Based in Lancaster, Honest Payroll Limited is your consultative payroll and accountancy partner offering tailored solutions across multiple sectors around the globe. Here we speak to the firm’s leader, Matthew Blane, to find out more about the company and its ambitious plans for the future as he gains notable recognition in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2024.
Honest Payroll’s journey first began back in December 2022 and was driven by a desire to raise the bar in umbrella payroll and a passion for delivering world-class customer service to contractors, agencies, and clients. In just eighteen months, its achievements have been nothing short of remarkable.
The company has meticulously built its systems, software, policies, and procedures, laying a solid foundation for growth, all the while recruiting an exceptional team of experts in its field along the way.
Today, Honest Payroll offers a fresh, individual, and powerful approach to payroll and accounting services. One that cuts through all the complexities, is always compliant, and serves up the right solutions that meet its end users’ needs.
Its continuing success has enabled it to expand internationally, establishing Honest International in Dubai and launching its latest brand, Honest Accountancy.
Here, Matthew Blane, Managing Director of Honest Payroll, shares his insights on the company’s foundations, its people, and core values. “Honesty and transparency sit at the heart of everything we do here,” he says.
“We strive to do the right thing in an ethical and respectful way, whilst also being accountable and taking ownership. Behind the scenes, you’ll find a close knit, approachable team of experts who all share a strong customer first approach.”
As a seasoned senior manager, with more than 25 years’ worth of experience, Matthew’s journey into the world of contractor payroll and accounting started nearly ten years ago. Prior to this, he worked in recruitment servicing the energy sector in various roles across the world for almost twenty years.
“I have a great understanding of both of these industries and their respective supply chains,” he elaborates. “This experience has given me a strong grasp of what world-class customer service looks like for our contractors, agencies, and clients – and crucially, how to deliver it. I’m well versed in strategy creation and implementation, with a proven track record in identifying, creating, and realising opportunities within a local, national, and international environment. That, combined with an industry that’s crying out for compliance, was the driving force behind why I first set out to create Honest Payroll Limited and I’ve never looked back.”
He continues, “What sets Honest Payroll apart is our innovative approach, encapsulated in the “Honest Journey”, a journey founded on three core principles: transparency, individuality, and seamlessness.”
Matthew’s approach to management and leadership is very much an extension of the recruitment process. He believes that, whilst skillset and experience are of course important when recruiting, understanding, and prioritising behavioural profiles can also play a big part and he actively searches for candidates who share Honest Payroll’s core values and approach. It’s how he’s been able to build such a passionate, empowered, and agile team who all share such a strong moral compass.
Post on-boarding, everyone is brought up to speed with the company’s vision and values so that they all share a full and rounded understanding of the “Honest Way” of working and where the business is heading.
“We really do operate an open-door culture here,” Matthew tells us. “Everyone has a voice and we’re dedicated to investing in our people through continuous learning and development, ensuring our team is always at the forefront of industry advancements.”
Matthew’s leadership approach centres upon several components which together make up the company’s wider objectives. These include: the vision; empowering the team; engaging the team; three-year business plan; 12-month focus (strategy); quarterly strategy sessions; weekly pulse meetings; and accountability.
“Our three-year vision is broken into annual segments with a granular focus on the coming year. This is broken down further into quarterly commitments which are then further granulised into weekly bitesize chunks. Our weekly meetings provide a communication platform for the team where together we can track progress and table any issues. All in all, I find that great communication, structure, engagement, and empowerment are what makes the dream work.”
Recently, thanks to his pro-active approach and laser focus, Matthew gained notable recognition in the Managing Director of the Year Awards and was bestowed with the prestigious and coveted title of Accounting & Payroll MD of the Year 2024.
Now, as the future beckons, Matthew has a solid vision of what he wants the business to achieve over the next five years. Namely, his aim is to be a top-ten provider in the United Kingdom within five years, with further expansion in international markets and subsequent complimentary brands. Over the next 12 months alone, Matthew hopes to see the firm doubling in size.
“Achieving our ambitious vision isn’t something I can do alone. Having the right people, in the right seats with the right mindsets and cultural values is going to be crucial in getting us there. The team has to buy into the vision and be able to see the reality of what we can achieve, not just as individuals but as a collaborative team.”
It’s also important for Matthew to have the right rewards in place. Financial reward will understandably be a priority for most people, but he has learned to never underestimate the power of a happy, engaged, and motivated workplace where people feel valued.
“In hindsight, my approach to management today has in many ways been shaped by learning from past experiences in businesses where they didn’t always get it right. These lessons have underscored the importance of having the right team around you, which I believe is crucial for success and something I never take for granted.”
Just a few of the services that Honest Payroll provides include:
- Employment: Full PAYE employment, including pension, holiday entitlement, expenses, and statutory benefits.
- Professional Employment Organisation (PEO): Transparent solutions with fixed gross rates and no deductions beyond statutory PAYE, ensuring clear payslips.
- Self-Employed/CIS: Flexibility of self-employment while we handle contracts, payments, and necessary insurances.
- Limited Company: Complete compliance with all company and agency legislation, using a self-billing system for clear and concise paperwork, with access to required insurances.
When asked about what the future holds, Matthew shares, “The future has never looked brighter or more exciting for Honest Payroll. Our recent expansion into international markets, coupled with the launch of new brands like Honest Accountancy, marks just the beginning.
“As we continue to grow and evolve, our mission remains clear: to provide unparalleled service and compliance, empowering contractors, agencies, and clients worldwide.
“The journey ahead is filled with promise, and the team and I are ready to embrace every opportunity that comes our way. So, yes, here’s to a future of growth, success, and making a real difference in the industry. Watch this space!”
For further information, please contact Matthew Blane or visit www.honestpayroll.co.uk
