Redefining payroll: why payroll is not just about tapes

Payroll Processing is Evolving – Rapidly and Significantly
Many still associate "payroll" with the routine calculation of payslips – a reliable back-office process. But the reality is quite different.

We spoke with Zdenka Šuľová, Payroll Manager at BDO, about what lies behind the term comprehensive payroll services today, how client expectations are shifting, and why collaboration with tax and legal departments is crucial for the future of this segment.
 

Automation is No Longer Enough. What Matters is How You Work with Clients

"We’re no longer just payroll clerks punching numbers into a system," says Zdenka. "Modern software enables calculations that were once done manually. But that doesn’t mean payroll is getting simpler – quite the opposite. The biggest shift in services is how we communicate with clients."

At BDO, it’s now standard to exchange documents through the secure BDO Global Portal, along with tailored outputs that clients can directly import into their own HR systems. "This synchronization significantly saves time on both sides, reduces errors, and helps simplify the entire reporting process," she adds.

When Payroll Knows No Borders

Globalization brings new challenges – not just for companies but also for payroll teams. "Employees now commonly work remotely from other countries or are part of teams managed by HR departments abroad. This brings many unique legal challenges that need to be addressed," Zdenka explains.

In such cases, she highlights the invaluable nature of internal cross-border collaboration within the BDO network. "The client receives the same quality, the same approach – whether it’s in Slovakia, Germany, or Austria. And that’s a major advantage for large companies."

Payroll as a Strategic Partner to HR

When asked about the biggest added value BDO brings compared to competitors, Zdenka answers without hesitation:
"We’re proactive partners. We don’t wait for the client to ask – we provide the information upfront."

Thanks to integration with BDO’s legal and tax divisions, the payroll team can react quickly to legislative changes, internal HR questions, accrual calculations, bonus systems, and cross-border taxation – all as a unified service.

"Clients often come to us with questions beyond payroll itself. And that’s exactly what we want – to be their comprehensive support in HR and compliance," Zdenka concludes.

An Experience Clients Appreciate

Zdenka also shares a real-life example of BDO’s professional approach during the implementation of a new attendance tracking system.
"We learned about the system just days before its go-live, yet we completed the testing on time. The client wrote to us:"

Thank you for your outstanding effort you put into the project, much appreciated, well done! 😊

 

Our HR Support Solutions

Today, payroll extends far beyond routine pay calculations. Companies – especially those with international operations or rapid growth – face challenges that require a strong connection between legal, tax, and HR perspectives.

That’s why we created HR SUPPORT at BDO – an expert advisory platform combining the knowledge of payroll specialists, lawyers, and tax advisors.

We assist clients with questions related to attendance tracking, labor law, cross-border business travel, A1 certificates, expatriate employees, benefit structuring, and audits of payroll and HR processes. We provide consultations to both employers and employees through an efficient system with guaranteed response times.

📂 Interested in how collaboration works in practice?
Check out our case studies.