Payroll Audit Companies in London: Firms and Services Guide (2026)
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·11 min read
This practical guide covers companies offering payroll audit services in London, with a focus on the type of work they handle and the businesses they are suited to. It is designed as an overview rather than ranking companies against one another. The selection includes larger companies with broad audit, tax and advisory capabilities alongside narrower specialists focused more closely on payroll controls, compliance and employment tax. Each profile gives context on the company, the clients it serves and the areas where its expertise is most relevant. The aim is to make comparison easier and help businesses identify a company that fits their payroll risks, internal processes and compliance priorities.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing payroll audit and related assurance services to businesses in London and across the UK.
The firm works with organisations that need an independent review of payroll calculations, tax treatment, reporting processes, and internal controls. Payroll audit work can cover employers with relatively straightforward UK payrolls as well as larger groups with more complex workforce structures, multiple pay categories, benefits, pension obligations, and employment tax considerations.
Payroll reviews may examine areas such as PAYE, National Insurance contributions, Real Time Information submissions, holiday pay, National Minimum Wage compliance, pension auto-enrolment, benefits, termination payments, and the accuracy of gross-to-net calculations. The scope can be adjusted depending on whether the organisation is carrying out a routine compliance review, preparing for an HMRC employer compliance check, changing payroll systems, or investigating known discrepancies.
Acumon can also review the controls surrounding payroll rather than focusing only on individual calculations. This may include reconciliations between payroll records, HMRC liabilities, accounting records, pension submissions, and employee payments, as well as the approval processes used before payroll is finalised.
For groups with more complex structures, payroll issues may overlap with employment tax, financial reporting, internal controls, and wider governance requirements. An independent payroll audit can therefore provide management and boards with clearer information on where errors or control weaknesses exist and what corrective action may be required.
Acumon works with finance, HR, and payroll teams to assess existing arrangements while maintaining an independent assurance perspective. Reviews can be used as a standalone exercise or alongside wider audit, tax, and governance work where payroll forms part of a broader risk assessment.
Payroll Audit Capabilities
Acumon provides payroll audit services covering both payroll accuracy and employer compliance.
These include:
PAYE and National Insurance reviews
Gross-to-net payroll calculation testing
Real Time Information submission reviews
National Minimum Wage compliance checks
Holiday pay reviews
Pension auto-enrolment checks
Benefits and termination payment reviews
Payroll reconciliation and control testing
Payroll audits can be tailored around identified risk areas or structured as a broader review of the payroll cycle.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon holds professional registrations and audit licences that support its wider assurance and compliance work.
These include:
UK statutory audit registration
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
Jersey audit licence
Isle of Man audit licence
Cayman Islands audit licence
British Virgin Islands audit licence
These registrations relate primarily to Acumon’s statutory audit capabilities, while payroll audit engagements form part of its wider assurance, tax, and compliance service offering.
Core Services
In addition to payroll audit work, Acumon provides services that can support organisations dealing with wider financial, tax, and governance requirements.
These include:
Payroll audit services
Payroll processing and support
Employment tax and PAYE reviews
Statutory external audit
Internal audit and governance reviews
Risk management and compliance support
Tax advisory and reporting support
Payroll audit work may be particularly relevant where an organisation is:
Preparing for an HMRC employer compliance review
Changing payroll software or payroll providers
Investigating payroll errors or unexplained differences
Reviewing controls after business growth or restructuring
Preparing for investment, acquisition, or due diligence
Assessing payroll processes as part of a wider internal controls review
An early review can help identify calculation errors, reporting inconsistencies, and control weaknesses before they develop into larger tax, compliance, or employee payment issues.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
HaysMac
London-based HaysMac approaches payroll risk primarily through its Employment Tax practice. Its services include PAYE and National Insurance reviews, employment status process reviews, benefits and expenses advice, National Minimum Wage matters and support with HMRC disputes and voluntary disclosures.
