How Huntress took complexity out of their temp payroll with Access Pay and Bill
For nearly 20 years, Huntress, a UK-based multi-sector recruitment agency has relied on Access technology to run their temp payroll.
Today, they process weekly pay for 300+ workers smoothly and confidently with Access Pay and Bill. Their solution is powered by automation, backed with built-in compliance and the visibility needed to grow without being limited by their processes.
Challenge
- Running weekly payroll for 300+ temps with complex needs like holiday accruals
- Rising compliance pressure from IR35 and PAYE changes
- A growing need for deeper reporting and real-time visibility
Approach
- Implemented Access Pay and Bill, purpose-built for temp recruitment
- Automated holiday pay and simplified compliance
- Gained direct data access for custom reporting and accounting integration
Results
- Compliant, reliable payroll execution every week
- Real-time data and seamless reporting
- 18+ years security with a system that evolves with the industry
Mastering the complexities and compliances of temp payroll
Each week Huntress pays over 300 temps working in a mix of office support, legal, not-for-profit, and public sector roles. As their business has grown, compliance has become more demanding, while payroll operations hit a breaking point.
Legacy tools couldn’t keep up with the requirements — manual workarounds were creating risk, and real-time visibility into payroll costs and performance was non-existent.
“General payroll software just doesn’t cut it for temp workers. You need something that can calculate holiday pay properly, not something you have to work around.”
— Tony Lloyd, Financial Controller, Huntress
From manual stress to total visibility
Before Access Pay and Bill, the Huntress finance team spent hours each week reconciling holiday pay across spreadsheets, handling last-minute adjustments, and responding to temp queries with limited data to back them up.
Now, everything runs faster and smarter.
“We’re now able to track holiday pay in real time. If a temp asks for their balance, we refresh the report and send it straight away. It’s that simple.”
Having full access to the data behind every transaction means the team can automate journal creation, streamline internal processes, and create reports that drive commercial decision-making.
“It’s not just about running payroll any more, it’s about reporting, visibility, and trust. We can report in real time, analyse trends, and answer consultant queries at speed.”
Built for the real world of temp recruitment
Temp recruitment isn’t like other models. It's faster, messier, and packed with moving parts, from last-minute shift changes to fluctuating tax structures across PAYE, umbrella, and holiday pay. Huntress needed payroll technology that could flex with the pace of high-volume temp placements.
“Weekly payroll in temp recruitment is a different animal. Between holiday pay, umbrella setups, and the speed of it all, we needed a system that actually gets it—and Access Pay and Bill does.”
Access Pay and Bill gives Huntress the tools to stay agile and compliant, whether it's new HMRC legislation or internal process evolution. Features like digital timesheets, automated compliance updates, and flexible rule-setting keep them ahead of the curve.
“Year-end used to be a nightmare. Now? We watch a video, tick off the checklist, and we’re done in half an hour. That’s the kind of time-saving that really matters.”
Why Huntress has stuck with Access for almost two decades
Huntress began their journey with an earlier version of Access Pay and Bill. What started as a move driven by specific functional needs like multi-currency capabilities has evolved into a long-standing partnership built on consistency, compliance, and sector-specific innovation.
“We’ve been with Access for over 18 years and there’s a reason we’ve stayed. The system has kept pace with the demands of temp recruitment while continuing to deliver the essentials: speed, accuracy, and trust.”
— Tony Lloyd, Financial Controller, Huntress
Back then, few payroll providers understood the real challenges of temp recruitment. Today, even fewer offer the combination of flexibility, data access, security, and weekly operational confidence that Access delivers.
“We’ve reviewed other systems over the years, of course. We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t. But switching would mean a massive implementation, lots of disruption, and frankly no real gain. With Access, we already have what works.”
That trust goes beyond the software. It’s reflected in the ongoing support and account management Huntress receives, something that Tony says continues to make a big difference.
“The support is responsive, and when we need more, we know exactly who to call. There’s a relationship there, not just a ticketing system. That matters.”
From adapting to IR35 changes to simplifying year-end, Access Pay and Bill has consistently evolved in line with the industry and ahead of compliance pressures. For Huntress, it’s a system they know will scale as they do.
“With any IT system, what you really want is peace of mind. You don’t want to have to think about it. You want it to just run and with Access Pay and Bill, that’s exactly what we get.”
“Access isn’t just a software vendor; it’s a partner in how we run our business. That’s why we’re still here 18 years on.”