REWARD
Did you ‘fall’ or
We, payroll professionals, often confess we ‘fell’ into payroll, but there are others who confirm they actively ‘chose’ a career in payroll. To gauge this, we took to LinkedIn to ask you whether you chose payroll or if it chose you.
Fall
Jim Woodlingfield ChMCIPP, payroll and pensions manager, Sunderland City Council: “I fell into payroll, through tech support and customer service, and at first, I saw it as a steppingstone to accountancy. The point I really embraced it as a career was when I was promoted to payroll manager, became responsible for a wider team and ultimately for safeguarding the organisation itself. I really felt I had arrived when I took my Level 5 qualification and was able to apply for Chartered member status. There’s such a sense of pride in successfully delivering a payroll each month, knowing that everything’s compliant. My favourite thing to do now is develop others in the profession and I feel it’s so helpful to have the CIPP to turn to for support. The payroll community is a great place, and we can recognise each other’s trials and tribulations, as well as the joys and highlights, and above all, the commitment to getting the job done.” Jonathan Mifsud, co-founder and chief technology officer, Buddy: “I would say I’m one of those who fell into payroll. I started doing it as a small business owner. Then I was introduced to a marketing opportunity to help build a new payroll solution.
Over the last four years, I’ve had a lot of proud moments. I think the ones that touch me most centre on how we’ve helped employees get better visibility and clarity on how they’re getting paid.”
Fiona Broad MCIPPdip, client payroll team lead, IRIS FMP Payroll Services: “Originally, I fell into payroll, after university in 1996. I got in the back door of a large multinational company as a temp, originally handling absence input on PS2000. My career took off after I was offered a permanent contract, and by 2002, I had completed both the CIPP Foundation and Diploma qualifications. I was also a payroll team leader, leading eight and paying 4,000 UK employees. I really enjoyed my job, leading a happy team and training. Following redundancy and ten years of working in education, I sent my CV to FMP Payroll Services (now IRIS FMP Payroll Services). Having studied payroll in my school business certificate, I realised I wanted to return to my specialist subject. The fact the CIPP continues to promote payroll as a professional occupation is great. I enjoy the varied work and the people aspect to payroll. I haven’t looked back and I’m glad that second time around I made this choice. My greatest achievements would be leading, training and working alongside some of the best teams over the years, while also seeing trainees develop into competent payroll professionals.”
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | September 2022 | Issue 83 36
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