Payroll problems | Council scrambles to reclaim £600k overpaid to ex-workers

A council is reviewing its payroll management after revealing it is on a mission to reclaim more than £600,000 that was overpaid to former employees.

An audit of Highland Council’s 2022-23 financial year revealed that overpayments amounting to £863,000 were made to ex-staff members.

According to the auditors, the problem stemmed from inaccuracies in how departing employees were recorded within the Scottish council's systems, leading to significant financial discrepancies. 

Now, a newly released report has clarified that the actual sum requiring recovery is £614,092, with the council so far reclaiming 25% of this amount.