PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
# Be Payroll Evi Garoufi-London MCIPP, head of payroll and benefits at CIS Security Limited tells us why she values being a member of the CIPP and what her favourite membership benefits are
Why did you become a member of the CIPP? As the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, it was important for me to get the CIPP seal from the beginning of my payroll career to gain recognition for my role within the industry. More and more payroll job adverts mention a CIPP qualification and / or membership, and it appears this has become a requirement as opposed to just being desirable for many companies. This confirms the importance of the Institute to employers across all sectors. How has your membership helped in your career? My membership has helped me considerably. Once I completed my CIPP qualification in 2011, I became a full member rather than an associate one. My CIPP membership gives me kudos in my current role and is a great way to showcase both my knowledge and expertise within the payroll industry. I will soon be applying for Chartered membership, as this will be a significant milestone in my payroll career. Which membership benefits have you used or enjoyed most and can you provide some examples? The Advisory Service is an excellent benefit we use regularly within the team. We’ve received fantastic support with more complex tasks, and confirmation we’re doing things right. Professional magazine is a great source of knowledge, and we enjoy the Advisory article as it provides direct answers to many questions which are relevant to what we do. My all-time favourite used to be ‘ Confessions of a Payroll Manager ’, which kept me entertained on difficult days, so I’m sad it isn’t included in the magazine anymore. Can you describe your payroll journey to us so far? I started working as a payroll administrator in 2007 with no previous payroll experience. I realised very quickly I’d like to progress in the industry. While studying for my CIPP Advanced Practitioner Certificate in Payroll, I was honoured to receive the Rising Star Award in the Annual Excellence Awards for Payroll Professionals in November 2011. My career took over from there.
I was fortunate enough to work as a payroll manager for some rewarding companies, such as: ● Searcys ● Cote Restaurants ● Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. In my current role as the head of payroll and benefits at CIS Security Limited, I’m privileged to have the support of a fantastic team, who are dedicated and customer-focused, but also great fun to be around. What are your hopes for your future career? Being awarded CIPP Chartered membership is my short-term goal, along with developing our current strategies to meet company growth requirements. I’m dedicated to my team and would like to assist them with their professional development. At some point, I’d like to mentor and provide support to young individuals interested in a career in payroll. Do you have any plans to study CIPP qualifications or training courses? In 2021, I successfully completed the CIPP’s P11Ds, expenses and benefits collection course and, more recently, the BeKnowledgeable holiday webinar, which was very useful. I’ve been considering an international payroll qualification for some time but am yet to take the leap with this. What advice would you give to those new to the payroll profession, who are just starting out in their careers? Payroll is very rewarding, as you’ll deal with real people and different scenarios every day. I would encourage you to sign up to a CIPP course and become a member, to ensure you’re up to date with current legislation. Read different publications, attend webinars and network as much as possible. n If you’re interested in taking part, contact us at marketing@ cipp.org.uk , and share your story with the payroll world. Together we can bring the payroll profession to the forefront of the business world.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | September 2022 | Issue 83 12
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