EDITOR Lora Murphy MCIPPdip editor@cipp.org.uk ADVERTISING
Editor’s comment
Daniel Cull and Lexi Evans commercial@cipp.org.uk DESIGN James Bartlett and Nicole Davis PRINTING Redactive
June has arrived quicker than expected, although I can’t say I’m complaining. Summer has always been my favourite time of year: longer days, brighter mornings and, hopefully, plenty of sunshine. There’s something about this season that naturally brings a renewed sense of energy and optimism. That feeling of renewed confidence ties perfectly into the theme of this issue: ‘Payroll: time to level up’ . When planning the themes for this year’s issues, this was one I was especially excited about. Pay professionals achieve an extraordinary amount every single pay period, often behind the scenes, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. Yet the value of payroll can sometimes go unnoticed outside the function itself. That’s why, in this issue, we explore how professionals across the pay industries can showcase their expertise, demonstrate their impact and communicate the vital role they play within their wider organisations.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jason Davenport FCIPP MloD CIPP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stuart Hall MCIPPdip Dianne Hoodless MSc ChFCIPP FHEA
Ana Laiu MSc FCIPPdip Brendan Mulkern FCIPP
Brian Sparling ChFCIPPdip Michelle Sutton ChMCIPPdip
Cliff Vidgeon BA (Hons) CMA ACG ChFCIPP Clare Warrington MSc FCIPPdip AFHEA
Lora Murphy MCIPPdip (editor@cipp.org.uk) Editor and Host of ‘Behind the Button’, CIPP
USEFUL CONTACTS Consultancy consultancy@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1044 Events team events@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1013 General enquiries enquiries@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1000 Marketing marketing@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1033 Membership membership@cipp.org.uk
CHAIR’S comment
I’m delighted to welcome you to this issue of Professional , which asks a bold but timely question of every pay professional: how will you level up? As our landscape evolves at remarkable pace, this challenge isn’t just about upgrading systems or refining processes, although both remain essential. It’s about stepping confidently into a new era for pay, where our skills, strategic influence and organisational value are more visible and vital than ever. For too long, payroll has been labelled a back-office function. Important, but often overlooked. Yet today’s environment tells a very different story. Organisations increasingly recognise that payroll isn’t simply an operational necessity, but a strategic asset. Our work influences employee trust, financial stability, wellbeing and the overall employee experience. And with organisations navigating complex economic conditions, workforce change and intensifying regulatory expectations, payroll is being looked to for insight, not just output. That’s why levelling up matters. It’s an invitation (and in many ways, a responsibility) to expand our capabilities and impact. That means investing in our skills, from deeper legislative expertise to analytical capability and data fluency. It means adopting and embracing new technologies, not as threats, but as tools that enhance accuracy, efficiency and strategic value. And it means stepping into conversations across our organisations with confidence, shaping decisions rather than simply responding to them. Technology will continue to transform what we do. Automation, improved integration and more agile systems are reshaping the possibilities for modern payroll. But transformation has two sides: the tools that evolve, and the professionals who evolve with them. If we want payroll to be recognised for the strategic powerhouse it can be, we must be willing to grow. This issue brings together expert voices, practical advice and forward-looking perspectives to help you do exactly that. Whether you’re building future skills, implementing smarter technology, influencing senior leaders or reimagining the value your function delivers, this is your moment to rise. Payroll is no longer back-office. It’s front and centre. And the time to level up is now.
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Trademarks The CIPP logo, the initials ‘CIPP’ and the words ‘Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward’ are trademarks of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. Copyright: The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals 2025. The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, Goldfinger House, 245 Cranmore Boulevard, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4ZL. Switchboard 0121 712 1000 Copyright This magazine is published by The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals in whom the copyright is vested. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the CIPP or the Editor. The information and comment contained in this publication are given in good faith, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed.
Brian Sparling ChFCIPPdip (brian.sparling@cipp.org.uk) Chair, CIPP
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