Personal development
Diary of a student…
Did the fact that the CIPP is Chartered or recognised within the industry influence your decision to enrol with the CIPP? Yes, totally. There are a few qualifications out there, so I wanted to choose a qualification that was internationally recognised with a governing body. I hope to carry on with my studies to be able to become Chartered. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification, what would your advice be to them? Go for it! The tutors are helpful, the material is easy to digest, and the learning platform is so easy to use. I enjoyed my time completing the Payroll Technician Certificate and have found that it has given me more confidence in my work. n Payroll Technician Certificate This online qualification allows individuals to develop and formalise payroll knowledge and skills. Studying at home, students progress to applying complex legislation and contractual obligations to enable accurate administration of payroll services. Designed for those new to payroll, or those who wish to improve their working knowledge of payroll processes, this online qualification covers the core skills required to administer the payroll function. From calculating gross pay and identifying the differences between taxable and NICable pay, the course covers the methodologies for the manual calculation of PAYE income tax, NICs, student loan deductions and statutory payments. Together with a broad overview of other payroll obligations such as court orders, real-time information, automatic enrolment, end of year reporting and HMRC remittance calculations, students gain a balanced education on the fundamentals of the payroll profession. For further information and enrolment, visit www.cipp.org.uk/study/ptc .
Francesca Dark Payroll technician, Plummer Parsons
Can you give us a brief background into your life? I’m 42 years old, and originally come from London; however, I now reside in Eastbourne on the south coast. I live with my husband and son, who is now one and a half. Consequently, my life is very busy and toddler activity based! We enjoy living by the seaside as my son loves the outdoors and going for walks along the beach. We also take him swimming and frequent the park to see the ducks and go on the slides. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? I haven’t always worked in finance. I completed my BSc and MSc in physiology and biochemistry. However, I found it difficult to get work in my specialist area, so I decided to retrain by completing my AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification. I was able to secure a trainee position within a small friendly accountancy firm. It is here that I was introduced to payroll and within three years was qualified and working as the payroll/CIS (construction industry scheme) supervisor in addition to an accounts assistant. Of all the work I did I enjoyed payroll most so decided to specialise in just that area. Currently I work for a chartered accountancy firm in Eastbourne in the payroll bureau. We have a close staff of six and deal with pay for companies from all sectors.
Why did you choose to study the Payroll Technician Certificate? Even though I have been working in payroll for seven years and have learned mainly through work-based training and seminars, I wanted to be able to improve gaps in my knowledge and complete a recognised qualification; the CIPP certificate covered everything I needed. It was also a perfect length of time to be able to learn but the studying also fits into your life without feeling like it is never going to come to a finish. How important is this qualification in relation to your career? I wanted to have a professional qualification so that I could show my employers my knowledge base and that I could commit to studying while also working full-time. While I believe that work experience is a major factor in employers retaining your services, I also think that if you have a recognised qualification, they can see that you have the knowledge that they need for the job. How did you cope with the work-life balance and your study? As I already had a good knowledge of the areas covered by the course, I found it easier to dedicate the hours needed each week to the reading and assignments. I think if I were starting from scratch, it would have been harder for me. I think it’s completely achievable to be able to fit in an hour in your day to study. I did a lot during my lunch break, so I didn’t have to take the work home with me.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | May 2020 | Issue 60 18
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