Chemours Case Study
Chemours multi-country payroll accuracy in 20 countries with activpayroll
Situation
When Cristina Diaz took on the role of International Payroll Manager at Chemours, she knew the stakes were high. Managing payroll for 20 countries across 14 different currencies was a monumental task, further complicated by an unreliable vendor whose frequent errors threatened the financial stability of Chemours' global workforce. Frustrated by the persistent inaccuracies and the inefficiencies of their existing system, Cristina faced a critical challenge: finding a payroll solution that could meet Chemours' complex needs and restore trust and accuracy across the board. This is the story of how she transformed payroll operations at Chemours, turning an operational liability into a success story with activpayroll.
Chemours is a forward-thinking global chemical company that offers solutions for a range of industries, including automotive, paints, laminates, advanced electronics, construction, energy, and telecommunications. Cristina has been with Chemours for seven years, gaining extensive experience in various HR departments such as benefits, total rewards, and payroll. She recently took on the role of International Payroll Manager, overseeing the payrolls which are split between US and non-US operations.
In Europe, some countries share the Euro, while others use local currencies. Christina measures success metrics monthly and conducts internal reviews with her team. To ensure accuracy and timely performance, they use a spreadsheet based on the contract with each supplier and the associated service level agreements. Cristina supervises payroll activities, provides feedback to the payroll service provider, and maintains regular contact with payroll consultants and local HR peers to ensure payroll accuracy. Her role as a bridge between the parent company and the team is critical, especially in handling payroll issues in a timely manner.
With increasing complexity caused by company growth and the stress and frustration caused by an unreliable and inaccurate payroll vendor, Cristina and her team knew they had to change the payroll vendor for one country. This set Cristina on a path to search for alternatives that could better fulfil Chemours' changing requirements.
Complication
Following Chemours' spinoff from DuPont, the company outsourced payroll to a new vendor. However, the vendor’s performance was unsatisfactory, marked by significant inaccuracies in payroll reports and payments. This posed a considerable risk, especially for high-salary employees in Switzerland. Despite a two-year partnership, the issues persisted, leading the regional HR manager in Europe to bravely terminate the relationship due to continuous errors and lack of improvement.
Chemours did not seek to evaluate other vendors as activpayroll was strongly recommended by a senior executive in the US. The primary requirements were accuracy and flexibility. Therefore, finding a suitable solution that could integrate payroll systems and spreadsheets was essential. Cristina and her team were frustrated with the previous system’s avoidable mistakes and frequent vendor changes, which hampered consistency. This inefficiency underscored the need for a reliable and consistent payroll solution.
Furthermore, managing payroll for 20 countries with different currencies and regulations presented a complex challenge. The varying timelines for each country added to the complexity, making it difficult to finalise inputs in a coordinated manner. Cristina’s team had to collect data for benefits and other payroll inputs from multiple sources outside the payroll system, which was time-consuming and prone to errors. This disjointed process highlighted the urgent need for an integrated and flexible payroll solution that could streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.
Turning point: The transition to activpayroll
Cristina and her team transitioned to activpayroll, driven by the need for enhanced accuracy and flexibility. From the outset, the new system demonstrated significant improvements in payroll accuracy, which was crucial for Chemours. Despite challenges in some countries over the past five years, the overall accuracy across the 20 countries was commendable.
The transition to activpayroll was not met with reluctance or anxiety by the team; instead, it was a welcomed change. activpayroll’s trustworthiness in providing accurate data and comprehensive coverage across different countries were key differentiators. As a small payroll team, they relied on activpayroll to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations, alleviating the need to validate every detail and allowing them to trust the system completely.
The immediate improvement in payroll accuracy was a significant "aha" moment for Cristina. The previous system had been plagued with simple yet frequent mistakes that could have been avoided. activpayroll's implementation demonstrated a commitment to detail and the improvement that had been missing.
The flexibility to adapt to various countries' needs, combined with the ability to input information using both the payroll system and spreadsheets, proved to be a high value activpayroll capability.
Resolution: Outcomes and impact
Anyone who has transitioned payroll vendors will know it is incredibly complex and not for the faint hearted. The implementation of activpayroll was not without its challenges. Despite this, Cristina and her team persevered and agreed to change the in-country provider in Spain. activpayroll’s integration resulted in a significant improvement in payroll accuracy, reducing errors and ensuring timely payments. The comprehensive coverage and trustworthiness of activpayroll allowed Cristina and her team to manage payroll efficiently across various countries. The next step was to focus on better automation and the use of technology to ease the resource burden.
activpayroll proved to be a strong partner for Chemours in terms of payroll accuracy and reliability. “activpayroll’s strength lies in its flexibility and trustworthiness, covering many countries effectively”. With ongoing efforts to enhance technology and coordination, Cristina was confident that Chemours could achieve even greater efficiency and success in their payroll operations.
Cristina's journey with activpayroll also highlighted the importance of proactive communication and feedback. By maintaining regular contact with the service delivery leader and payroll consultants, she ensured that any issues were promptly addressed, and continuous improvements were made. This open line of communication fostered a collaborative relationship, allowing Chemours to leverage activpayroll's expertise and resources effectively.
Through these efforts, Cristina demonstrated her commitment to optimising payroll operations at Chemours, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency, while continuously seeking ways to improve processes and technology for better outcomes.
Cristina and her team's goals are to focus on improving the technology and automatisation, reinforcing always the importance of accuracy and timelines. This way meant that Cristina and her team had the capacity to focus on strategic HR initiatives, driving value for Chemours beyond payroll management. By freeing up resources and reducing administrative burdens, they were able to contribute more significantly to the company's growth and development. This holistic improvement in payroll operations underscored the critical role of a reliable and flexible payroll partner in supporting Chemours' global operations and long-term success.
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