Date of issue: 18th April 2006

CLEMENT KEYS EXPANDS TO MEET PAYROLL DEMAND

During the past 12 months Birmingham firm of chartered accountants Clement Keys has seen a substantial increase in payroll clients and, as a result, now has a seven-strong team working in this area.

Clement Keys offers a specialist service, which is designed to ensure an efficient payroll while also enabling businesses to meet their statutory requirements.

Clement Keys has invested in state of the art software to assist a variety of businesses save money and reduce risk. The firm is also ensuring clients remain legally compliant in their record-keeping and in terms of implementing EDI Electronic Filing and BACSTEL-IP.

"Our payroll support service is very professional and highly flexible. It can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual business and has proved so successful this aspect of our business has increased four-fold in the past two years," says partner Gavin Whitehouse.

Mr Whitehouse attributes the firm's achievements to its investment in hardware and software and the recruitment of experienced staff.

"Outsourcing has in the past raised concerns with some businesses who feared a detrimental impact on employee relations and many businesses were also reluctant to relinquish control of such an important element of the business,"

"Our service addresses both of these concerns; it is provided by highly experienced personnel who utilise only Inland Revenue accredited systems. It is also tailored to individual business needs and takes away a lot of the hassle and worry about compliance, especially following the introduction of EDI Electronic Filing. This means that the payroll function is dealt with positively and efficiently within the business."

The start of a new tax year is typically a time when businesses review their systems as they are assembling information for a variety of purposes. Having finalised all information and updated their records, many decide to start afresh and outsource their payroll services from the beginning of a new financial year.

Companies with between 50 and 249 employees have until May 2006 to register for EDI Electronic Filing to HM Revenue and Customs, while businesses with less than 50 staff have until 2010.