REWARD
Career paths and opportunities for payroll professionals
Roles in payroll are continually developing and evolving, but what does this mean for payroll professionals? Jerome Smail, business journalist, chats to several industry luminaries
W orking in payroll brings exposure to diverse subjects – practical matters, scheduling, law, staff management, problem resolution, technology and so on, which means that new opportunities inevitably arise in the profession. So, what are the career paths and opportunities that might present themselves, and what skills need to be acquired or developed? To explore, I asked some of the brightest luminaries in the field: ● John Cronin , chief executive officer of Subio ● Louise Gray ChMCIPPdip , head of transitions and operations for EY Absolute ● Nick Phillips ChMCIPPdip , service delivery manager, payroll developments for East Midlands Shared Services ● Heidi Watson MCIPPdip , payroll and benefits manager for Swan ● Karen Young , director of Hays Accountancy & Finance. What knowledge of other functions in the organisation do payroll professionals need to have for a fully successful operation? John Cronin: The more any individual understands about other functions, the greater the potential of providing
meaningful contributions. Payroll professionals are no different.
service duties and payroll professionals need to interact with courtesy, patience and understanding, being ready to address questions on a wide range of topics. Nick Phillips: Whether it be your knowledge of payroll or other interrelated functions, it’s not always about what you retain in your head, but your ability to locate reliable and accurate sources of guidance when required. Heidi Watson: I believe it’s important for the payroll department leader to have a good general knowledge of the business and its goals to allow the department to provide the right service to employees. A payroll professional also needs a good understanding of the people function, as a lot of employment law crosses over both areas. An understanding of the finance function is a great benefit, allowing payroll to ensure software provides accurate journals and reports. Karen Young : Payroll require extensive knowledge in their area of expertise to progress. However, if you wish to succeed further, you should be prepared to learn about other business functions, such as pensions, HR, and accounting. Areas like internal audit are beneficial too. Increased integration between payroll and HR can be integral to effective talent acquisition and retention strategies. Many
This extends beyond just the ‘people’ element within each business, to understanding how every function works. Many payroll staff will already engage with finance and human resources (HR), but mainly on a transactional level. To move from being seen as a transactional group, payroll must understand wider business aims and objectives across all functions beyond HR and finance, including operations, sales, marketing and product. Louise Gray: Compliance is fundamental to the payroll process to avoid penalties. Payroll professionals should understand the rules and regulations affecting day-to- day payroll in line with their role. Payroll duties frequently overlap with customer ...payroll must understand wider business aims and objectives across all functions beyond HR and finance...
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2021 | Issue 74 32
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