Meet our Team – Luke Smith
Luke is a Chartered Accountant who began his journey with the Big-4 firm KPMG before taking the lead in developing Purpose, an award-winning accountancy business based in Jersey. Luke is now Managing Director of Offshore Payroll and a Partner in a successful, boutique Private Equity firm that has created a portfolio of local high performing, synergistic, professional services businesses across industry sectors. With over 24 years’ experience in accounting, finance, and business evolution Luke acts as an advisor to the boards of over 30 owner-managed businesses in Jersey with turnovers of £1M
In 2019, Luke spotted a unique opportunity and led the acquisition of Offshore Payroll Limited, determined to assemble a dynamic team that could take the company’s growth and technological capabilities to the next level. His passion for innovation drives him to continuously explore new ways to leverage technology, to streamline and add value to businesses.
Luke believes in the power of technology to reveal the true value of people and resources. By enhancing Offshore Payroll’s cloud platform, he is on a mission to develop tools that help businesses gain deeper insights into profitability, leading to smarter, more informed decisions.
Whether he is advising at board meetings, valuing a small business, or perfecting his golf game, Luke’s commitment to excellence is evident. He regularly provides expert testimony in the Royal Court in Jersey and has an unblemished record—a testament to his expertise and dedication.
September 13, 2024
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Embracing Modern Payroll Technology
In today’s fast-paced business environment, getting payroll right isn’t just a matter of paying employees on time – it’s about maintaining trust, boosting productivity, and creating a workplace where things run smoothly. Payroll errors, often underestimated, can turn what should be a straightforward task into a frustrating experience for both employees and business owners.
The good news? With the right tools, payroll can go from a headache to a highlight! Believe it or not, payroll errors are more common than we think. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 UK businesses faced payroll issues in 2022. These mistakes, whether small or significant, usually lead to late or incorrect payments. The ripple effect of such errors can be felt throughout the entire organisation, leading to unhappy employees, unnecessary stress, and time wasted on troubleshooting.
According to Personnel Today, some companies are spending more than 12 hours a month fixing payroll mistakes – valuable time that could be better spent growing the business. But there’s no need to get bogged down by these numbers. The solution is simpler than ever: modern payroll technology. True Cloud-based payroll systems, like Offshore Payroll, are transforming how businesses handle payroll, making it a seamless, efficient process.
Many companies recognise that upgrading their payroll system can significantly reduce errors and save time but concerns about cost and implementation can often cause hesitation. Offshore Payroll is here to change that perception. We believe that powerful, intuitive payroll software should be accessible to all businesses, regardless of size and without the stress or high expense. Our smart import tools make transferring payroll data and initial set up a breeze, and our dedicated relationship managers guide you every step of the way.
Once you make the switch, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. No more hours wasted on fixing errors – just more time to focus on what truly matters: growing your business. It’s a smart investment that pays off, leaving both you and your team more satisfied, productive, and ready for the future.

Guernsey and Alderney secondary pension scheme delayed
The introduction of a government-approved secondary pension scheme for Guernsey and Alderney has been delayed.
The scheme was due to be established in 2022 after being approved by deputies, but Brexit and Covid-19 have caused a delay.
No alternative start date has yet been proposed. A delay was not unexpected given the challenges of the past year, and that it could help businesses already hit by the pandemic prepare for the scheme’s implementation.
Local employers will be obliged to offer a pension scheme for staff if they do not do so already, and to make contributions of up to 3.5% of salary.
The default scheme is to be administered by a UK auto-enrolment pension provider specialist, but many businesses are setting up new schemes with local providers.
Details of the delay are set out in Employment & Social Security’s Social Security Contributory Fund Accounts 2020, due to be discussed by the States on 16 June.
Source: Guernsey press Website (Secondary pensions held up by Covid and Brexit | Guernsey Press)

Meet our Team – Mike Edward
With over 25 years of experience in strategic HR management, Mike has a proven track record of successfully delivering complex, multi-jurisdictional projects. He recently joined Offshore Payroll as Managing Director, bringing his extensive expertise to support and enhance our commitment to providing world-class payroll software solutions.
Throughout his career, Mike has led numerous strategic initiatives, consistently ensuring excellence in operations management, financial oversight, team development, and stakeholder relations.
Before joining Offshore Payroll, Mike served as Global Head of HR for one of Europe’s leading hedge funds for nearly 12 years, followed by his role as Chief People Officer for a global Funds Services business. His involvement in multiple payroll integration projects has provided him with deep insights into the client-side dynamics of such initiatives.
Outside of the professional sphere, Mike has been a dedicated volunteer RNLI for the past six years, actively participating as a volunteer crew member on the Inshore and All-Weather lifeboat operations based in St. Helier.
When he’s not at work, Mike is a hands-on dad and enjoys life as a competent snowboarder, keen marathon runner, enthusiastic baker, struggling golfer, occasional surfer, and when time permits, a smiling motorbike rider.
“A must have for a business”
Seamlessly integrates with Xero… great service from the team… A must have for a business with employees, ensuring payroll is completed effortlessly and facilitates the CER submissions.
De Wet Oosthuizen – Finance and Operations Manager

