The challenge
When Cidari’s Payroll Manager joined the Trust, an audit of payroll reports revealed recurring issues. Casual contracts that should have ended remained active, leavers were still being paid and some employees were on incorrect pay scales. These errors created additional correction work and led to employee queries. Under its previous arrangements, Cidari had also received HMRC fines for late submissions.
The Trust had already experienced iTrent through its existing outsourced payroll provider and recognised the platform’s potential. However, access to its functionality had been limited, making it difficult to understand what the system could really achieve. Cidari needed a more dependable payroll service, greater visibility across its academies and specialist support to help its internal team make better use of the technology.
The solution
When its contract came up for renewal, Cidari approached MHR for a full demonstration of iTrent. The session revealed functionality the Trust had not previously used, or in some cases even seen, and highlighted how the platform could support a more effective payroll service.
Moving to MHR allowed Cidari to rethink its processes rather than simply transfer them to a new provider. iTrent now helps standardise payroll across the Trust while retaining flexibility for different academies and employee groups. Reporting through iTrent and BusinessObjects helps the team identify anomalies before payroll is finalised, while MHR’s Managed Services, Service Desk and Assist provide ongoing specialist expertise and support.
Key benefits
- Access to specialist payroll and system expertise
- No HMRC fines since moving to MHR
- Significantly fewer payroll errors and employee queries
- More efficient checking and reconciliation and less reliance on manual processes
- Around 90% of employees using iTrent self-service
- More time for process improvement and higher-value work
“Our partnership with MHR has given us confidence in the accuracy of our payroll, reduced the administrative burden on our team and allowed us to focus on improving the service we provide to our academies.” Lisa Burke, Trust Payroll and Pensions Manager, Cidari Multi Academy Trust
