What Payroll Software & Services Group (PSSG). does

Payroll Software & Services Group (PSSG) is a UK-based holding company formed in 2019 with backing from private equity firm Tenzing, specialising in payroll, HR, and business support solutions for UK and international markets. The group operates as a roll-up of acquired payroll and HR brands, having completed 10 acquisitions since inception including Cintra (2019), Online Payrolls (2021), Just Payroll Services (2021), Software for People (2022), Peopletime, Expense Once, Baxter & Co's payroll division (2022), and Essential Payroll (2023). Core offerings span three solution lines: integrated payroll and HR software for in-house management, fully managed UK outsourcing services, and international expansion services covering payroll, accounting, taxation, company formations, and HR support across 100+ countries through its UnaTerra brand.

The underlying technology is a cloud-based integrated payroll and HR platform that supports clients of all sizes from under 50 employees to 2,000+, with acquired products like Capture Expense adding expense management capabilities. The group serves multiple verticals including education, hospitality, insurance, and broader UK and international SMB/mid-market/enterprise segments, with Cintra specialising in UK SMEs up to 5,000 employees and Software for People focused on the education sector and Channel Islands. According to group disclosures, the platform processes £3.1bn in annual salary payments covering 260,000+ employees.

PSSG operates a hybrid revenue model combining recurring software subscriptions and managed services revenue. The go-to-market is sales-led, using self-serve quote-based entry for sub-50 employee businesses (via Just Payroll Services), inside sales and demos for mid-market (via Cintra), and dedicated enterprise field sales for larger clients and international expansion (via UnaTerra). Growth is driven primarily through continued acquisition of UK and international payroll bureaus and HR service businesses, which are then migrated onto PSSG's unified technology platform. The group is headquartered at Hoults Yard in Newcastle upon Tyne with additional offices in London, Bristol, and Bournemouth, employing 170+ staff across its subsidiaries.

Name

Payroll Software & Services Group (PSSG).

Legal name

Payroll Software & Services Group Limited

Website

https://thepssg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PSSG is a UK-based payroll, HR, and business support services group formed in 2019 with Tenzing private equity backing. Through 10 acquisitions, it delivers integrated payroll software, UK outsourcing, and international expansion services across 100+ countries, serving SMBs through enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payroll & HR Software and Services

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA), Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Management (BPACAHAC), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)

Keywords

• Payroll software
• HR outsourcing
• Managed payroll services
• Global payroll
• Expense management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Gateshead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Subscriptions: Revenue generated from providing integrated payroll and HR software solutions to businesses of various sizes. Clients migrate onto PSSG's technology platform and pay for access to the feature-rich system with secure data sharing and visibility over payroll.
2. Outsourced Payroll Services: Fully managed payroll and HR outsourcing services where expert staff take care of entire payroll cycles from data input to ensuring employees are paid. Working as an extension of clients' HR departments.
3. International Expansion Services: Services including global payroll, accounting & taxation, company formations and HR support across over 100 countries worldwide, combining international expertise with local knowledge.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PSSG provides integrated payroll and HR software solutions alongside fully outsourced payroll and HR services for UK businesses, and international expansion services including global payroll, accounting, taxation, and company formations across over 100 countries. The group combines proprietary technology (its own payroll and HR platform plus the Capture Expense expense management system) with managed service delivery through a portfolio of acquired specialist brands.

