When I grow up, I want to work in payroll
Julie Dansie, director of payroll operations at Moorepay, speaks tomembers of the payroll teamabout their experiences in the profession
Introduction “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question we’re all asked as children and answers usually include doctors, firefighters or even superheroes. But there’s never been a child who’s aspired to be a payroll professional. At least, none that I’ve heard of! Despite this, I’m sure you’ll all agree that superheroes and payroll professionals have more in common than people think. The last eighteen months have amplified the important role that payroll professionals play. After all, payrollers are now classified as being keyworkers for their fundamental role in ensuring employees are paid both accurately and on time. So, what does it take to have a successful career in payroll in 2021? I interviewed two members of the Moorepay payroll team, Daisy and Dudley, to gain a snapshot of their experiences.
How Moorepay supports employees in growing their careers At Moorepay, one of our key values is ‘always learning’, meaning we continually build expertise in ourselves and others. We’re dynamic and always looking for better ways to carry out our work. For example, we regularly run ZED talks that are lecture-style sessions where information is given to colleagues in an accessible and exciting way. They cover a wide spectrum, from highly technical to holistic self-development. Topics include empowering people and taking ownership, to understanding imposter syndrome, to successful delegation. What’s next for the payroll professional? Payroll is typically the single biggest expense for most businesses. However, payroll is rarely represented at board level. As payroll professionals, we know that in 2021, payroll is most certainly more than just pay. Consequently, payroll teams will increasingly start to provide even more in-depth analysis of costs at board level. And maybe even gain a seat at the all-important board table enabling payrollers to take their careers to the next level. In addition, the progress of artificial intelligence and technology opens opportunities for payroll professionals. It isn’t about taking over jobs; it’s about freeing employees from the burden of administrative tasks and enabling them to drive operational improvements to provide the best possible service. Consequently, as time goes on, the payroll profession will get more rewarding with the support of better technology. I’m sure you’ll all agree the last eighteen months have taught us that you never know what’s around the corner. However, what’s certain is that the demands on payroll will evolve, and the requirement for committed, qualified and skilled payroll professionals will continue. o
She is currently managing a team of ten payroll professionals and acts as an escalation point of contact for more than 1,000 clients. What does it take to have a successful career in payroll? Daisy believes that a two-pronged approach has led to success in her career goals. Firstly, Moorepay has given her academic training by sponsoring her learning. Secondly, Daisy has worked alongside colleagues with extensive payroll and commercial experience. Through working in the payroll team at Moorepay, individuals acquire the technical skills that are needed to process payroll and learn how to run effective operations and processes. This gives them versatile skills to help develop their career either within, or beyond, payroll. When asking Daisy what transferrable skills she’s learnt in her payroll career so far, she listed problem solving, time management
and leadership as her top three. Dudley Barber, head of client experience at Moorepay is new to both the business and the payroll
Starting a career in payroll “I fell into payroll, but I love it.”
Daisy Tabiner has worked at Moorepay for five years and isn’t ashamed to admit she quite simply fell into her role. She was introduced to the sector by a friend, who described a career in payroll as a combination of problem solving, maths and legislation. Daisy felt the skills required aligned with her strengths so decided to take the plunge. Fast-forward five years, and Daisy has recently completed her CIPP Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. The degree has given Daisy an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of payroll processes and the corresponding legislation. In addition, Daisy has acquired skills in operations management and project management that have enabled her to progress in her career, leading to several promotions. Most recently, Daisy was promoted to strategic payroll lead.
sector. He started his career in financial services, working for a big corporate for nearly fifteen years, before moving into the start-up world. From Dudley’s perspective, regardless of the sector you’re working in, the same fundamentals apply to be successful. For a business to run effectively it’s about getting the three pillars right: people, process and technology. Dudley stands by the words of his lecturer at the University of Warwick, Professor Robert Johnston: “the level of external customer service will never exceed the level of internal customer service”. Through creating a high- performance culture, where employees can reach their full potential, Dudley believes that customer satisfaction levels will simultaneously increase.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2021 | Issue 74 30
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