New payroll system for 110,000 school staff

New Zealand’s largest payroll is to have a new provider and significant improvements. The current outdated service will be replaced by new arrangements to support taking the schools’ payroll into the future.

Talent2, an Australian based provider of payroll and human resources services, has been chosen to implement the new systems and services. Talent2 will establish NZ based facilities in Christchurch and Auckland to operate the new payroll.

MoE group manager for the schools’ payroll, Kevin Wilson, says the new service will deliver greater efficiencies, reduce technical risk, and provide schools with a future-proofed service.

“The MoE’s system manages pay for more than 110,000 school staff in the compulsory education sector. The new system allows us to focus on managing the schools’ payroll to oversee financial value, quality of service and risk” says Mr Wilson.

Talent2 will provide the payroll service from 2010, with a new service desk, pay clerking service, technology systems and management processes. Talent2 will train school staff in the new system and provide ongoing support.

“The ministry will work with schools to ensure the service meets their needs. We have already convened a payroll reference group to advise the project, which includes representatives of the NZ School Trustees’ Association, Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ, NZ Secondary Principals’ Council, NZ Principals’ Federation, Schools Executive Officers’ Association and relevant union representatives.

“In the meantime in the lead up to 2010, we are working with current provider Datacom to increase the quality of the current service and to meet new needs. Enhancements are being actively pursued in two key areas: website information and on-line entry of payroll data by schools.

“Schools will receive a higher quality service over the next two years, and can look forward to a significantly improved payroll from 2010.”