A Fresh Perspective on Payroll

Payroll is no longer a back-office function. It has become a strategic priority that supports workforce planning, sustainability reporting and employee wellbeing.

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A Fresh Perspective on Payroll

This Payroll edition of Fresh Perspectives is your window on the world of payroll. Discover how organisations are managing cost pressures and workforce complexity, keeping pace with changing regulation, and making use of automation and real-time reporting. To inform it, we commissioned a survey of 205 C-suite executives, senior leaders and payroll decision-makers, and drew on the experience of Finance Directors and payroll leaders across Azets. The research was conducted in May 2026 across the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Payroll under pressure

37% of organisations describe regulatory changes as the biggest challenge for them in the last 12 months. Add in system integrations, managing queries and rising expectations, it’s clear that payroll is under more pressure than ever before.

Payroll across borders

45% of businesses say the rise in remote, hybrid or cross-border workers is their biggest workforce concern. With running a smooth cross-border process critical to business success: consistent, integrated and accountable payroll management is crucial.

The hidden cost of payroll

Payroll’s hidden cost: 69% of organisations say payroll errors can damage reputation as much as a tax investigation or audit scandal. There are also implications for employee morale and potential fines, yet it remains an under-invested areas for many companies.

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From payroll compliance to strategic impact

Organisations are moving away from transactional processing towards advisory-led partnerships that can unlock the potential of Payroll. Speak to an Azets Payroll Specialist today.

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