Product overview

PSSG is a platform of payroll, HR, and business support solutions formed in 2020, consisting of a unified product portfolio across software and outsourcing services. The core offerings include Software Solutions (integrated payroll and HR software for in-house management), UK Outsourcing (fully managed payroll and HR services), and International Outsourcing (global payroll across 100+ countries). The product family comprises acquired brands including Cintra (HR & payroll software for SMEs up to 5,000 employees), Capture Expense (expense management software), Just Payroll Services and Online Payrolls (outsourced payroll providers), Software for People (payroll, pensions and HR with education sector focus), Essential Payroll (payroll services), and UnaTerra (international expansion support). These products work together through migration to PSSG's technology platform, providing clients with a single feature-rich system for payroll, HR, and business support requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Software Solutions Integrated payroll and HR software solutions that enable businesses to manage all HR and payroll processes in-house. Provides payroll management, HR software for employee data storage, and integrated payroll and HR capabilities from a single system for businesses of all sizes.
• UK Outsourcing Fully outsourced HR and payroll services delivered by experienced specialists. Covers the entire payroll cycle from data input to ensuring employees are paid, plus HR support and administration to ensure compliance with UK employment laws and legislation for UK businesses.
• International Outsourcing Global payroll platform combined with accounting and taxation, company formations, and HR support across over 100 countries. Combines international expertise with local knowledge to ensure compliance with local legislation for businesses expanding internationally.
• Cintra In-house developed HR and payroll software with fully managed payroll and HR services targeting the UK SME market, specializing in clients with up to 5,000 employees. Based in Newcastle with 40 years of experience.
• Capture Expense Expense management software platform that solves challenges for finance teams, enhances distributed work environments, and improves staff engagement levels.
• UnaTerra International expansion and mission-critical support services including global payroll, accounting and taxation, company formations, and HR support for businesses expanding internationally across over 100 countries.
• Just Payroll Services Outsourced payroll provider offering a complete outsourced payroll solution for UK businesses, particularly targeting small businesses with under 50 employees.
• Online Payrolls Outsourced payroll provider offering a complete outsourced payroll solution for UK businesses, with clients migrated onto PSSG's technology platform following acquisition.
• Software for People Software and services business offering Payroll, Pensions and HR solutions to businesses in the UK and Channel Islands, with strong focus on the education sector including term-time payroll calculations and teacher compliance.
• Essential Payroll Established payroll provider based in Bournemouth offering direct payroll services to UK businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £3.1bn of salary payments processed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• MHR: UK payroll and HR software (iTrent) provider with managed services. Directly comparable as a UK payroll software and outsourcing specialist with an integrated platform competing in similar segments.
• Zellis: UK-based payroll, HR and benefits software and services provider serving enterprise and mid-market employers. Closely overlaps PSSG's product set, customer segments, and managed-services plus software delivery model.
• Moorepay: UK payroll and HR outsourcing and software provider focused on the SME segment. Direct peer to PSSG's Just Payroll Services and Cintra offerings in the small-business outsourced payroll space.
• SD Worx: European payroll and HR services provider with UK operations offering multi-country payroll and EOR-style services. Comparable to PSSG's UnaTerra international outsourcing arm and UK payroll base.
• Ciphr: UK HR, payroll, learning and recruitment software and services group. Comparable as a UK-centric payroll/HR SaaS and outsourced services provider to mid-market and enterprise customers.
• IRIS Software Group: Largest UK payroll, HR and accountancy software and outsourced services group. Directly comparable to PSSG as a UK-focused payroll/HR software and services consolidator serving similar SMB and mid-market segments.

Broad incumbents

• ADP: Global payroll and HCM services giant with established UK operations (ADP UK, ADP Streamline). Competes with PSSG in mid-market and enterprise payroll, but as a broad, multi-product incumbent.
• Sage Group: Global accounting, payroll and HR software incumbent with a strong UK SMB footprint (Sage Payroll, Sage HR). Overlaps PSSG's customer segments as a much larger, broad-suite competitor rather than a focused specialist.
• Ceridian / Dayforce: Global HCM and payroll platform with UK and EMEA presence. Comparable to PSSG's integrated payroll+HR platform ambition but operates as a much larger, broad-suite incumbent with global enterprise focus.

Emerging players

• Deel: Fast-growing global EOR and international payroll platform. Comparable to PSSG's UnaTerra international expansion services, particularly relevant to UK SMEs hiring abroad, though at significantly larger scale and venture-backed growth profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pssg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Payroll Software & Services Group (PSSG).