New business technologies, like cloud software, have enabled international companies to expand further and faster than ever before. In today's truly global market, the payroll industry has advanced rapidly to meet the growing demands of multinational business.

This has transformed the payroll administrator's role. Not too long ago, the job required a team of focused data inputters. Nowadays, these payroll teams are expected to take on much more responsibility and help drive the overarching business strategy.

Managing a secure cross border payroll platform can be complex work. It involves gathering the right information, storing it securely, and analysing the data for key insights. The final step in the process is applying those insights in the best interests of the company.

Payroll professionals are no longer mere data inputters. Here is what the next generation payroll administrator will look like – and the abilities they need to succeed.

Strategic business thinkers

An ability to think strategically requires a comprehensive understanding of the business as a whole. Payroll professionals need to make a real effort to get to know the other departments and employees in their company.

With greater insight into other business functions such as finance and HR, payroll teams can assess how the departments all intersect with each other. Expert knowledge in one area is important, but the next generation payroll administrator needs to step out of their comfort zone.

In a modern business environment, different departments are encouraged to work together. Each function involves various stakeholders and specific objectives which influence the company's overall strategy. It's important to remember that payroll is the biggest business cost. It needs to be acknowledged by the whole company and managed correctly – otherwise cashflow issues could arise.

Savvy tech users

Next generation payroll teams are enthusiastic about new technologies. They understand how rapidly developing business tools can help them do a better, faster job. How? By taking care of the repetitive administrative tasks that absorb so much time.

New technologies, like Business Intelligence (BI), analytics and the advancing world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), can liberate payroll professionals from time-consuming work like data capturing and reporting. These automated systems essentially put more hours back in the day, and enable payroll to focus on more strategic work such as workforce and expansion planning.

The real power of AI and other automated technologies is that they can be applied to almost any payroll function across all sectors, industries and businesses. We work in a digital age that values raw data filtration and validation, predictive information supply and business information mining. These applications are increasingly relevant to most companies.

The next generation payroll administrator has a solid footing in the application program interface (API) world. They will know how to integrate and utilise best of breed apps to drive seamless payroll management – and harness all the ways in which automation and even AI can achieve greater business success.

Agile movers and shakers

There is very little stability or predictability in the world today. People rarely embark on a career as one thing, and retire many years later in the same role. The same applies to payroll. In a constantly shifting economy, ambitious payroll administrators need to keep updating their skillsets to stay relevant.

Global payroll administration requires professionals with an agile, wide-awake attitude. Multinational organisations face numerous legislative challenges as they expand their operations into unfamiliar territories. It's absolutely crucial that they maintain compliance in each and every country that they are present in. However, in many African countries, the regulatory requirements can change almost overnight.

Data protection is another critical development that will impact many more businesses in the near future. As global legislation gets stricter, companies will have to ensure that they have the correct security measures in place to protect their payroll data.

In this busy, challenging and incredibly competitive global business environment, there is no room for mediocre payroll administrators. It's time for the next generation of payroll teams to step up and take their seat at the boardroom table and help their company achieve greater success.

* By Warren van Wyk, Director, PaySpace.