The Shift to Cloud Payroll Software: Why Practices Are Making the Move

The shift to cloud payroll software has completely transformed the wider accounting industry. Firms can now send payslips straight from payroll software, anytime and anywhere, which is something that would’ve been unheard of just a few years ago.

This represents a massive jump from what was a strictly office-based profession. It’s also lead to many practices reassessing their software choices for the 2026/27 tax year. Here are some of the main reasons why firms are considering shifting their payroll to the cloud this tax year.

Digital transformation

Only a few years ago, digitally processing payroll meant software was downloaded and installed on an office PC. You’d update it occasionally, and that was that. Now, it can look like processing payroll from a phone, tablet or laptop at home. This flexibility isn’t something that practices can ignore anymore. It’s fundamentally transforming how finance professionals approach payroll (and every other aspect of their work week!).

Client expectations

Not only are accountants reassessing how they do payroll, but so are their clients. There is a plethora of reasons for this, but the main three are:

• More businesses have moved to hybrid working models, with a study from CIPD showing that 74% of organisations have hybrid working in place

• They’re using phones and tablets more to conduct business operations.

• Exchanges and transactions are expected to be quick and snappy – including transactions with their accountant.

Efficiency pressures

It’s 2026, and no firm should be losing time from updating and downloading payroll software anymore. Equally, they shouldn’t have team members waiting on each other in the software to finish working on a file before the software lets them in.

Team members should be able to jump in and work on a payroll file whenever they need to, regardless of who’s in it. The software should also automatically implement legislation changes while you work. That way, your payroll team can always operate on 100% efficiency, and collaboration is effortless.

Competitive advantage

Another reason why accountancy practices are making the shift to cloud payroll software is because it makes them more appealing to potential clients.

Think about it, wouldn’t you rather work with someone who has more flexibility, is quicker at responding to queries, and offers a more secure service? The cloud places you in a much more valuable position compared to your desktop-enthusiast competitors.

It’s time to review your current payroll setup for the 2026/27 tax year

With the 2026/27 tax year just days away, now is the time to review your payroll setup. When it comes to the cloud, we’d recommend looking for a payroll solution that offers:

• Better security

• More flexibility

• Easier compliance

• Enhanced collaboration

The good news is that BrightPay Cloud can offer all of this. Our multi award-winning cloud payroll software comes with:

• Two-factor authentication

• Data is stored on a remote secure Microsoft Azure server (instead of a PC in the office) which makes it much more GDPR-friendly

• Effortless multi-user collaboration, with changes applied instantly while you work

• Automatic legislation updates

And that’s just the beginning. We have an exciting tax year ahead, with plans to implement AI into the onboarding process very soon. Keep your eyes out for that one!

So, why not book a slot with our team today to see how BrightPay Cloud can help your firm this tax year.

This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.