Fourth achieves PAS accreditation for 12th year running

By Kathryn Wright|Mar 28, 2025|4:27 pm GMT

Payroll errors can be costly and time-consuming. Around half of payroll professionals agree that investigating and correcting payroll errors are one of the most time-consuming aspects of their role –– they’re also expensive. Penalties for incorrect reporting can top £400 monthly for larger teams, affecting budgets, performance, and morale. As many as one in four UK PAYE employees have experienced payroll errors that prevented them from being paid correctly or on time.

Given these challenges, it’s no surprise that most UK businesses (around two-thirds at last count) outsource payroll. By relying on specialist, dedicated payroll teams, operators can avoid costly fines and ensure they stay compliant with new legislation and regulatory updates without the expense of training in-house teams.

The Payroll Accreditation Scheme (PAS), developed by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), sets the standard for payroll compliance and can be helpful for businesses when assessing potential payroll partners. The voluntary accreditation is developed alongside HMRC and demonstrates that an employer or vendor upholds strict standards across a range of measures.

Fourth’s Payroll Bureau has now achieved PAS accreditation for the 12th year running –– a measure of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in payroll processing.

What does PAS accreditation mean for hospitality operators?

PAS accreditation assesses excellence in two core modules: i) processes and ii) training across relevant areas:

1. Team culture and people management

Managing payroll effectively requires a thorough understanding of payroll regulations and workforce legislation, particularly in the hospitality industry, where considerations like off-payroll workers and tronc payments are commonplace.

Fourth invests heavily in recruiting, training, and retaining payroll experts (the average tenure of managers in our payroll bureau team is 10 years). We support a culture of continuous learning, ensuring the team is across the latest regulations and up-to-speed with industry best practices.

“I would like to express my gratitude [to Fourth]… for high professionalism, knowledge and human kindness. Thank you for month after month helping to close payrolls. With you onboard, all runs smoothly.”

Fourth Payroll Bureau Customer, Luxury Hotel Operator

2. Payroll and pension management

PAS accreditations assess the use of payroll software and the processes in place to process payroll. Our systems update every spring to reflect changes to the National Minimum Wage and statutory payment entitlements and to reflect incoming regulations, such as Neonatal Care Leave or updates to how Holiday Pay Entitlement is calculated.

Almost all employers must now provide auto-enrollment pensions. Pension contributions are overseen by The Pensions Regulator, which requires employers to meet strict legal requirements and keep detailed records. Outsourcing payroll to Fourth’s payroll bureau removes the administrative burden associated with pension compliance from internal teams.

“The shift from Evolve Pension to Smart Pension brought its fair share of challenges, including opt-out issues, refund delays, and payment upload complications… A special thanks to the Fourth team for stepping up and taking ownership of the process… We truly appreciate your dedication and look forward to continued collaboration.”

Shigeesh Raman, HR Manager at Melia Hotels

3. Compliance and risk management

Fraud can cost UK businesses dearly. Co-employment, for example –– where an agency is the primary employer but another company, such as a hospitality operator, takes on responsibility for HR functions and supervising an employee’s work –– poses several risks. HMRC monitors for fraud in labour supply chains, and employers are likely to incur hefty penalties if they knew or should have known about fraud within their supply chain. Fourth’s PAS accreditation demonstrates our adherence to strict compliance measures and confirms that we have adequate processes to protect employers and mitigate risk.

4. Process and system management

From disaster recovery planning to data retention policies and change management processes, Fourth’s payroll bureau is structured to manage complex payroll operations –– a process our PAS accreditation confirms is best-in-class.

“I love our monthly catch-ups when payroll comes around! [Fourth] always makes the process very easy and is always there to help.”

Fourth Payroll Bureau Customer, Hotel Management

5. Collaboration across departments

Effective payroll doesn’t operate in isolation. It requires integration with HR, finance, and operations. Fourth has its own leading HR and Payroll platform, so we work closely with members of the product and tech teams to ensure our tools meet the needs of hospitality operators across the country.

6. Commitment to continuous improvement

Earning PAS accreditation isn’t a one-time achievement, and the Fourth team is proud to have retained the accreditation for over a decade. This in itself demonstrates our commitment to continuous professional development within our team. By ensuring we stay across relevant updates, we give our customers complete confidence that we understand incoming legislation and regulatory updates and can help them navigate the changing landscape and remain compliant.

“Nothing is too much for the team; any enquiry is dealt with very quickly, and even better, they share their knowledge so we can learn, too 🙂 Every time I asked for help and support, the service is 1000 STARS.”

Fourth Payroll Bureau Customer, Hospitality Management

What does this mean for your hospitality business?

For operators looking to outsource payroll, Fourth’s PAS accreditation is more than just a box-ticking exercise; it’s proof of an outsourcing partner with the processes and expertise to deliver an accurate, efficient payroll service. Working with a PAS-accredited vendor provides the confidence that your payroll is handled securely and accurately, mitigating risk while ensuring your team doesn’t have to deal with incorrect or late payments.