Julia Kermode
CEO at PayePass
Julia is a familiar face to many in the contracting sector, best known for her role as CEO at FCSA, a compliance standard for umbrella companies and accountancy firms. Whilst at FCSA, Julia led unprecedented growth – successfully increasing the profile of FCSA, extending influence within the government, and raising standards within an often-misunderstood sector. In 2020 Julia left FCSA in a position of strength, in order to launch IWORK and have a direct impact on the independent workforce that she is so passionate about supporting.
IWORK exists to empower, support and champion the UK’s army of temps, gig economy workers, contractors and the self-employed. Julia says “At the time IWORK was formed the pandemic was in full force, and lots of people had to consider alternative ways of working, such as temping or going self-employed, and I saw they were at risk of exploitation just by virtue of not knowing more about this space. I wanted to share my knowledge and expertise to equip them to be successful.”
Since leaving the umbrella sector, Julia became increasingly frustrated with the continued scourge of tax avoidance schemes, tax evasion, mini-umbrella companies, skimming and dubious holiday pay practices. She says “it seems that misconduct is on the increase and that it’s going unchallenged. I have been waiting for others to flex their muscles and take action, but nothing seems to be happening.”
“This is unfair on the thousands of workers being exploited, and also unfair on the many compliant businesses that are tarnished by the activities of a minority.”
“I can’t continue to sit back and watch an industry I love being increasingly vilified and untrusted. That’s why I am taking matters into my own hands to raise standards and clean up the sector once and for all!”
Fred Dures LLB (Hons)
Founder and director at PayePass
Fred is a solicitor who, after many years in private practice, has predominantly spent the last five years advising the many and varied clients he has amassed over the years that operate in the temporary workforce and recruitment sectors.
After the many years of acting for his clients, Fred says “I really do struggle to think of any legal, compliance or business critical function that I have not had to get immersed in to either resolve problems or to implement strategies to avoid them. Many of my clients have had the same issues and requirements common to all businesses regardless of sector and operating model, but those in the temporary workforce and recruitment sectors have many that are peculiar to them”.
Commenting on the PayePass Verify Award he says “Umbrella companies have come under greater pressure to demonstrate that they are not involved in tax avoidance and evasion schemes, withholding holiday pay, skimming that they are correctly paying their contractors. So, the Verify Module was conceived and developed, which I believe will revolutionise the payroll compliance standards for umbrellas as the PayePass Verify audit will quickly identify any miscalculating and wrongdoing.”
Then on the development of the new PayePass Compliance Awards “The Awards will be a welcomed revolution in the temporary workforce section, for the entire supply chain. The last several years have seen other compliance standards come under criticism with significant failings identified. Our Compliance Awards, available to all Services Providers in the sector, address all of the problems and will truly protect the entire supply chain”.
Fred’s strong belief is that “Every party in the supply chain must be treated fairly and legally and HMRC must be paid what it is due to it. A PayePass Verify Award and Compliance Awards will guarantee that”.
Philippa Craig Bsc (Hons) Science & Accountancy, FCCA
Lead accountant
Throughout my 25 years of experience within finance and accounting I have been involved in most areas of financial management including acquisitions, disposals, audit (both internal and external), payroll compliance, system design and integration, cost control, financial and management accounting in numerous sectors ranging from practice, manufacturing, financial services to leisure and tourism.
My prior role as Group Financial Manager of the Malmaison hotel group exposed me to the complexities of the vast and complicated payroll structure of the group, so well equipping me for my PayePass role to assist in the development of its payroll software and analysis of the payroll functions of its clients that seek to achieve its Verify Award.
I bring a “can do “attitude to any project especially one that requires extreme financial detail. I have received more than few moans (I am being polite here!) over my eye for detail but, as an accountant, I actually take them as compliments.
When not number crunching I’ll be out walking the dog stopping off for a bite to eat and often a little more.
Keith Griffiths BSc (Hons) Computer Science & Mathematics
Lead software engineer
I decided to join PayePass as the passion for it to become a true leader in the competitive payroll software space was inspiring.
To be given the freedom to develop a new platform from the ground up and to take it to levels that surpass any other offering was too good an opportunity to pass over.
Development has not been without its challenges, but I really do live for the challenges and the whole team works as one to achieve all goals and targets.
Previously I was a Lead Developer at Foehn. During my tenure at Foehn, I help the company develop and deliver its award-winning cloud phone system, Voxivo.
My goals are to always deliver customer focused software solutions that will help a business solve their current business needs while helping them expand in the future.
I’m an honour graduate of Kingston University, where I studied computer engineering and machine learning.
I current live in Liverpool when I’m not seeking adventure elsewhere. When I’m not working, I enjoy bowling and karate (not at the same time.)
