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How to Connect a Payroll Provider

Timecloud integrates directly with your payroll system so you can sync employees, map pay codes, and publish timesheets — all without manual data entry.

Before You Start

  • You need the Payroll Screen permission to access the Payroll page.
  • To create or enable a new provider, you also need the All Payroll Providers permission enabled in Settings → Feature Access.
  • Sub-admins without All Payroll Providers will only see the providers they've been individually granted access to.

Step 1: Open the Payroll Page

  • Click Payroll from the main navigation menu.
  • You'll see the Select Payroll Provider screen with two sections:
    • Enabled Integrations — Providers you've already connected.
    • Available Integrations — Providers ready to be set up (visible only if you have permission to create providers).

Step 2: Choose Your Provider

  • Click on the provider you want to connect (e.g., Xero, MYOB, Smartly, Payroll Metrics).
  • Click the Connect to [Provider Name] button.

Step 3: Authorise the Connection

You'll be redirected to your provider's login page. Sign in and authorise Timecloud to access your payroll data. Once approved, you'll be returned to Timecloud automatically.

Some providers use basic authentication instead of OAuth. In those cases, you'll see a login form directly within Timecloud.

Smartly

Smartly uses a secure OAuth connection. When you click Connect to Smartly, you'll be redirected to the Smartly login page. Sign in with your Smartly credentials and authorise the connection. Timecloud will automatically detect your Smartly company — no additional file or tenant selection is needed.

Payroll Metrics

When connecting Payroll Metrics, you'll be asked for five credentials:

  • Customer Code — Your unique Payroll Metrics customer identifier.
  • Username — Your Payroll Metrics login username.
  • Password — Your Payroll Metrics login password.
  • Custom Header Name — Provided by Payroll Metrics for your account.
  • Custom Header Value — Provided by Payroll Metrics for your account.

All five fields are required. Contact your Payroll Metrics representative if you don't have these details.

Step 4: Select a Company File or Tenant (If Applicable)

Some providers (like MYOB) support multiple company files or tenants.

  • A table will display all available company files.
  • Click Select next to the one you want to use.
  • To add more tenants, use the Add [Tenant Name] button.
  • To remove a tenant, click the Delete icon next to it.

Note: Smartly does not require this step — your company is identified automatically during authorisation.

What's Next?

Once connected, you'll land on the Payroll Dashboard where you can:

  • Map employees to their payroll records
  • Configure pay code mappings
  • Publish timesheets
  • Set up automations
  • Sync leave balances (supported providers)
  • Export or import jobs (supported providers)

How to Disconnect a Payroll Provider

If you need to remove a payroll connection, Timecloud asks you to confirm before disconnecting.

  • Open the Payroll page and select the provider you want to disconnect.
  • Click the Disconnect button (or the Delete icon next to a specific tenant).
  • A confirmation dialog will appear with the title "Disconnect from [Provider Name]".
  • Review the warning — disconnecting will stop payroll exports and syncing, and you'll need to re-authenticate to reconnect.
  • Click Disconnect to confirm, or close the dialog to cancel.

Tip: If you're disconnecting the last connected tenant for a multi-tenant provider, you'll be returned to the authentication screen.

Troubleshooting

  • "You don't have access to this payroll provider" — Ask your account owner to enable this provider for you in Settings → Feature Access under the Payroll Provider section.
  • Can't see Available Integrations — You need the All Payroll Providers permission to create new provider connections. Ask your account owner to enable it.