Don’t you hate it when you make a mental note of everything you need from the grocery store and on arriving home, find that you have forgotten to buy one of the items? Checklists are used every day in practices so that crucial items are not missed.
Pilots with years of experience still run through a preflight checklist with aircrew before they take off on each flight. Doctors and theatre staff use checklists before, during and after surgical procedures to ensure your wellbeing. It doesn’t matter how often you perform these functions, using a checklist will ensure each and every task or procedure is performed.
So, while it is not as life-threatening as these examples, Payroll HQ views checklists as an important part of everyday payroll processing. With each client, we create a customised checklist to ensure all their processes are adhered to. Generally, providers may have task lists which are governed by their systems which require adapting to by their customers. At Payroll HQ we look at what is needed for the payroll operation in your business.
In general, a payroll operation checklist would require the starting of the payroll, onboarding employees, entering miscellaneous adjustments, processing timesheets and leave, reviewing the payroll, closing the payroll and generating the EFT file. Yes, we have all of these on our checklists plus more. Say you have a receptionist that needs a report so that they can see who is away or a manager that needs to see their team costs. We see these as the add-ons to the payroll function and what is needed in your business. Being able to bring these extras into our checklists, ensures that every part of your business is serviced as needed.
Checklists, at times, bring a rigid structure to the payroll operation, however, it does not have to be that way. With flexibility in the software, point 3 does not have to always follow point 2 and with a checklist, you don’t have to remember that you have skipped a step.
Checklists provide visibility making it easier to pinpoint any issues. It also creates accountability for each task that is performed. Daily, weekly, monthly, whatever the schedule, we’ll make sure it is done on time which is why Payroll HQ values the importance of a checklist.
Want more?
Why not take our Payroll Compliance Scorecard and see the areas your payroll function can improve.
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