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ISSUE 6
that requires juggling complex, multifaceted responsibilities,” I’d
“ Payroll has been around since ancient
completely understand. Payroll isn’t for the faint of heart. But I’ve often wondered if they’re really saying, “I’m not ready for that kind of accountability.” Because, at its core, payroll is about responsibility. And that’s precisely what makes it such a fulfilling and respected career. The Weight of Responsibility: A Personal Story I remember when I first entered the world of payroll. I was young— too young, perhaps — (it was back in the days when payroll was still calculated manually, with IBM machines churning out numbers once a month), I was given the daunting task of calculating the bonus pays for around 25 employees manually. Bearing in mind this was before the days of sophisticated payroll software, let me tell you, it was no small task. In Turkey, wages are often calculated as net versus gross wages: either the employer shoulders the statutory costs (net salary), or the employee does (gross salary). I was responsible for working out the differences and ensuring that everyone received the correct amount. The croupiers collected their net pay with calm expressions, but I knew they were secretly thrilled with the result. Despite the sleepless nights that came with such a hefty responsibility at a young age, I’m still here, at the heart of the payroll industry. Why? Because payroll isn’t just about numbers—it’s
times, dating all the way back to the Sumerians. It doesn’t have the shine of something fresh and new, but don’t let that fool you— it’s one of the most critical functions in any organisation. ”
It’s More Than Just Numbers When I ask young, talented
professionals whether they’d consider a career in payroll, their immediate reaction is often the same. They scrunch their faces and say, “I’m not great with numbers,” or “Math isn’t my strong suit.” They assume payroll is all about balancing figures and crunching numbers day in and day out. But in today’s world, where technology has streamlined most processes, payroll is about so much more.
It’s about responsibility. If they told me, “I’m not ready to take on a role
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