In The Spotlight…
Stacey Heathcote
Director of UK Payroll Operations
In The Spotlight…
Stacey Heathcote
Director of UK Payroll Operations
Stacey joined Fourth in 2011 has worked within the Payroll industry for over 20 Years, mostly within organisations that customers outsource their payroll processing. During her career in payroll she studied and completed the Diploma in Payroll Management and later successfully completed the MSc in Payroll and Business Management. Stacey lives in Wilmslow and outside of work she enjoys going out for walks with her husband, children and dog Boo. She also enjoys going out for food, drinks and socialising with friends and family.
Tell us a bit about your business?
Fourth is the world’s #1 hospitality cost control solutions provider, helping over 1,100 customers in 60 countries optimise profitability, improve customer service and scale confidently. Our cloud-based, proprietary technology platform and fully mobile applications power the world’s leading brands, including Wagamama, TGI Fridays, The Restaurant Group, Azzuri Group, Leon, PizzaExpress, Maybourne Hotels, Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Travelodge, SSP, Stonegate Pub Company, Carluccio’s and David Lloyd Leisure. Fourth was founded in 1999 in London and is still run by the original founding management team. A major investment in 2015 by the leading US private equity firm Insight Venture Partners is testament to the power of our software and its potential for further global expansion.
Tell Us About Your Role Within The Business?
I am responsible for ensuring the delivery of an outstanding payroll service to our customers and that our amazing team of 70 are happy, motivated and knowledgeable within their role here at Fourth. We currently have over 400 Payroll Service Customers and pay around 350,000 employees every month. We have 7 Payroll Processing Teams, an Administration Team and a Team that looks after our Education, Processes and Technology.
In your opinion, what is the most interesting/high profile/exciting project you or your business has worked on?~
We are always looking at ways to improve our products and services, so there have been lots of projects across all of the different departments within Fourth. However the most recent project that the Payroll Operation have been involved in, is the introduction of Wagestream. Wagestream allows employees to have complete control over when they get paid, instead of having to wait until the end of the month. It is a financial wellness solution, which effectively reduces the need for employee advances, loans and employee stress suffered from short term, unplanned financial obligations. We are really proud to be able to offer our own teams and our customer’s employees a revolutionary way to get paid.
How long has the business been operating and how long have you been based in Macclesfield?
The business has been operating since 1999, so nearly 20 years. We have been operating in the Macclesfield area since the beginning.
What made you choose Macclesfield as a place to base your business?
The Founders of Fourth, Derek and Edwina Lilley and Ben Hood our CEO, lived in the area. Macclesfield is central, has great office space and a fantastic train line to London which allows us to visit our Head Office, in Covent Garden, and our customers very easily and quickly.
What’s the best thing about working in Macclesfield?
How beautiful it is. Where we are based in Greenway House, the views out of every window is a picture. It is very central and easy to travel in from surrounding areas such as Stockport, Congleton and Stoke. Our teams love to go out shopping at lunchtime to the local shops and often go out for team lunches in the local pubs and restaurants. We also enjoy team walks around the Macclesfield area including Bollington and the Middlewood Way
Do You Have Any Specific Future Goals For The Business That You Would Like To Share?
We’re constantly innovating and developing our solutions and services to drive efficiencies, predictability and profitability for the hospitality industry. Our main goal is to therefore keep doing this for our customers in the UK and around the world.