When considering outsourcing payroll, a common concern for businesses is: “How much control will we retain?” Many assume that handing payroll over to an external provider means losing oversight. However, managed payroll services are designed to be as flexible as you need them to be, offering a range of service levels – from basic payroll processing to a fully managed solution that takes everything off your plate.
At Phase 3, we understand that every organisation has different requirements. Whether you want to stay hands-on with payroll operations or delegate everything to free up internal resources, managed payroll services provide the right balance of control and convenience.
Unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, managed payroll services can be customised based on how much control you want to maintain. Here’s how the levels of involvement can be structured:
For businesses that want to keep most of their payroll functions in-house, a managed payroll provider can handle the technical processing while leaving overall control in your hands. In this setup, your internal team would manage key tasks such as data entry, approvals, and employee queries, while the provider ensures compliance, accuracy, and processing at month-end.
If you want to reduce administrative tasks but still oversee payroll operations, a partially managed solution offers the best of both worlds. You stay involved in approvals and key decisions, while the provider takes care of things like calculations and payroll processing, PAYE, National Insurance, and pension contributions, and payslip generation and tax reporting.
For businesses looking to eliminate the burden of payroll entirely, a fully managed service means your provider takes care of everything – payroll processing, tax calculations, compliance, reporting, even employee queries. This allows your HR and finance teams to focus on more strategic initiatives without worrying about payroll administration.
Outsourcing payroll doesn’t mean losing control. With Phase 3, you always have access to payroll data, reports, and approvals – giving you complete transparency.
Custom access levels – Choose who in your team can access reports, approve payroll runs, or make adjustments.
Real-time payroll insights – Get clear, up to date reports whenever needed.
Compliance assurance – Stay informed without having to manage complex HMRC or pension regulations yourself.
Scalable service – Increase or decrease the level of control as your business needs change.
The best payroll solution depends on your internal resources, time constraints, and compliance expertise. Phase 3 will work with you to design a managed payroll service that fits your needs – whether you want to stay closely involved or let our experts take full responsibility.
With Phase 3’s managed payroll providers, you get the best of both worlds: as much control as you want, with expert support where you need it. Whether you need assistance with compliance, processing, or a full-service payroll function, we provide a solution tailored to your business. If you’d like to chat about your options, just get in touch with our friendly team today.
Assad founded Phase 3 in 2004 and is responsible for the strategy, growth and finances of the business.
