Professional November 2021

Personal development

Diary of a student…

going for promotions. The course itself is not too long and does not require copious amounts of time, which is great when you are juggling it with working full time. How did you manage the work- life balance and your study? Do you have any tips for others in the same position? The main thing that worked for me was to devise a weekly plan of the hours I could spare for studying, ensuring I was keeping up with the timetable supplied. It was difficult to come home from a full day at work and have to study, so for me, early mornings at weekends were the optimum time to study, as it meant I could relax in the afternoons and evenings. I would advise others to take their time to read and digest each unit and to take regular study breaks, as there is a wealth of information to cover. Taking days off to dedicate to studying is important too. What would you say is the most important thing you learnt? The most important thing I learnt was probably all about the statutory sick pay (SSP) scheme, as I deal with this regularly in my role. The course assisted me – a beginner to UK payroll – in fully understanding how the scheme works, allowing me to advise both employees and managers. What did you gain from this qualification – both in terms of skills and career progression? I have gained heaps of confidence in myself now that I have knowledge around things like SSP and other statutory payments, and also of UK tax and National Insurance contributions. n

Jessica Barker Payroll specialist Avoca Ireland

Tell us a little bit about your background and life, so far? I am 25 years old and from Wicklow in Ireland. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in human resource (HR) management back in 2019 and part of the course involved completing a work placement. I ended up going to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and completing a payroll work placement, which I loved. I continued to work for the ESB for a while after college, before moving on to start working at Avoca Ireland this year. What can you tell us about your career and qualification? I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from the Technological University Dublin. I am currently working for Avoca Ireland and have approximately two years’ experience in the payroll world. I completed the Irish Payroll Association (IPASS) Payroll Techniques course in May 2021 and have just submitted my assessments for the UK Payroll Technician Certificate with the CIPP. Why did you choose the Payroll Technician Certificate? Before joining Avoca, I had no prior UK payroll experience, which was an issue, as part of my role involved looking after our Northern Irish branches. I chose the CIPP’s Payroll Technician Certificate as it seemed to cover the majority of the basics that I

needed to equip me to carry out my job efficiently.

How did you find the qualification?

I found the qualification challenging but very interesting. Having only recently completed the Irish payroll qualification helped a lot, as there is some consistency surrounding certain rules and regulations. However, it could be confusing where differences emerged. I found it extremely useful that a timetable was provided at the start of the course, which outlined how much material to cover each week as it helped me to stay on track. I also found the flexibility of the course beneficial – having everything online meant I could study at my own pace, at times suitable for me. The knowledge checks at the end of every unit were extremely beneficial as they allowed me to track my progress and prepared me for the final assessment quiz. What advice would you give to others who are thinking about studying to improve their career? I would say to go for it. I am always looking to gain more knowledge and learn new things. It is always a good idea to continue to learn – it can be impressive when applying for jobs or

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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |

Issue 75 | November 2021

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