A statement announcing the partnership said: “Together, they are set to drive the evolution of the industry, elevate its strategic importance and champion the careers of payroll professionals nationwide. Ultimately, making a significant impact on how payroll is perceived both within organisations and in the wider business landscape.”

With over 35 years in the market, Portfolio Payroll has worked closely with the CIPP for over two decades, notably as the headline sponsor of National Payroll Week since its inception. “With a network of over 75,000 payroll professionals, this formal partnership represents a natural progression – solidifying years of collaboration into an official union focused on driving visibility for the payroll profession,” the announcement said.

The CIPP currently represents over 100,000 payroll professionals and by joining up, it reinforces the CIPP’s role in leading and advocating for the profession while leveraging Portfolio Payroll’s recruitment expertise to spotlight the career opportunities within the sector.

Through the collection of Pay as You Earn (PAYE) income tax and National Insurance, the payroll industry contributed £413.4bn to the government in the 2023/24 tax year, and its strategic importance was notably highlighted during the pandemic, when payroll professionals were officially recognised as key workers. Yet despite this recognition, “it’s true strategic importance is often overlooked, which is remarkable given that it’s usually the largest overhead within a business”, a CIPP spokesman said.

He continues: “This collaboration is a major step forward in driving innovation, strengthening professional development and ensuring payroll is seen as the key pillar of organisational success that it truly is.”

• Comment below on this story. Or let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] or tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend.