Trusted by compliance teams managing £100m+ in external workforce spend
Governance, Funding Assurance and Public Accountability
Universities operate in an environment where governance and public accountability matter more than ever. Yet most institutions lack a clear view of:
- Who is working off-payroll across faculties and departments
- How external workers were engaged and whether IR35 decisions are defensible
- Where labour enters through suppliers, partners or research channels
- Which departments are following compliant and consistent processes
The average UK university has 200–500 off-payroll workers. At typical tax rates, a single misclassified role can cost £50,000+ in back taxes, NICs, and penalties. This is not just a tax issue — it's a governance and institutional-risk issue that Audit Committees are increasingly asking about.
University Risk Overview
Cross-department compliance visibility
Four areas demanding immediate attention.
IR35 decisions that don't stand up to scrutiny
A single misclassified role can raise questions about process, oversight and internal controls.
Hidden labour through poorly governed channels
Faculties, Research and Professional Services often contract outside central processes — leaving Procurement and Finance blind.
Rising scrutiny from Audit Committees and regulators
Narrative explanations are no longer enough. Universities must demonstrate clear, consistent and defensible oversight.
Grant funding requiring stronger controls
Funders expect institutions to track who is engaged, how they are classified and how decisions were made.
CoComply gives leadership confidence where the risks are currently unclear.
Complete visibility over every external worker and decision.
Governance infrastructure for Tax, Finance, Procurement, HR and Research — with consistent processes and clear accountability.
- IR35 and worker-classification assessments
- Supply-chain visibility for labour entering via suppliers
- Document analysis for SoWs, MSAs and engagements
- Defensible audit trail across departments
- Clear risk ownership and accountability
University Platform Benefits
Institution-wide governance infrastructure
Institution-Wide View
All external workers in one place
Defensible Audit Trail
Every decision documented
Clear Ownership
Risk accountability assigned
Built for the complexity of higher education.
Strengthens institutional controls
Build robust governance frameworks that protect your institution.
Reduces tax and reputational exposure
Mitigate IR35 risks before they become costly liabilities.
Provides clarity across decentralised departments
Unified visibility for faculties, research and professional services.
Enables confident reporting to Audit Committees
Evidence-based assurance that stands up to scrutiny.
Improves assurance for research grant funding
Demonstrate the controls that funders expect to see.
Single version of truth across the institution
One platform for Tax, Finance, Procurement, HR and Research.
Governance you can defend when questioned.
With CoComply, universities gain confidence:
- Clarity on who is working, where, and under what status
- Control over external engagements across all departments
- Consistency in decisions and processes
- Confidence when questioned internally or externally
- Certainty that the institution is protected and defensible
Governing Body Dashboard
Audit Committee & regulatory compliance