduces repeat errors and cuts costly manual rework in later cycles.

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Control Framework Assessment

Strong control frameworks prevent surprises. We review segregation of duties, maker checker steps, exception handling, and change management. We map who can do what, when, and with which approvals, then compare it to a right sized model fit for your scale. Where permissions or workflows allow risk, we propose simple guardrails that increase assurance without slowing the team. We also test operational routines like cutoffs, journals, and evidence retention. The result is a practical control framework that auditors understand and managers can run. Your payroll audit moves from theory to day to day practice, reducing exposure while keeping throughput high.

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End to End Reconciliations

Reconciliations prove trust. We trace data from HRIS into payroll, then into finance and banking. Checks include headcount, gross to net, GL postings, bank files, and statutory returns. Breaks are logged with owners and fixes. Where reconciliations are missing or manual, we design simple templates and frequency so exceptions surface early.

We prioritise automations that save time every cycle. Clear reconciliation packs support sign off and speed month end. With this focus, the payroll health check turns scattered spreadsheets into a consistent rhythm that Finance and HR can rely on.

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Compliance Review & Evidence

Compliance review covers policy and regulation. We verify HMRC obligations, document RTI and FPS/EPS handling, and check treatment of benefits, pensions, student loans, and NI categories. We assess retention rules, GDPR needs, and role based access around sensitive data. Gaps are ranked by regulatory risk and audit impact with direct references to required evidence.

We produce tidy evidence packs that withstand scrutiny. When auditors or SteerCo ask for proof, you have it to hand. This keeps assurance high and reduces the time leaders spend answering repeat questions.

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Remediation Roadmap

Findings mean little without a plan. We convert issues into a remediation roadmap with owners, effort, and risk reduction. Quick wins ship first, while structural items move into small projects with simple stage gates. We include templates for reconciliations, controls, and policy updates so teams can start immediately.

Progress tracking shows closed risks and recovered value. By linking actions to measurable outcomes, the payroll health check pays back fast and keeps improving each cycle.

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Get your risks highlighted

Receive a concise payroll audit report with control framework gaps, reconciliation issues, and a sequenced fix plan.

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Discovery and Testing

We scope cycles, entities, and systems, then run targeted tests across accuracy, overpayments, control framework, reconciliations, and compliance review. Evidence is captured as we go so the payroll health check results stand up to audit and help decisions land fast.

What We Offer:

Scoped plan aligned to your payroll calendar
Targeted sampling for high risk scenarios
Control framework gap analysis
End to end reconciliations design
Compliance review with evidence packs

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Findings and Remediation

You receive a clear payroll audit report with quantified overpayments, control weaknesses, and reconciliation breaks. The remediation roadmap sequences fixes by risk, effort, and benefit, then tracks closure so Finance and HR see progress cycle by cycle.

What We Offer:

Executive summary and risk heat map
Root cause analysis and quantified impact
Actionable control and process fixes
Reconciliation templates and cadence
Compliance actions with due dates

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Our Process

Define Scope

Agree entities, cycles, and tests so effort targets the highest risk areas first.

Gather Evidence

Sample transactions, controls, and reconciliations with screenshots and logs.

Report Clearly

Present impacts and root causes in plain language leaders can act on.

Fix Fast

Deliver quick wins now and schedule structural improvements with owners.

Why choose Us?

We mix deep payroll knowledge with audit discipline. You get a concise payroll health check, a practical remediation roadmap, and support to close gaps without slowing operations.

Risk Focus

We prioritise issues by financial and regulatory impact to move the needle.

Evidence Led

Findings link to screenshots and logs so approval and audit are simple.

Practical Fixes

Templates and checklists turn advice into action in the next cycle.

UK Context

HMRC requirements and local practice handled with real world experience.

Frequently asked questions

About Our Payroll Health Check Services

What is a payroll health check?

It is a focused payroll audit of accuracy, controls, reconciliations, and compliance review. We test real cycles, quantify issues, and provide a fix plan that teams can execute quickly.

Why do we need a payroll audit if we pass year end?

Year end covers statutory outputs, not day to day control. A payroll health check finds overpayments, weak controls, and reconciliation gaps that raise cost and risk between year end events.

How long does a payroll health check take?

Most mid sized teams complete discovery, testing, and reporting inside 2 to 4 weeks, depending on entities, cycles, and available evidence.

What data access do you need?

Read only access to HRIS, payroll, and finance reports for scoped periods. We work with extracts and logs and follow your privacy and access policies.

Will you identify overpayments and recoveries?

Yes. We quantify overpayments, provide root causes, and outline recovery options and prevention steps so repeat issues do not return in future runs.

What is included in the control framework review?

Segregation of duties, maker checker, access rights, change control, and evidence retention. We propose a right sized model aligned to your scale and audit needs.

Do you design reconciliations if we do not have them?

Yes. We design simple templates for HRIS to payroll, payroll to finance, and bank to ledger reconciliations with frequency and owners.

How do you handle compliance review?

We verify RTI handling, PAYE and NI categories, benefits, pensions, and document retention. Gaps are ranked by regulatory risk with clear evidence requirements.

Can the health check run alongside business as usual?

Yes. Tests use existing outputs and short interviews. We avoid disruption and schedule around payroll cutoffs to keep operations smooth.

Will you help implement the fixes?

We can support remediation, from quick wins to control redesign and automation. The roadmap includes effort, owners, and timelines for clear delivery.

How are findings presented?

An executive summary, risk heat map, and detailed pages for each issue with screenshots, logs, and recommended actions. Clean and easy to share.

What about multi entity or multi country payroll?

We use a template approach and sample across entities. The control framework scales with local variations while keeping core reconciliations consistent.

How do you protect sensitive data?

Role based access, masked data in lower environments, and strict handling of extracts. We align with GDPR and your internal policies.

What outcomes should we expect?

Reduced overpayments, stronger controls, faster reconciliations, and fewer audit questions. The payroll health check delivers clarity and a plan you can execute.

How often should we repeat a payroll audit?

nnually, or after major system or process changes. A light quarterly review of key reconciliations and controls keeps risk low between audits.