Services
Audit & Assurance
External, internal and joint venture audit services
Business Advisory
Management accounts, strategic planning, profit improvement, ESG
Corporate Finance
M&A advisory, selling a business, fundraising, valuations, due diligence
ESG
Baseline assessments, materiality assessments, carbon footprint and sustainability reporting
Hotel Accounting
Accounting function, automation, daily reconciliations and dashboards, accounts payable
Payroll & Employment
Payroll, global mobility, employee benefits, employment taxes
Private Clients & High Net Worth Individuals
Tax planning & compliance, tax residence and domicile, trust planning
Restructuring & Recovery
Business rescue, liquidations, administrations, insolvency, debt recovery
Tax
Corporate tax, customs duty, VAT, R&D, tax investigations, international tax
Virtual Finance
Bespoke service providing real-time information about your business performance
More from AAB
AAB PEOPLE
Full-service people consultancy – human resources, learning and development
AAB WEALTH
Financial planning, cash flow modelling, retirement planning
AAB Consulting
Business consultancy helping organisations with the challenge of change
Sectors
Business Services
Professional services, medical, recruitment and media
Construction & Property
Property developers, construction companies, housebuilders, landlords
Energy
Renewables, clean energy, energy producers, energy transition, exploration and production
Family Business
Specialist support for businesses owned/managed by families
Food & Drink
Food & drink producers, processors, importers, wholesalers and retailers
Industrial
Engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, shipping, distribution
Leisure, Retail and Hospitality
Fashion, entertainment, activity centres, hoteliers
Not For Profit
Charities, social housing, higher and further education institutions
Public Sector
Government, non-departmental public bodies, health boards, ALEOS
Technology
Software companies, tech start-ups, cybersecurity firms, and AI innovators.
About
AABout Us
Our story
Our Team
Meet the specialists
Careers
Join the AAB team
Diversity & Inclusion
Building a business where everyone feels they belong
Growing Sustainably - ESG
ESG – Our commitment to building a sustainable business
News
Latest news from across AAB Group
AABIE
AAB charitable initiative
Latest deal boosts AAB Wealth assets under advice beyond £1 billion
Insights
Blogs
Stay informed with cutting-edge news for business growth. Our experts offer industry insights and invaluable advice on accountancy and business strategies.
Case studies
Explore insightful case studies tailored to specific industries, offering invaluable lessons and strategies for success.
Webinars & Events
Engage with dynamic webinars and events tailored to your interests, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities.
ESG Diligence: The Key To Sustainable M&A Transactions
AAB / Our Team / Claire McDonald
LinkedIn
Meet the Payroll & Employment team
SMEs. Large organisations.
Payroll processing. Support with any payroll-specific queries such as tax calculations, tax codes. Support with any HMRC payroll-related queries such as PAYE liability. Answering any ad hoc queries.
Energy. Family Business. Technology. Work closely with Corporate Benefits and Global Employment Taxes teams.
As an assistant manager in our Payroll team, Claire McDonald’s role requires her to support colleagues with processing, job allocation, technical issues to an escalation point, and everything in between.
She is responsible for inputting ideas and thoughts on how the team can improve processes and how she can better support the team. She is also responsible for processing her own portfolio of clients, including clients in the energy sector, the cleaning sector, manufacturing, and technology consultations.
Claire is dedicated to providing support to clients and colleagues wherever she can.
“An ideal client relationship would be one in which both parties communicate with each other with ease, keeping all communications clear and effective, and maintaining a consistent flow of communication to have a thorough understanding of each other’s processes, deadlines and expectations so that both parties can fulfil their end of the deal. Having a greater understanding of each other’s roles and processes allows each party to provide exactly what each other needs resulting in a smoother relationship. Working together when a process needs to be adapted or changed to come to a new solution that works for both sides.”
“I think clients should receive the same basic customer expectations that we all have when we use a service, which is to feel that they have been heard, understood, appreciated and valued. It’s important that clients feel that – no matter what the engagement with us is – that it is an easy process for them, without any friction. It’s also important that clients feel secure that they have made the right choice in using our services and have a feeling of trust that their engagement will be carried out in a professional manner.
“For me, the most satisfying aspect of working with clients is building a positive relationship with them. I love being able to help them solve a problem that they may be having.
The most satisfying aspects of working with colleagues is, similarly, getting to know everyone and building a good colleague relationship. I enjoy being part of a team where colleagues bounce ideas and knowledge off each other and support each other.”
“In my opinion I think virtual forms of communication can work to both clients and our own advantage a lot of the time. However, there are always going to be instances where an in-person meeting is going to be best. I would therefore say that the perfect balance would be for virtual forms of communication to be used in the day-to-day running while making the client aware from the offset that should they prefer or need an in-person meeting at any time, this will of course be available to them.”
“Sometimes, we receive somewhat unclear information or instructions from the client. To resolve this challenge, I would seek the clarification that I require and then look to see if there is a requirement to adjust how the information is provided. Occasionally a lack of understanding occurs and, in these circumstances, I would explain the requirements and legislation if needed, and the process at our end if required, to help the client gain a better understanding all round.”
Clients are also sometimes unfamiliar with where payroll ends and other areas come into play such as HR, employment law, tax advice, pension advice etc. When a request comes up that falls into another area of expertise, I communicate with the client to let them know as much as possible on where the limitations of payroll lie and offer to put them in touch with our other lines of service who would be able to help.”
“The most exciting aspect of being part of AAB is the growth of the group, and how much it embraces new technology. I think seeing how automation can help alleviate some of the more time-consuming aspects of payroll and how this could also work to allow AAB to grow is a huge topic and is very exciting.”
“Our payroll team works closely with other departments to ensure that everything comes together as it should. For example, I have worked closely with Corporate Benefits several times in order for both departments to get a better understanding of a clients Pension Schemes and we continue to work with each other continually. I find it gives you a keener sense of clients needs outside of your own area of expertise resulting in making the client aware of the other areas that we can offer a service for. I find it also gives you a broader understanding of any impact that something may have on other areas resulting in all aspects being processed accurately.
“I dislike that the majority of accounting businesses have a view of payroll as being “just” payroll, and a lesser part of the business. It’s such a crucial aspect of any business to get right. There also seems to be a common lack of understanding on how much knowledge a payroll professional needs to have – it’s definitely not just a case of ‘pressing a button’!”