Johnston Carmichael appoints Stephen Oates as head of payroll

Johnston Carmichael has appointed Stephen Oates as head of payroll. The appointment goals at reinforcing the agency’s dedication to guiding employers by means of upcoming regulatory adjustments and strengthening its specialist tax management.

David Ward, head of specialist taxes, commented, “With main adjustments forward in payroll and employment tax reporting, Stephen’s appointment positions Johnston Carmichael to information purchasers by means of this transition. His strategic outlook and experience throughout payroll, employer companies and entrepreneurial tax incentives will likely be invaluable to employers navigating an evolving tax panorama.”

Oates is a tax companion and chartered tax advisor with greater than 20 years’ expertise, brings intensive experience in tax technique to his expanded function. He has been with Johnston Carmichael since in August 2022 – and have become a companion in 2025.

Since his final promotion, he has led development in each entrepreneurial taxes and employer companies. His latest place will combine these areas with payroll, making a unified and strategic strategy underneath the umbrella of the agency’s specialist taxes staff.

The promotion of Oates, and creation of the brand new function comes at a pivotal time, as UK employers put together for brand new Payroll Advantages in Type (PBiK) reporting rules efficient April 2027. Below these guidelines, employers should report and accumulate tax on non-cash advantages – such as firm vehicles and personal medical insurance coverage – by means of payroll through Actual Time Info (RTI) submissions. The brand new course of will change conventional end-of-year P11D varieties and permit month-to-month tax deductions from workers.

Oates stated to that finish, “A dependable, correct payroll service is important for sustaining worker belief and satisfaction. There are apparent synergies between payroll and employer companies, which is able to solely grow to be extra obvious with PBIK, so I’m excited to be combing these areas underneath a standard umbrella to allow strategic considering and proceed to assist employers to incentivise employees whereas assembly all tax and reporting necessities.”