This makes HaysMac particularly relevant where a payroll audit is being undertaken to assess employer tax exposure rather than simply to check the mechanics of each pay run. Employers can use this type of review to examine how payroll decisions interact with benefits, contractors, internationally mobile workers and other employment tax responsibilities.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Employers concerned about PAYE, NIC or wider employment tax exposure
Core services: PAYE reviews, NIC reviews, employment tax compliance, HMRC support
Specialization: Employment tax and payroll-related compliance
Location: London, UK
Notable strength: Direct PAYE and National Insurance review capability
BDO combines payroll advisory with a wider national Employment Tax practice. Its employment tax services address PAYE and NIC compliance, payroll and employment tax reporting, employee benefits, expenses, termination payments and HMRC employer compliance activity.
The firm can also assess employment tax systems and processes to identify weaknesses before they develop into HMRC problems. This makes its approach relevant to larger businesses that want payroll assurance connected with broader workforce tax governance rather than a narrowly defined payroll calculation check. BDO also has dedicated payroll specialists based in its London Baker Street office.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Larger employers and organisations with complex employment tax requirements
Specialization: Employment tax risk and payroll processes
Location: London and other UK offices
Notable strength: Payroll advisory can be combined with specialist employment tax support
Contact Information
Website: www.bdo.co.uk
Phone: 020 7486 5888
Address: 55 Baker Street London, W1U 7EU, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bdo_uk
RSM UK
RSM provides managed payroll alongside consultancy and reviews of existing payroll systems and processes. Organisations can therefore engage the firm for operational payroll outsourcing or use its specialists to examine internal payroll arrangements and identify areas where processes or compliance need attention.
Its wider People Advisory practice brings payroll together with employment tax, employment law, HR, global mobility and employee reward. This can be useful where a payroll audit raises issues that extend beyond calculations themselves, particularly around pensions, employee classification, reporting or internal procedures.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Organisations reviewing payroll systems as well as payroll compliance
Core services: Payroll process reviews, managed payroll, payroll consultancy, pensions support
Specialization: Payroll systems, processes and compliance
Coverage: London and UK-wide
Notable strength: Explicit payroll system and process review capability
Contact Information
Website: www.rsmuk.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 3201 8000
Address: 25 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rsm-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rsm.uk
Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars addresses payroll compliance through its employment tax and global employer solutions services. Its work includes HMRC reviews, payroll compliance, PAYE matters, benefits and expenses, National Minimum Wage, employment status and off-payroll working.
The firm’s employment tax specialists can review historical payments and payroll treatment where potential liabilities have already been identified. That makes the service relevant to employers preparing for an HMRC review, investigating specific payroll risks or assessing whether particular workers and payments have been handled correctly. London-based employment tax specialists are available within the UK practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Employers needing payroll compliance work linked to employment tax
Core services: Payroll compliance, PAYE reviews, NMW, benefits, employment status
Specialization: Employment tax governance and risk
Location: London and other UK offices
Notable strength: Review and remediation support for identified payroll tax exposures
Contact Information
Website: www.forvismazars.com
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7063 4000
Address: 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU, United Kingdom
Grant Thornton combines payroll solutions with employment tax and employer advisory services. Its payroll work places emphasis on reconciliation, quality controls, regulatory compliance and accurate processing, while its employment tax team deals with PAYE, National Insurance, benefits and expenses, employment status and HMRC-related risks.
London employers can therefore use Grant Thornton for a broader assessment in which payroll procedures are considered alongside employment tax governance. Its employer solutions specialists also cover off-payroll working and labour supply chain compliance, which may be relevant where payroll risks extend to contractors or intermediary arrangements.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Businesses with payroll, employment tax and workforce compliance requirements
Core services: Payroll solutions, reconciliations, PAYE and NIC advice, employment tax
Specialization: Employer solutions and payroll compliance
Location: London and across the UK
Notable strength: Integration of payroll with wider workforce tax risk reviews
Saffery provides payroll services alongside an Employment Tax practice that carries out employment tax health checks. Areas reviewed can include PAYE, National Insurance, National Minimum Wage, non-payroll workers, IR35, benefits, expenses and HMRC enquiries.
