James Knight

Director & Founder

"I'm passionate about payroll and its importance to the business.  For many it's a back office necessity but in reality, given the importance of our prime assets, our staff, the accuracy, efficiency and timeliness of staff payment is vital.

My background was originally in IT Project Management with a focus on business solutions.  After running a payroll print broker I decided to utilise my payroll and operational experience to start Essential Payroll.  We have been pioneers in utilising technology to provide payroll services to direct and whitelabelled clients since 2013.  Our emphasis has an continues to be on strong relationships with our partners and clients and we constantly strive to provide extra business value to payroll.  Our underlying philosophy is efficiency but not at the expense of accuracy or customer service.

As any business owner or manager would appreciate, working with great teams is paramount to the success of any business.  From experience, a strong team isn't built around strong individuals, it's built around partnership and mutual respect.  I am very fortunate!

Outside of work when I'm not making the most of the beautiful Dorset coastline on my boat, I enjoy golf, skiing, travelling, & spending time with my family."

Janine Doherty

Payroll Manager (Partner)

"I am a motivated and organised individual who has enjoyed a career in Payroll for the last 13 years. I have great attention to detail and ensure that I provide the best service to my very important clients. 

I am a busy mum with a husband, 3 children and a dog, they all keep me on my toes. I like nothing better than baking a great cake having found out that I am quite good at baking! I enjoy spending time with my friends and family."

Dan Sykes

Payroll Manager (Direct)

"I am an organised person who loves a to-do list! I have enjoyed a career in payroll for the last 10+ years dealing with both in-house and bureau payrolls. I am a very client-focused individual who will not hesitate to go the extra mile to ensure my own high standards are met continuously.

My payroll experience is very varied dealing with NHS to schools payrolls whilst also having a very broad understanding of Auto Enrolment.

In my spare time I enjoy going swimming and socialising with friends and am never one to turn down a new experience or adventure."

Kat White

Senior Payroll Administrator

"I am a driven individual who has enjoyed a strong career in the Payroll sector for 5 years now. I am a methodical worker who pays great attention to detail and communicates effectively with clients.

I enjoy regular running and exercise and take part in Parkrun every Saturday morning where I can. I like watching documentaries and films of varied genres, I am also an avid fan of music and particularly enjoy listening to 80’s rock music. In my spare time, I like to socialize with my friends and spend time with my family."

Andrea Rab

Senior Payroll Administrator

“I love to do payroll and enjoy working with clients, ensure that things are consistently carried out to a high standard. Previously working in a very busy payroll bureau, my experience is varied from small employers to large companies and have a good knowledge of Workplace Pension/Auto Enrolment.

I have a beautiful and talented 12 year old girl, who plays table tennis and member of the National Team. We are travelling a lot, but in our free time we enjoy kayaking, exploring our beautiful coast, love to go and paint ceramics or just make a hot chocolate and complete jigsaw puzzles at home.”

Alex Antosik

Payroll Administrator

“Hi, I’m Alex, I’ve been working in payroll only recently but am loving it. My background has been in bookkeeping for the past 8 years which included administrative tasks such as banking/ordering etc. 

I love being given new challenges and managing to excel in them. I have two wonderful children and my passions include long walks that vary from the beach to the forest, fashion, chess and fitness training. One of my favourite memories is that I completed the 26mile hike for Macmillan which took just under 10 hours around the Dorset coast.”

Rachel Huang

Senior Payroll Administrator

“I have been working in payroll for 7 years now, prior to that I have over 10 years experiences in the hospitality industry.  I enjoy interaction with clients and supporting them with my expertise. I always go above the beyond with my jobs as I love the sense of achievement when my clients are happy with the outcome. I have worked in both in-house payroll bureau payroll, both of which I have enjoyed, however the client interaction in the bureau environment is phenomenal.

My partner and I enjoy travelling so we are constantly on the road when we are off, a day trip to London or a long weekend to Wales. I also enjoy cooking and spending some quiet time catching up with my series/movies."

Danielle Best

Senior Payroll Administrator

“I have over 8 years’ experience in the payroll industry, having worked my way up from the call centre to a senior payroll clerk in my last role. I’ve settled into the team nicely and am looking forward to becoming acquainted with so many new clients. 

In my spare time, I love walking, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, and spending time with my friends and family.”