PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT
Melanie Brand MCIPPdip Payroll manager Caring Homes Group Diary of a student…
qualification and was keen to support me in my degree. Throughout the course they were very accommodating when I needed to attend module review days and also by allowing me to get some quiet time away from the phone in a meeting room when I needed to concentrate on study or write assignments. Did the fact that the CIPP is Chartered or recognised within the industry influence your decision to enrol with the CIPP? And were there any particular modules which were of interest prior to enrolling? I believe a CIPP qualification speaks for itself when detailing a qualification background or including in your CV (curriculum vitae) history as most employers will have heard of the Institute and recognise that members are committed professionals. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification what would your advice be to them? Don’t underestimate the commitment. It is a very rewarding experience and definitely worth the effort, but I wish I had planned my study time better, especially when assignment submission deadlines fell at the end of the payroll cycle and I was busiest at work. This would have saved me a lot of panic shortly before an assignment deadline when I was only a few hundred words into writing it. I would also say where possible or appropriate don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues/friends/family for help, especially for things like proof-reading assignments as after a few reads of your own work you go a bit word blind and a second pair of eyes will hopefully spot any spelling or grammar issues or sentences that don’t quite make sense. n
Can you give us a brief background into your life? I have been working for my current
Why did you choose to study the Foundation Degree? I chose to study the Foundation Degree because I wanted to consolidate the learning and experience I’d already gained into a recognised qualification. I also believe that formal study provides an opportunity to ensure you are operating ‘best practice’ processes and procedures and completion of the Foundation Degree demonstrates that you know what you need to do to adhere to required industry standards. How important is this degree in relation to your career? As a manager you do start to move away from day to day administration. My role now involves dealing with senior management, external advisors and payroll providers as well as presenting for specific projects and proposals. The Foundation Degree not only demonstrates my commitment to a career in the profession but also gave me a lot more confidence in my ability as a payroll manager. I felt validated that I was doing the day to day job well, gained additional tools relating to the management of a team, and began to think much more strategically about how my role and team fit into the bigger picture of the organisation. I think these are important skills and eventually you start to become more comfortable in dealing with the additional pressure and responsibilities that a management role involves. How did you cope with the work life balance and your study? My employer recognised the value of this
company for just over three years and I manage a small team who look after a payroll of around 5,700 employees with some offsite bureau support. We juggle several pay bases as well as payroll for the Isle of Man and Jersey. In my spare time I enjoy swimming and have recently signed up for my first competitive team triathlon. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? Initially I started in human resources (HR) working for two years as an administrator, which involved some elements of payroll that I started to enjoy more than anything else in the job. I also felt my skills were very suited to payroll and it was then that I knew that I wanted to work specifically in payroll. I actively looked for a role outside the business and secured one that gave me the payroll experience that I was looking for. Eighteen months later my former employer approached me offering a newly created payroll manager role within the finance team. I’d enjoyed working there previously and as this would be a valuable opportunity to gain experience in a management position, so I accepted the offer. Since then I have spent three years establishing a small payroll team alongside studying the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. I am very proud to say I completed and graduated in October last year.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | March 2018 | Issue 38 14
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