Its combination of payroll operations and tax review work can suit employers that want to examine both the practical running of payroll and the tax treatment behind individual payments. The firm also advises on payroll readiness and compliance reconciliations as reporting requirements change, including the transition toward mandatory payrolling of most benefits in kind.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Employers seeking a payroll review with strong employment tax input
Address: 71 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BE, UK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/saffery
Instagram: www.instagram.com/saffery_uk
HW Fisher
HW Fisher is a London accountancy practice offering both payroll and internal audit services. Its internal audit work can be designed around individual business cycles, with payroll specifically identified as one of the areas that can be included in a rolling internal audit programme.
That creates a different option from a standalone PAYE audit. Organisations can have payroll controls reviewed within a wider examination of internal processes and procedures, while HW Fisher’s payroll services cover processing and RTI compliance. The model may therefore suit employers whose main concern is the effectiveness of financial controls rather than only tax calculations.
Key Facts
Ideal for: London organisations incorporating payroll into internal audit
Specialization: Internal control and process assurance
Location: London, UK
Notable strength: Payroll can form a defined cycle within an internal audit programme
Contact Information
Website: hwfisher.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7388 7000
Address: Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London, NW1 3ER
Crowe UK
Crowe provides UK and global payroll services together with workforce advisory, employment tax and broader business advisory support. Payroll work includes processing, tax calculations and filings, reporting, employee support and coordination around audit requirements.
Its Workforce Advisory practice covers employment tax and related compliance matters, including off-payroll working and cross-border employee issues. This can make Crowe relevant where a payroll review needs to examine more than domestic payroll processing, particularly for organisations with internationally mobile employees or multiple payroll jurisdictions.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Businesses with UK and international payroll compliance requirements
Core services: Payroll, employment tax, global payroll, workforce advisory
Specialization: Multi-jurisdiction payroll and workforce compliance
London presence: Workforce Advisory specialists in London
Notable strength: Payroll support can extend across international operations
Contact Information
Website: www.crowe.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 7842 7100
Address: 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/crowe-uk
Twitter: x.com/CroweUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crowe_uk
Blick Rothenberg
Blick Rothenberg provides employer tax and compliance services for UK businesses, with payroll and PAYE risk forming a defined part of the work. The London-based practice supports employers with PAYE compliance, payroll reporting, expenses, benefits, employment status, IR35 and HMRC employer enquiries.
Its PAYE Health Check is particularly relevant to payroll audit work. Reviews can examine areas commonly considered during an HMRC PAYE audit, including benefits, expenses, payroll treatment, employee status and employer reporting. The company also supports businesses facing HMRC PAYE audits and disputes, making it suitable where an internal review is intended to identify exposure before or during regulatory scrutiny.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Employers requiring PAYE and employment tax assurance
MHA provides payroll and employment tax compliance reviews through its Human Capital Advisory practice. Its work includes employer compliance matters, interactions with HMRC and PAYE and payroll health check reviews, giving organisations access to a review function separate from routine payroll administration.
The scope can extend beyond payroll calculations to employment status, National Insurance and other employer tax risks. MHA has Human Capital Advisory specialists in London, making the company relevant to employers that want payroll assurance connected with wider employment tax and workforce compliance considerations.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Employers with payroll and wider employment tax risks
Core services: Payroll health checks, PAYE reviews, employer compliance, HMRC support
Specialization: Human capital and employment tax
Location: London, UK
Notable strength: Payroll health checks integrated with employer compliance expertise
Choosing a payroll audit company in London depends on business size, sector, the maturity of existing payroll processes and the regulatory requirements involved. Some companies combine payroll assurance with employment tax, internal audit and wider compliance work, while others concentrate on narrower payroll reviews and control testing. The right fit should provide credible independent assurance while turning identified issues into practical actions that reduce exposure and strengthen operational resilience. This guide is intended to provide neutral context for comparing those different approaches rather than directing businesses toward a single option. The final choice should reflect the scope of the payroll review, the level of specialist input required and the risks the business needs to address.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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