O N L I N E L E A R N I N G
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Learn how to process a number of common termination packages correctly, from redundancies to contractual breaches, retirement and death-in-service. Termination payments
Diary of a student…
HarriotteMcNamaraMCIPPdip, payroll administrator, Gregory Distribution Ltd.
Visit www. cipp.org.uk/training to find out more
Tell us a little about your background and life so far? I’m originally from Essex but moved to Devon thirteen years ago with my husband. We have two dogs which we like to take for walks on the moors when it’s not raining too much. What can you tell us about your career and qualifications? I completed my GCSEs and A-levels but didn’t go to university as I never really knew what I wanted to do. I have had a varied career, but I have always been drawn towards an administrative role as I have a natural ability to organise things. Like many people, I didn’t set out to work in payroll, but found it is a role that suits my character very well. Why did you choose to study the Foundation Degree? When I started working for my current company, they offered me the chance to complete the Foundation Degree. I felt it was something that could only benefit me, so I gladly accepted the offer.
evenings and weekends, but it’s definitely worth it when you complete the course. If you can get some support from your family members, that will be invaluable. I am grateful both to my husband for helping me revise and doing a lot of the cooking whilst I was busy studying, and to my mum for proof-reading my assignments. How did you manage the work- life balance and your study? Do you have any tips for others in the same position? I think being organised helped me a lot. During my second year, I got married and moved houses at short notice without missing any deadlines or taking time off work. I had a lot of support from my family which was a massive help, and I made a lot of ‘to do’ lists so I knew what I had to do and when. I didn’t have much of a social life though. What would you say is the most important thing you learnt? Everything! The modules are quite varied and focus on topics that apply to the wider business as well as processing a payroll so you gain a multitude of different skills that you can put in to practice on a day-to-day basis. What did you gain from this qualification – both in terms of skills and also career progression? It gave me a lot more confidence within my current role, so I feel much better- equipped to deal with any situations that are out of the ordinary. You learn to do a lot of research for yourself which was invaluable when the furlough scheme was introduced. n
How did you find the qualification?
CPD 3 points
Time-consuming and rewarding. I did have to devote a lot of my free time to studying but it was definitely worth it. I found the topics both interesting and challenging and they definitely broadened my knowledge and increased my confidence at work. What advice would you give to others who are thinking about studying in order to improve their career? It’s a lot of work, so you need to be committed and prepared to give up your
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | March 2021 | Issue 68 14
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