The case of a former payroll officer who was convicted of fraud and served a four-year custodial sentence is a stark reminder of the importance of background checks in the payroll hiring process. As this individual is now out looking for a payroll job, it raises the question: do employers really know who they are employing, and what background checks are they doing in relation to payroll vacancies?
It’s not uncommon for job seekers to hide certain facts about their past when applying for a job. But employing someone with a fraud conviction can have serious consequences, especially when it comes to access to payroll. I believe it’s essential for employers to conduct thorough background checks for any payroll position they are recruiting for, including a police report, to ensure they are not putting their company at risk by hiring someone with a criminal history.
Unfortunately, not all employers take this step in the hiring process. In a candidate short market, employers may be tempted to overlook certain details about a candidate’s past in order to fill a position quickly. However, failing to conduct proper background checks can put you at risk of fraud. A reminder also that Sonia Causer who stole over $18,000,000 from Clive Peeters was able to get a payroll job on bail.
While it may be tempting to overlook certain details in a candidate’s past, the cost of doing so can be far greater than the cost of conducting thorough background checks. As a minimum, put references, criminal police check, insolvency check and right to work check on your list of possibilities.
