Getting your afternoon back: payroll without the headache
At one o'clock the owner starts collecting timesheets, some handwritten, one missing. By half past two they are calculating superannuation in a spreadsheet. At three they are checking award rates online. At ten to four they are lodging Single Touch Payroll. At half past four the payslips still haven't gone out.
Payroll takes a whole afternoon. And it isn't just time. Paying people correctly and on time is a basic promise to the team, and mistakes damage trust quickly.
The short version
- Payroll involves timesheets, award rates, overtime, leave, superannuation, tax and Single Touch Payroll reporting.
- Done manually, it is slow and error-prone.
- Outsourced payroll runs on a set schedule with checked calculations, on-time lodgement and payslips delivered automatically.
- The owner approves the run in minutes and gets the afternoon back.
- People are paid right, on time, every time.
What payroll involves
01Timesheets
Collecting and checking hours worked, including overtime and breaks.
02Award rates and agreements
Applying the correct pay rates, penalties and allowances under the relevant award or agreement.
03Leave
Tracking annual leave, personal leave and other entitlements.
04Tax withholding
Calculating PAYG withholding correctly.
05Superannuation
Calculating and paying super on time.
06Single Touch Payroll
Reporting pay information to the ATO each pay run.
07Payslips
Providing accurate payslips to employees.
Where payroll goes wrong
Wrong award classification. Missed penalty rates. Leave balances not tracked. Super paid late. New starters set up incorrectly. Terminations calculated wrongly. Each error can mean back pay, penalties and unhappy staff.
> I've built businesses with growing teams, and payroll was the task I was happiest to hand over. Not because it was hard, but because getting it slightly wrong mattered so much to the people on the other end. Accuracy every fortnight is worth paying for.
“Couldn't recommend these guys enough.”
How outsourced payroll works
- Set up. Employees, pay rates, awards, leave and super set up correctly in the payroll system.
- Timesheets. Collected digitally on a schedule.
- Processing. Pay calculated and checked, including overtime and leave.
- Approval. The owner reviews a summary and approves in minutes.
- Payment and lodgement. Payments processed, STP lodged and payslips sent.
- Super. Paid on schedule.
- Records. Everything recorded in the accounting software.
Payroll and the wider team
Payroll links to more than accounts. When NOIZE Talent places someone, Books sets them up in payroll correctly from day one. When someone leaves, final pay is calculated properly. Accurate payroll data also feeds management reports and forecasts in NOIZE Accounting.
An illustrative example
Imagine a trade business with fourteen employees on different awards, paid fortnightly by the owner every second Thursday afternoon. Moving to managed payroll, timesheets are submitted through an app, pay is calculated and checked by Books, and the owner approves a one-page summary. Thursday afternoons go back to quoting and site visits, and an underpayment issue from the old process is identified and fixed.
Mistakes to avoid
- Don't guess award classifications.
- Don't pay super late.
- Don't keep timesheets on paper if you can avoid it.
What we handle, and when specialists step in
For this topic, the day-to-day tasks sit with NOIZE Books: setting up Xero, capturing receipts and chasing overdue invoices. We pair that work with advice on getting your afternoon back and what it means for the business.
Anything that calls for a registered agent, such as for lodgements goes to one of our an appropriately qualified professional. Who does what is confirmed up front, so there are no surprises.
It means one point of contact for the whole job, even when a specialist is involved behind the scenes.
Questions to ask about your payroll
- How long does each pay run take?
- Are timesheets digital or on paper?
- Are award classifications and rates confirmed?
- Is super paid on time, every time?
- Have there been payroll errors in the past year?
- Who checks the pay run before it is approved?
The answers show how much time and risk payroll is costing.
What good looks like
Timesheets are submitted digitally on a schedule. Pay is calculated using the correct awards, penalties and leave. The owner reviews a one-page summary and approves in minutes. Payments, Single Touch Payroll and payslips go out on time. Super is paid on schedule. New starters and leavers are processed correctly. Payroll becomes routine rather than afternoon of stress.
Where to start this week
Time your next pay run from first timesheet to last payslip. Multiply by the number of pay runs in a year. That is the time outsourced payroll gives back. See books.noize.com.au.
How Books connects to the rest of NOIZE
No department works in isolation, least of all this one. NOIZE Finance uses current books to build funding packs that brokers and lenders take seriously. NOIZE Strategy uses the numbers to test which priorities the business can afford. NOIZE Talent relies on payroll being set up correctly for every new person. When Books sits inside the same group, the records are ready for whoever needs them next. NOIZE Accounting relies on clean records to plan, forecast and advise, with appropriately registered professionals handling regulated lodgements.
Related reading
- Books that are current, not catching up
- From shoebox to clear position: what catch-up bookkeeping fixes
This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and it does not take your circumstances into account. Speak to a qualified adviser before acting.
NOIZE provides administrative support and business strategy. Where work is outside our skillset, or the law requires it, we make sure an appropriately qualified professional is involved.
Common questions
What is Single Touch Payroll?
An ATO requirement to report salary, wages, tax and super information each time you pay employees.
How often must super be paid?
Super must be paid by the required due dates, which you should confirm with your adviser or the ATO. Many businesses pay each pay run to stay on top of it.
Can you handle award rates?
Yes. We set up and apply the relevant award rates and conditions.
Is outsourced payroll secure?
Yes, when run through reputable payroll systems with appropriate access controls.
Can payroll run in Xero?
Yes. Xero payroll handles pay runs, leave, super and STP.
What does the owner still need to do?
Review and approve each pay run, usually in a few minutes.
What happens when someone leaves?
Final pay and entitlements are calculated and processed correctly.
Do you set up new employees?
Yes, including tax, super and award details from day one.
Can NOIZE Books lodge our BAS?
We prepare everything from current books. Lodgement is handled through an appropriately registered professional where the law requires it.
How long does it take to move payroll to NOIZE Books?
Usually a few pay cycles, including setting up employees, awards and leave balances correctly.
Can you fix past payroll errors?
We can identify issues and help correct them, with appropriately registered professionals involved where required.
Do you work with software other than Xero?
We work mostly in Xero and can advise on moving from other platforms where it makes sense.
How much does bookkeeping cost?
It depends on transaction volume, payroll and how current the books are. We scope it after a short conversation.
Can I see my numbers any time?
Yes. With cloud software, your books are available whenever you need them.
Do you handle accounts payable?
Yes. Entering and scheduling supplier bills is part of NOIZE Books.
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