Darren Barclay
Chief Operations Officer
What I do at activpayroll
As Chief Operations Officer, I’m responsible for making sure our global operations run smoothly and efficiently — but for me, it’s always about people first. I work closely with teams across the business to deliver exceptional service to our customers, while creating an environment where our employees feel supported, empowered, and inspired to grow. Every day brings new challenges, and I thrive on finding smart, scalable solutions that help us move forward together.
Why activpayroll
No two days are the same at activpayroll – I still say that after working at activpayroll for over 12 years! For me, it’s a huge factor in why I believe activpayroll is a great place to work. I am also of a strong believer that the activpayroll culture is at the heart of what makes activpayroll a brilliant place to work, whether that be our amazing teams and colleagues, or the opportunities for professional development and personal growth.
Who am I?
I have occupied multiple roles at activpayroll, ranging from traditional technical roles, analyst roles and most recently - management & leadership roles. The opportunities to develop have been instrumental to my success at activpayroll, meaning this is also something close to my heart in terms of providing my teams with opportunities to grow and develop. I am also inspired by many great leaders, whereby I will always back and support my team, while being a strong believer that we win and lose together as a team!
Advice for prospective candidates
- On a personal note, be honest, open, and transparent!
- Be selfish – tell us what is important to you in terms of your career aspirations, coupled with your growth and development goals.
- Great communication skills are key in any role, as we all need able to work with a diverse range of stakeholders to get the right outcomes - think about where your strengths are here, and also how you can build on that
- Help drive us towards service excellence, delivering high quality work to deadlines and in a fast-paced environment.