The only north east council to be awarded accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals has achieved the prestigious standard for a third time.
Durham County Council is one of only seven English local authorities, and the only council in the region to achieve the accreditation for its Payroll and Employee Services as part of the Payroll Assurance Scheme.
This is the third time that the team has achieved the status, which recognises that it offers a high quality and professional payroll service, after first being accredited in 2015 and then reaccredited in 2017.
The re-accreditation was granted following a rigorous external assessment which this year incorporated new, more stringent assessment criteria, and which was approved and developed in partnership with HM Revenues and Customs.
Lorraine Anderson, strategic manager of payroll and employee services, said: “I’m thrilled that we have been recognised with this prestigious award. This accreditation is the gold standard and acknowledges that our processes and people are some of the best in the industry. I’m very proud of all our wonderful, hardworking team.”
As well as providing payroll services for Durham County Council, the team also provides services for the county’s schools and a number of other organisations including academies, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, town and parish councils, further education colleges and trade unions, generating over £1.1 million income for the council every year.
In the accreditation report, the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals Assessor said: “Thanks to the absolutely fabulous team who made this assessment the easiest and most inspiring assessment I have ever done. From the open and frank discussions with the team and plethora of evidence viewed it is very clear the payroll operation is very well run, and Durham County Council is a very professional organisation admirably dedicated to moving the council forward for its own employees and their business operations.”
