Surf Accounts integration with Thesaurus Payroll Manager - Here's how it works

It’s a Friday evening – everyone is at home starting their weekend, and you’re still in the office processing this month’s payroll. Whether your software isn’t up-to-scratch or you’ve left it until last minute, processing payroll can be a time-consuming and tedious task.

Even when the payroll is finalised, there’s still the task of entering the data into your bookkeeping software. From exporting your payroll journal data and then having to manually upload it into your accounting software – it’s monotonous, repetitive, and to be frank, it’s time for this process to be automated.

That’s why we’ve been working hard behind the scenes here at Thesaurus Software and have found the remedy – with our recent direct API integration with the cloud-based accounting software, Surf Accounts.

Who are Surf Accounts?

Surf Accounts is a bookkeeping software and CRM system that’s suited to small and medium sized businesses. Surf Accounts provides a whole range of innovative features, including:

• The ability to create and schedule online invoices
• Sales pipeline management
• Produce reports and bank reconciliations in seconds
• Make online payments and SEPA payments
• VAT reporting (inclusive of the return on trading details)
• Inventory management
• Customisable dashboard and reporting
• And many more bookkeeping features

How can this help my payroll process?

The Thesaurus Payroll Manager’s integration with Surf Accounts allows the two systems to communicate directly with one another. Thesaurus Payroll Manager automatically creates a payroll journal for you, that can be sent straight to Surf Accounts’ general ledger from within the payroll software.

This eliminates the need for you to manually export your payroll journals and import them back into the accounting software, every time you process payroll. Not only will you save time using this direct API integration, but you will reduce the chances of duplicate data and other errors that can occur from inputting data manually. The integration allows you to attend to more important matters in your business, by submitting data across platforms smoothly and seamlessly.

How does the integration work?

Click into the journal button in the menu with Thesaurus Payroll Manager, and then click Surf Accounts. When you sign into Surf Accounts within Thesaurus Payroll Manager, your nominal ledger accounts will be retrieved, where you can then begin mapping out your nominal ledger. Here you can add any specific variations (i.e. additions/deductions) and this data is saved automatically once it’s entered, so you don’t have to start your nominal mapping from scratch every time you login.

Once this information is submitted, you can then find it under the journals section within Surf Accounts.

Why Thesaurus Payroll Manager?

1. Integrated with Revenue, PAYE Modernisation and direct payments platform

Thesaurus Payroll Manager is fully integrated with Revenue and has full PAYE Modernisation functionality, making RPN retrievals and PSR submissions a breeze. Our integration with direct payments platform, Modulr, also offers same-day payment turnarounds and greater flexibility with scheduled payments.

These features streamline your entire payroll workflow, reduce admin workloads and increase the efficiency of your business.

2. 60-day free trial

Thesaurus Payroll Manager offers a 60-day free trial that commences from the date of your installation. This comes with complete functionality, so you can use the software to its full extent throughout the entire trial period. Once the trial ends, a licence is then required to continue use.

3. Cloud-extension with extra HR features

Thesaurus Payroll Manager’s cloud-extension, Thesaurus Connect, offers a vast range of features that can enhance any business. These include:

Annual Leave Management – where you can view all of your employees’ leave. You can also approve/deny employee’s’ leave requests through an easy-to-use calendar format.

Employee app – a user-friendly employee app that allows employees access all of their payslips and important HR documents that are available to view, download or print from anywhere at any time.

Employer dashboard – where you can see payments due to Revenue, annual leave requests and employee details. For further information on how Thesaurus Connect can work for employers, watch this short one-minute video for a quick overview.

Automated backups – Thesaurus Connect automatically backs up your payroll data for you every time you exit the payroll software. This ensures that should any situation arise where your payroll data has been damaged or lost, it can all be easily retrieved and downloaded directly from the cloud. This in turn improves your GDPR compliance.

Interested in learning more about Thesaurus Connect? Book a free demo with us today.

Where can I learn more about this integration?

For further information on how Thesaurus Payroll Managers’ integration with Surf Accounts works, please take a look at our Surf Accounts support document for guidance. Here you can view a step-by-step guide with screenshots on how exactly the integration works.

