Comparing payroll batches
The Compare tab shows, employee by employee, how this payroll batch differs from another batch, usually last period's. It is the fastest way to check a payroll: instead of reading every payslip, you read only the people whose wages, other payments, contributions, tax or net pay moved, biggest movement first.
Where: Payroll › the batch › Compare
You need: the Payroll Processor (Edit & Calculate) right, and access to the batch cycle
How to compare a batch
- Calculate the batch you are checking.
- Open it and click Compare.
- Next to Comparing to, click Select Batch and choose the batch to compare with. The most recent batches are listed first.
- Read the list from the top. With no sort chosen, it is ordered by the largest change in Total Payable, up or down.
- Click a column header to sort by that column's change instead, for example Tax.
- Click an employee's name to open their payslip and find the reason for the change.
💡 For every movement near the top, you should be able to name the cause: a pay rise, overtime, a bonus, a leaver. A movement you cannot explain is the one to investigate.
How to read a row
Each money column shows the difference between this batch and the batch you chose:
- The big number is this batch's figure minus the other batch's figure.
- The arrow and percentage show the direction and size of the change, as a percentage of the other batch's figure. An upward arrow is an increase; a downward one is a decrease.
- A blank cell means no change, or that the employee has no calculated payslip in the other batch.
| Column | What it compares |
|---|---|
| Name | The employee, with their position. Click to open their payslip. |
| Status | This batch's payslip status. Click it to change it. |
| Wages | Total wages |
| Other Payments | Total allowances, bonuses and deductions |
| Contributions (EE) | The employee's share of statutory contributions |
| Tax | Tax payable |
| Total Payable | Net pay |
Search finds employees by name. Filters narrow by Status, Department, Branch, Position, Subsidiary and Group. The filters apply to both batches, so you compare like with like.
Who appears in the list
- Everyone with a calculated payslip in this batch. Open and Inactive payslips are left out, on both sides.
- A joiner, with no payslip in the other batch, appears with blank cells. They have nothing to compare against.
- Someone who is in the other batch but not this one does not appear.
What Happens Next
Compare changes nothing. It reads the stored figures on both batches. When you recalculate this batch, open Compare again to see the new differences.
Tips
- Compare with the same cycle's previous period. A first half-month against a second half-month can mix in contributions or deductions that only fall in one half.
- Sort by each column in turn. The biggest Total Payable movers come first by default, but a large change in Tax or Contributions can hide behind a small change in net pay.
- Check the blanks too. Every blank row is a joiner or someone missing last period. Make sure each is expected, then check them on the Payslips tab.
- Compare before you verify, not after. Moving a payslip back down the approval chain takes more steps than getting it right first.
Troubleshooting / FAQ
Q: The list is empty. Choose a batch next to Comparing to. If one is chosen, this batch may have no calculated payslips yet.
Q: An employee has blank cells. They have no calculated payslip in the other batch, or nothing changed.
Q: A leaver from last period is not listed. Compare lists the people in this batch. Check leavers on the Terminations chip of the Payslips tab.
Q: Why is a percentage huge for a small change? The percentage is measured against the other batch's figure. A small amount last period makes any change look large.