Posted August 23 2018
By mary-palmer
At HRC Recruitment, we pride ourselves on the lasting relationships that we are able to build with our clients. We get to know them; their business needs; their values and the way they like to work. And, more often than not, we like getting them out to a lunch or a dinner – or even our annual HRC charity soiree.
So, it makes sense – whilst we are profiling our recruiters – to allow you to get to know our clients a bit more.
Michael McAllister, UK Payroll Manager at Mazars, has very bravely stepped up to the plate and offered to answer a few proving questions so that potential candidates can get a heads up as to what they’re letting themselves in for!
How long have you been with Mazars?
I was approached in 2013 and joined the firm in January 2014, so coming up for five years.
What made you want to join the business?
Mazars attracted me from the outset based on the values and culture on offer within the organisation. We are a Partner-led firm and staff have the opportunity to work alongside partners rather than always follow behind. We invest heavily in our service lines and work hard on using technology to benefit our clients and enhance their Mazars experience.
What career path did you follow to get to your current role?
I joined as Team Leader and moved to Supervisor, Assistant Manager and I now act as UK Payroll Manager managing Glasgow full time and London on an interim project basis. I was a solo role back in 2014 and have grown the team to 14 dedicated payroll specialists with a client base of 500, from sole trader to international large and listed. It’s safe to say my time here has been rewarded with clear and consistent career progression.
What was your dream job as a child?
A bus driver … And, to date, I can’t even drive! No joke – I wanted to drive my gran to work each day. As I got older, I considered becoming a lawyer and I eventually fell into payroll – like most good people do with their careers!
What does a typical day look like?
No two days are the same! A normal day is generally an 8am start with a senior team catch up. This will cover our processing requirements for the week, review our staff planner and I will also provide a daily update on our financials and KPI’s for the previous day.
We are very commercially-minded and my senior team work together using their strengths across people management, technical delivery and client experience.
What’s the best part of your job?
I love meeting with my clients and providing them with a truly outstanding, first-class payroll service. Hearing from a happy client really makes me very proud of my team.
Describe the company culture at Mazars.
Young, vibrant and energetic. You can find out more about our company culture by visiting the values section on the
Mazars website.
What’s been your biggest success so far?
Watching my team grow – I get a great deal of pride seeing this. If you look at the numbers, I am proud to say that I manage such a growing, thriving team and it also demonstrates the appetite our clients have for placing their faith in Mazars and working with us to deliver their payroll.
| Year |
Headcount |
| 2013-14 |
3 |
| 2014-15 |
4 |
| 2015-16 |
7 |
| 2017-18 |
11 |
| 2018-19 |
14 |
There have been several internal promotions at Mazars recently. How do you coach your team and facilitate personal and professional development?
A personal approach is key as everyone learns at a different pace. I use a variety of techniques from on-the-job training, shadow processing or a more traditional classroom approach. This has helped us obtain the best performance from each member of the team to ensure our clients are consistently receiving the best service possible.
Professional qualifications are also very important to the firm and I always encourage my staff to utilise our qualifications package, which is free and allows my team to obtain the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
What do you like to do in your free time?
Nothing can beat a meal out - a good steak is my favourite. I also enjoy some travelling, with Thailand being a recent favourite destination.
What is most important to you?
A structured and rewarding career – this is key to me and something I have worked hard on since I left school.
Describe yourself in three words.
Reliable, Trustworthy and … maybe just a little sarcastic!
Our Managing Consultant, Andy Mitchell, enjoys an excellent relationship with Michael at Mazars and HRC are incredibly proud of working with such an innovative, forward thinking client.
To find out more about Mazars, you can visit
their website. To enquire about payroll careers, get in touch with Andy on 0141 353 8381 or email
amitchell@hrcrecruitment.co.uk