With more companies turning to solutions that simplify global payroll processing, boost efficiency, and take the stress out of the process, the international payroll software market is growing at an average rate of 9.2% per year.
With the right support from a leading global payroll provider, businesses can effortlessly handle different tax laws, currencies, and pay schedules while ensuring employees get paid accurately and on time—whether they’re in the office next door or in another country.
In this guide we take a closer at how you can find the best global payroll system to support your scaling team. Discover what features to look out for in payroll software and get valuable insights from:
- Ian Giles, Global Payroll & People Leader
- Menaka Karthikeyarayan, Global Payroll Director, Multiplier
- Rakesh Kumar, Senior Manager, Global Payroll and Compliance, FarEye
- Damian Walsh, Managing Director, DB Results
What to look out for in payroll software
For businesses operating in a single country, local payroll software handles payroll and tax compliance tailored to that region. It’s easy to use and built for local tax laws. However, it’s not ideal for businesses with international employees due to its limited capabilities.
Take a small UK-based retail startup, for example. It only hires staff locally, so local payroll software works perfectly, handling UK-specific tax codes, National Insurance contributions, and PAYE systems. However, if the business expands internationally, it would need to switch to a local provider in that country to be able to stay compliant.
For companies employing international employees, keeping up with payroll compliance is no joke. Every country (and sometimes even different regions) has tax laws, minimum wage rules, and employee benefits requirements. Mess one up, and you’re looking at fines, legal trouble, and a lot of unhappy employees.
Karthikeyarayan understands this only too well. “It’s challenging for companies to stay comply with different state regulations, let alone country regulations. From understanding employee benefits to minimum wage standards to tax obligations, when we go to the minutest detail it becomes very difficult.”
This means companies often end up juggling several local vendors; it’s no shock that mistakes, legal struggles, and inefficiencies pile up fast.
To avoid these problems, businesses should use global payroll software that brings everything together in one system and keeps payroll compliant in every country they operate in.
A leading payroll provider, like Multiplier, centralizes data from across regions, automatically calculating multi-country tax, benefits, and compensation so you don’t have to. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the features you should look out for in global payroll software.
Key features of global payroll software
Some 53% of companies faced payroll penalties due to non-compliance issues. Let’s break down the capabilities of global payroll software and explore how they can help.
Automated features
As Walsh points out from experience, “Depending on the country, running payroll can take several hours and span a few days double-checking and processing everything.” But managing global payroll manually isn’t only time-consuming, it’s expensive.
With 51% of companies still relying on spreadsheets to manage their payroll, one mistake–like miscalculating pay or missing a deadline–can result in fines, payment delays, and frustrated employees.
You only have to look at Estee Lauder, the global cosmetics brand fined almost £900K for underpaying its workers and not meeting the UK Minimum Wage, to see that human input can lead to expensive mistakes and compliance risks.
Automated features can help prevent costly errors and comply with rules and regulations across multiple countries. Leading payroll provider Multiplier takes the guesswork out of payroll by automating:
- Tax and wage calculations: Stay compliant with local laws without manual calculations. Our local experts ensure 99.95% accuracy.
- Off-cycle payments: Multiplier processes bonuses, commissions, or corrections effortlessly without disrupting your payroll schedule
- Expense reimbursements: Employees can submit expenses, and the system automatically adds approved reimbursements to payroll. No manual tracking needed!
Payment solutions
Employees may have different preferences for how they want to be paid. Some prefer direct deposit, and others want wire transfers or even PayPal. Managing all these options requires extra systems, which can increase the risk of mistakes and delays.
Multi-country HR solutions from Multiplier make payroll simple by connecting with your existing accounts and travel and expense management tools. Our software also lets you pay employees directly through ACH, direct debit, or wire transfers. This means you can consolidate payroll, manage salary payouts, and keep accounting accurate and current.
You should also look out for a solution that generates paychecks in local languages, reducing the need for translation services and bilingual staff.
An integration-first approach
When payroll, finance, and HR systems aren’t connected, reconciling data becomes slow and prone to errors. As Giles puts it, “Integration ensures consistency in employee data across systems, making it easier to meet regulatory requirements”
To illustrate, let’s say you’re using time-tracking software for your staff. However, employees submit their hours after the payroll lock period, and those hours aren’t paid. This can quickly cause extra admin and frustration on both sides.
