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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Combined Employer Return (CER) and changes to the 8 hour rule
From January 2022, the Jersey 8 hour rule will be replaced with a financial limit. This limit will be equivalent to 8 hours at the minimum wage that is in place at the start of the year.
For weekly paid employees there will be a weekly threshold based on 8 hours per week at the minimum wage. The employer will need to determine, each week, if the employee has reached that threshold and deduct contributions accordingly.
It is possible that an employee may exceed the threshold in some weeks during a month and not others. The Combined Employer Return (due January 2022) will require the earnings for the entire month to be declared for tax purposes but for contributions purposes only the earnings for the weeks where contributions have been deducted should be reported.
For monthly paid employees earnings will only need to be declared for social security purposes where the monthly threshold is reached.
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.
Employers urged to prepare for combined employer return
Revenue Jersey is reminding employers – including building contractors – to prepare for changes to the way they submit their returns of employees’ tax deductions, taxable benefits, contributions and manpower.
Under the current system employers submit their tax, social security, and manpower information on different returns.
From January 2022, employers will submit a Combined Employer Return (CER) every month, which will include tax, social security contributions and manpower all on the same return.
The deadline for the first return under the new system is 15 February 2022.
To complete the CER, employers who use their own payroll software will need to make changes to their systems. Employers who use the online employer returns form will be redirected to a new form when they submit their January 2022 return.
Submissions will need to include the correct social security numbers and tax identification numbers for each of their employees, to be accepted. Ahead of the change, employers will need to ensure all their records are correct and up to date.
Comptroller of Revenue, Richard Summersgill, said: “This initiative will make life easier for employers, enabling them to tell Government about a number of employee-related matters just once. It is the latest step in the Government’s plans to collect revenues more efficiently by centralising services and systems where it is appropriate to do so.”
“We’re committed to achieving this by modernising our legislation, providing easier access to services online, ensuring all customers can understand and meet their obligations while reducing costs.”
“The new return will make the submission process easier for employers but it’s important that employers are sufficiently prepared by having the correct information for their employees. We have been updating employers for some time and there is detailed information and advice on how to prepare for the changes on a dedicated webpage.”
More information about changes is available via the Government of Jersey website: www.gov.je/CombinedEmployerReturn
Payroll suppliers and employers have received information about the changes to give them enough time to update their systems and software.
Employers can also request IT specifications for their payroll provider, or subscribe to regular email updates by emailing: cer@gov.je
Source: Government of Jersey News Release.
“I love being able to press a button and e-mail all the payslips”
Also the Government one return is made so easy again, just submit and it is all completed, If I have any queries or questions the Support Team always sort out any issues and provide solutions.
I find because the product is cloud based if I think of something which needs updating after I have finished work, I can just use my mobile phone or I pad at home so it is very accessible.
Offshore Payroll is very easy to use, it saves me considerable time and has streamlined our payroll process.
Angela Sheehan – Accounts Officer
