Running multi-academy trust payroll across numerous schools is complex. Here’s what your next provider needs to get it right.
As a multi-academy trust (MAT) leader, you want to focus on pupil outcomes – not on chasing payroll errors. The last thing your team needs are delayed payments, compliance headaches, and hours wasted fixing mistakes.
This checklist will help you find a provider that can keep up with your MAT’s demands. Discover the must-haves to look for before selecting a payroll partner.
In this blog
Payroll for academies: why MATs are different
The MAT payroll provider checklist
Conclusion and key takeaways
Payroll for academies: why multi-academy trust are different
Unlike standalone schools, MATs often manage thousands of employees across multiple sites. Each site has different term-time patterns, pay dates, contract types, and pension schemes. That makes standard systems – or providers specialising in private-sector payroll – a poor fit.
Multi-academy trusts need a payroll provider that’s built to handle complexity at scale. Take Teachers’ Pensions, for example. MATs must submit monthly data through either MDC or MCR, depending on their scheme status. Get it wrong, and you risk underpayments, missed contributions, or late returns.
Not only does this impact staff confidence, but it might also affect staff retention. One in five teachers in large MATs left their job last year – the highest churn in the sector.
Add in rising budgetary pressures, and the stakes grow even higher. 37% of trusts expect reserves to dip below the 5% safety line within three years. Therefore, every overtime hour and supply-cover invoice is under scrutiny.
MATs need a payroll partner that understands how they’re structured, can provide education-specific compliance, and offer real-time reporting. This is essential.
The MAT payroll provider checklist
Not every payroll provider understands the demands that MATs are under. Use this checklist to sense-check whether your partner can handle your trust’s scale, complexity, and compliance demands.
Transform payroll for academies
For MATs, payroll is too important – and too complex – to leave to chance.
The right provider offers more than processing power. They bring sector expertise, built-in compliance, and the flexibility to match your trust’s structure.
When payroll runs smoothly, everything else runs smoother – from budgeting and reporting to recruitment and retention.
Key takeaways
- MAT payroll is uniquely complex, with multiple sites, contracts, and pension schemes to manage.
- Choose a payroll provider that supports both MCR and MDC reporting for Teachers’ Pensions.
- Ensure full historical payroll and pension data can be migrated, audited, and signed off before go-live.
- Insist on real-time reporting capabilities rather than having to wait until month-end.
- Look for education-specific experience, proven SLAs, and clear escalation routes during payroll week.
Ready to simplify multi-academy trust payroll?
Find out how Zellis can help you simplify payroll across your trust.