Because integration-first software like Multiplier connects with many other HR and accounting platforms, like Personio and Expensify, you can sync employee data across HR, payroll, and finance systems. This seamless integration ensures that all hours worked are captured accurately, and employees are paid on time, regardless of when their hours are submitted–no matter how complex your business grows.
We’ve also made payroll even easier by extending the payroll cut-off date from the 10th to the 15th of each month. With five extra days, and real-time integrations, you can accommodate last-minute payroll updates, ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time, no matter their preferred method.
This means:
- More time to review and adjust salaries, expenses, and pay supplements
- Flexibility for recurring allowances and time off approvals
- Fewer payroll errors and less last-minute stress
Real-time data and analytics
Handling global payroll isn’t just about paying employees on time. It’s about staying ahead of errors, managing costs, and making informed strategic decisions, like workforce planning and compensation management. That’s where real-time data and analytics come in.
The issue is, as Giles points out, without a centralized, integrated system it can be hard to leverage these real-time reports. “Data is what can make a payroll team strategic, particularly if its real-time, but the more geographically dispersed a team gets the more the data is siloed. That makes it hard to report, work cross-functionally, and translate data into actionable insights that add value.”
Multiplier integrates with your HRIS and accounting systems and provides advanced reports such as salary payments, tax filings, and cost breakdowns based on factors like headcount, cost centers, and departments. You can view these in a single dashboard with different views for CEOs, CFOs, and payroll teams.
Strong security standards
Nearly 70% of organizations said they must comply with at least six frameworks related to information security, data privacy, and taxes. Staying compliant becomes a constant balancing act that requires serious attention to detail.
That’s why businesses today need software that meets compliance standards and implements strong security protocols to protect against data breaches, cyber threats, and irreversible reputational damage.
The best global payroll vendors prioritize security and integrate smoothly with your existing systems. Multiplier follows rigorous security standards to protect sensitive data. We’re certified under SOC 2, SOC 3, and ISO 27001:2022, ensuring compliance with international security and privacy regulations like GDPR.
You should also look out for a solution that offers fraud detection. As Nierstedt says, “You need to be able to detect unusual activity like bulk imported employees.”
Beyond certifications, our platform is built for security and fraud protection. Encryption, multi-factor authentication, and strict access controls prevent unauthorized access, while regular payroll audits and continuous monitoring help detect and prevent fraudulent activities. With scalable infrastructure, daily backups, and strict compliance measures, you can minimize risks, prevent disruptions, and ensure payroll stays secure and fraud-free.
How to choose global payroll software
So now you understand the features to look out for, what’s the process you should follow when choosing a payroll solution? Here are some key considerations for large and small businesses alike. To evaluate specific software, you can also check our guide to the top payroll solutions.
Work out your budget
When budgeting for international payroll processing technology, take a strategic approach. If your team spends hours each week manually entering the same employee data across multiple platforms, a global payroll solution can streamline operations, reduce errors, and significantly improve efficiency.
The time and resources saved translate into a strong return on investment (ROI), allowing your team to focus on higher-value tasks. As Giles says, “When payroll teams are caught up processing payroll, they have little time for strategic action.”
Check if the platform is user-friendly
It’s important to check that the global payroll software you choose is easy not only for your team to navigate, but for your employees too. To quote Giles, “Employees now expect streamlined processes – such as a single login for accessing pay slips, benefits, and PTO requests.”
Ask for implementation support
Many businesses hesitate to implement new technology because they think it’s too difficult or time-consuming. Overhauling systems and retraining staff can feel overwhelming, especially with fears of operational downtime.
The best global payroll vendors understand that you need a smooth transition, so they offer dedicated support to ensure everything runs like clockwork.
This is especially true with Multiplier. We offer 24/5 customer support, a dedicated point of contact in your region, and onboarding and offboarding for every employee in adherence with local laws.
Take control of global payments with Multiplier
If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that managing global payroll is no small feat. With different tax laws, pay schedules, and compliance requirements across multiple countries, businesses need a solution that simplifies processes, reduces errors, and ensures employees are paid accurately and on time.
By choosing the right global payroll software, companies can centralize payroll operations, automate key tasks, and integrate seamlessly with HR and finance systems. This not only improves efficiency but minimizes compliance risks and enhances the employee experience.
As businesses continue to expand internationally, having a reliable payroll partner like Multiplier can make all the difference. With automated calculations, real-time integrations, strong security measures, and dedicated support, Multiplier helps companies scale confidently while staying compliant in every country they operate in.
Ready to see how Multiplier can simplify your global payroll? Book a demo and get started with a personalized walkthrough.
