THOUGHT LEADERSHIP | 49
A s I sit here, that all too familiar feeling is creeping in again. The dust has hardly settled since I graduated with my CIPP Foundation Degree in Payroll Management, yet I’m already craving the need to undertake further study. I feel content with the academic level I’ve achieved and I’m enjoying the challenge of applying this newfound knowledge to my working practice. Yet, I still want more of… something.
"The biggest reward of all was looking up at my daughter in the audience on my graduation day and seeing the look on her face - how proud she was of her mum!"
my reading and make a start on my assignments as early as possible, as I knew it was impossible to predict when life (or my child!) may throw me a curveball. Getting ahead gave me the breathing space I needed to rest whenever I was ill and allowed me to enjoy some time with my daughter during the half-term breaks. Having a good work-life balance was crucial to avoiding overwhelm and burnout. At the end, I was starting to struggle with motivation, so I booked a week’s holiday to Italy. The holiday was the week before my final research project was due in, so this forced me to get even further ahead with my studies because I ‘d now brought my deadline further forward than I needed to. It also gave me something to look forward to. It was my reward for finally completing three years of hard work and I enjoyed every second of it! "It’s nice to have connections with other pay professionals, as no two payrolls are the same and we can continue to learn from each other" Although my desire to learn was a key driver for me undertaking the CIPP Foundation Degree, I had other motivations to undertake further study. My career ambitions played a big factor, but study also helped me to overcome periods of loneliness. As a single parent, I spent a lot of time home alone with my daughter, so study became something to occupy my time in the quiet evenings. In addition to this, the in-person module workshops provided opportunities not only to learn, but also to expand my social and professional circles with like-minded individuals. Having an opportunity to meet others on my course during frequent tutorials and workshops provided great support. We set up a WhatsApp group where we could ask questions and share our learning. This
group has continued since graduation, and we all still check in on each other. It’s nice to have connections with other pay professionals, as no two payrolls are the same and we can continue to learn from each other. It’s an excellent platform on which to share knowledge, and I’m sure we’ll find time to organise a social gathering soon. Although I did all the reading, attended the tutorials and workshops and worked through some late nights to get my assignments done, I don’t feel all the credit belongs to me. I had such a great support network to keep me focussed and to give me the push I needed during times when I lacked the motivation to pick up my next module. My family, friends, work colleagues and fellow students all helped me get through it all. Not to mention my tutor, who was always available when I needed him. My biggest recommendation to anyone approaching further study would be to reach out and ask for help whenever you need it. That support from others makes the journey significantly easier to navigate. I reflect now on the last three years, and I still can’t believe I did it. It was hard work at times, but I'd definitely do it again. The biggest reward of all was looking up at my daughter in the audience on my graduation day and seeing the look on her face - how proud she was of her mum! That’s now one of my most cherished memories. Embarking on further education may feel like hard work at the time but the sense of accomplishment you get at the end is such a great feeling. If you’ve been thinking of taking a similar route, I would highly recommend it. And who knows? You may even miss it once it’s all over and like me, find yourself trying to find something new to satisfy that need for continuous self-improvement.
"Ultimately, I just want to expand my mind"
Something my father said to me as a child still resonates with me. He said, “In life, people can take anything away from you, but any qualifications you earn – they will always be yours to keep." With this nugget of advice, I made it my life ambition to always keep learning. Right now, it doesn’t even need to be a professional qualification - I would quite like to learn a new language ahead of my summer holiday! But ultimately, I just want to expand my mind. I think this mentality is partly the reason why I found a career in pay so appealing. In the ever-changing payroll industry, we must ensure we’re up to date with the latest legislation. The changing nature of payroll means new days can present challenges for us to overcome and, in turn, new lessons to be learnt. Adaptability, problem- solving skills and a drive to learn are key traits many pay professionals rely upon to deliver an accurate and timely payroll service each pay period. Furthermore, with so many moving parts to payroll and varying demands from different functions in the business, it’s crucial for us to be efficient with our processes and organise ourselves effectively, to keep all these plates spinning in unison. Being organised was crucial for me when completing my Foundation Degree. This was by far the hardest period of study I’d ever undertaken. I obtained qualifications alongside full-time work when I was younger, and, more recently, while working part-time when my daughter was at nursery. This time it was different. I was now working full-time in addition to juggling my responsibilities as a single parent. I always tried to get ahead with
Bailey Rowles MCIPPdip Payroll Manager, Dains Accountants and Advisors
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