REWARD
Kirsty Woodward senior manager, global payroll operations
Richard Patton senior manager, payroll consulting
Mark Todd senior manager, UK payroll
Leanne Edwards senior manager, global payroll implementation
How did you get into the profession? LE: The contract I was working on was coming to an end. I saw an advertisement for a payroll manager and thought I would give it a try. KW: While working within tax and global mobility at PwC, I was asked to join our growing global payroll team, so I took a leap of faith and agreed. I did this because I wanted to expand my knowledge and skill in the payroll space and help grow our business even further. RP: One of my roles as a trainee accountant in a small practice was to provide managed payroll services to my clients. I then specialised in this area and led the payroll service business before I moved to my current role at PwC. MT: After leaving school, I joined the NHS as a clerical officer. Within the first three months I was offered a position to work in the payroll team. How has your career progressed? LE: I started managing a team in UK payroll 14 years ago, before moving to system development project management. I then moved to UK transitions and, for the past six years or so, have been working in global payroll. KW: I began my career as a graduate in the Big Four professional services firms and spent the first 21 years as a tax consultant specialising in global mobility. I am a qualified UK tax specialist, as well as a qualified US tax specialist. I have worked my way up through the grades, focusing on client service and truly understanding the needs of our clients, whether this be for tax or payroll support. RP: As well as progressing in seniority from a payroll processor to senior manager, I have worked across all facets of payroll during my 25 years, including UK domestic, expatriate, global, transformation and payroll consulting.
MT: After seven years working on NHS payrolls, I then moved to PwC as an associate. Ten years and several promotions later, I am now the senior manager leading the UK payroll service.
how they are utilising their skills for the best value, and we will all need to think about the next generation of payroll services. RP: Many organisations are struggling to attract and retain the best payroll talent. The market conditions offer a long and lucrative career in payroll for those who wish to pursue it. MT: When I first started in payroll, the career pathway was limited to being a payroll processor and then manager. Around 17 years later, there are so many great opportunities and career pathways, from travelling the world working on global payrolls to payroll consultancy. Payroll has moved away from being a data entry job to becoming a key compliance service. The biggest challenge we all face is keeping up to date with the ever changing 170-plus pieces of UK legislation. What advice would you give to individuals wanting to join the profession now? LE: There is much more to payroll than you could ever imagine. It’s not for the fainthearted but if you want daily challenges and a sense of satisfaction it could be the career for you. KW: Go in with your eyes open and be up for the challenge! Payroll is an ever-changing space and needs forward thinking individuals ready to take it to the next level. RP: Take full advantage of the opportunities available to you. Build a strong foundation with technical training and a qualification, then develop the qualities that organisations truly value – soft skills, leadership, governance and a mindset of continuous improvement. MT: There is never a dull moment working in payroll. Find a mentor, ask questions, learn the technical skills of payroll and grasp every opportunity. n
What are your current roles / responsibilities?
LE: I work with clients who are transitioning their payroll function to PwC and utilising the global payroll platform. Our team manages the project overall and works collaboratively with our local PwC teams across approximately 150 countries, and our technology team in Mauritius, to ensure all clients’ requirements are met and compliance is maintained. KW: I am the operational lead, responsible for the delivery of our payrolls by our global teams and I am the escalation point for both our clients and our network teams. RP: I lead PwC’s payroll consulting team and provide a broad range of support to PwC clients, including due diligence, remediation, team augmentation and transformation. MT: I am responsible for the delivery of 200-plus clients. A typical day would be chatting to clients based in multiple countries across the world to supporting the payroll team with complex queries. I am passionate about always evolving the payroll service and the technology used by the team and am currently working on implementing a new payroll software. What challenges / opportunities do you believe exist for careers in the industry? LE: It’s great to see payroll being recognised more and more. It’s ever changing, with new legislations and processes to adhere to. KW: The future development and use of AI will present the need for payroll professionals and businesses to evaluate
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 105 | November 2024
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