Thesaurus Payroll Manager has both the reputation and credibility behind it, being one of Ireland’s leading payroll software providers, being established in the payroll industry for over 30 years, and a 98.8% customer satisfaction rate.

“I have been using Thesaurus Software for many years now. It is very easy to use and straightforward, anyone could use this package from novice to skilled. Thesaurus have always dealt with updates in a timely manner and easy transition. Their support team is second to none and extremely helpful. I will continue to use Thesaurus and would highly recommend it.”

- Debbie Jolley, Community Pre School Playgroup

Related articles:

• PAYE Modernisation: Why manual payroll is an outdated process
• Increase profits and improve client satisfaction with Thesaurus Connect
• New Feature: Introducing direct payments through Thesaurus Payroll Manager

Posted byEleanor Mc GuinnessinAccounts Software

Auto Enrolment Update: Everything you need to know

Automatic Enrolment in Ireland is a subject which has been in discussion for over 25 years now. In 2017, the matter was brought to the forefront again with our Taoiseach at the time, Leo Varadkar, announcing that the scheme would begin in 2021. However, as we all know, delays caused by COVID-19 meant that this didn’t happen as planned. One year later, we are in a much better place and thankfully, details on the planned state pensions Auto Enrolment scheme were announced on the 29th of March 2022.

What is Auto Enrolment?

Auto Enrolment is being brought in to ensure that those working in the private sector have an income for their retirement, beyond the state pension. The scheme will be phased in over the next ten years. The system is to be set up by 2023 and employee enrolments into the scheme will begin in 2024. All employees aged between 23 and 60, earning over €20,000 a year and who are not already in an occupational pension scheme, will be automatically enrolled. While participation in the scheme will be voluntary, workers will have to opt-out of the scheme rather than opt-in. It is hoped that this model will encourage workers to remain in the scheme.

How much will go towards employees’ pension?

The employee, the employer, and the state will all make contributions towards the employee’s pension pot. Employees’ pension savings will be matched on a one-for-one basis by the employer, up to a maximum of €80,000 of earnings. The state will provide a top up of €1 for every €3 saved by the worker. This means that for every €3 saved by the employee, a further contribution of €4 will be made by the employer and the state combined.

Pension contribution example

Employer and employee pension contributions will be calculated as a percentage of the employee’s income. Rates will start at 1.5% and will increase every three years by 1.5%, until they eventually reach 6% by year 10 (2034).

Pension contribution rates

What does the new Automatic Enrolment scheme mean for payroll processers?

When the scheme is first rolled out in 2024, it will mean a few additional steps in the payroll process. Those processing payroll must ensure that all eligible employees have been enrolled into one of the four retirement saving funds that employees will have to choose from. For employees who do not express a preference for any fund, they should be enrolled into the default fund. After 6 months of participation, employees will have the choice to opt-out or suspend participation. When a person chooses to opt out, they can receive a refund of their contributions. Once opted out, the employee will need to be re-enrolled after two years.

Will there be changes in my payroll software?

Your payroll software provider will have ample time to implement these changes into the software and should be ready to go by 2024. At Thesaurus Payroll Manager, Auto Enrolment is something that we have had programmed into our UK payroll software, BrightPay UK, since the scheme was introduced in the UK in 2012. Thanks to this experience, we already have the knowledge of how Auto Enrolment in the software should work. Our aim, as is with our UK payroll product, will be to make the Auto Enrolment process as simple for the user as possible by automating the process.

Related articles:

• Statutory Sick Pay – Preparing for 2022
• Auto enrolment for accountants: Lessons learned from the UK
• Automatic enrolment delayed until at least 2023

Posted byElaine CarrollinAuto Enrolment

Thesaurus Customer Update: April 2022

Welcome to Thesaurus Software's April update. Our most important news this month include:

• PAYE Modernisation: Why manual payroll is an outdated process

• What is the best method to pay employees?

• Yikes, is your business GDPR compliant? (+ 3 simple GDPR tips)

Posted byEleanor Mc GuinnessinCustomer Update