How one MAT is simplifying their payroll and HR process

Crofty Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a collection of nine schools in west Cornwall. Established in 2016, the trust aims to enrich the lives of children and families across Cornwall. Led by Finance Manager, Caroline Thomas, Crofty MAT recently introduced EduPay, an integrated system to support employees and manage payroll and HR systems for the entire trust.

They were already using the MAT budget planning tool, BPS, so having everything in one place was a logical choice.

Simplifying processes
Crofty MAT chose EduPay for its comprehensive features and seamless integration. Unlike other providers, EduPay offers a user-friendly portal that combines payroll, HR and budget planning modules on a single database. This removes the need for duplicating data entry, saving valuable time. 

Education-specific expertise
Caroline Thomas explains that the trust was impressed by EduPay's intuitive system and purpose-built payroll engine, which handles the nuances of TPS, LGPS and multiple contracts accurately. By automating calculations and ensuring precise pension contributions, EduPay can effortlessly handle the unique requirements of education payroll for any educational setting.

Smooth transition 
Switching payroll providers can be daunting, but Crofty MAT had a hassle-free experience setting up EduPay, receiving fantastic customer support along the way. Crofty MAT had three trial runs before going live, uncovering and resolving data discrepancies from their previous suppliers.

Seamless training
Training on EduPay was arranged before the last pay run, and our team of experts guided the trust through the process from start to finish. Crofty MAT found the portal easy to use and the user-friendly design required minimal training. Our experts didn't just support the finance and payroll staff, they also assisted in training the wider team on the system.

Digitising HR processes
Before adopting EduPay, Crofty MAT relied on paper-based HR processes. The introduction of EduPay HR modules revolutionised their approach. The 'Staff Absence Management' module provides comprehensive absence reports at school and trust levels, providing headteachers with valuable insights and real-time data. The integrated database allows access to everyone's details in one place, facilitating efficient management of staff contracts and amendments. The 'Workflow and Compliance' module too enables secure document distribution through employee portals, eliminating the need for physical filing cabinets.

EduPay's paperless approach benefits Crofty MAT immensely. Virtual filing cabinets can be assigned to each staff member, allowing easy upload and access to contracts, policies and other documents on their personnel employee portals. Crofty MAT has been replicating and digitising their existing printed documents, ensuring all relevant information is stored and easily accessible.

Trusted partnership
Crofty MAT is looking forward to a long-lasting partnership with EduPay, with shared goals and values. By simplifying administrative tasks and providing a user-friendly system, EduPay allows Crofty MAT to allocate more time and resources to achieve their goals.