PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT
Claire Davies MCIPPdip Consultant, PS Administration Limited Diary of a student…
where I did feel the pressure, especially when completing my dissertation. I learned not to put too much pressure on myself though as forcing myself to study at times, because I felt that’s what I should be doing, wasn’t the most productive way of learning or making progress with assignments. I found walking away and undertaking other activities for a while to be effective rather than just staring at my laptop and not being able to take anything in. Did the fact that the CIPP is Chartered or recognised within the industry influence your decision to enrol with the CIPP? And were there any particular modules which were of interest prior to enrolling? Yes, I think it was a definite influence as the course is moulded to fit in with the working life of someone from a payroll environment so you can relate more to the modules. Having other students in the same industry on the course was a big help for understanding or when brainstorming for assignments. So, for anyone working in payroll I would recommend enrolling through CIPP as I believe it does help with studies. The modules which were of particular interest to me were managing change and project management, for the reason that in payroll there are always changes and new projects in the pipeline. I felt I could benefit and learn from the content. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification what would your advice be to them? Do not underestimate the work which is involved and make sure you can commit to the time, but I would highly recommend enrolling as it is a valuable and beneficial qualification to have on your CV. You do learn a lot which is all relatable to your area of work. n
Can you give us a brief background into your life? I live in County Durham with my husband and three step-children and our main interest is travelling to different destinations. We are forever searching for our next trip away. As well as that, I enjoy taking our dog for long walks and going to different restaurants to try different types of food. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? I first started working when I was sixteen years old as a business administration apprentice for my local district council. After securing a permanent job in the finance department I started assisting with the weekly employee payroll which led to the opportunity for me to begin the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. I really enjoyed the first year, but following a restructure due to the amalgamation of the local district councils with Durham County Council I had to postpone enrolling for my second year until I had secured a position in payroll. This I did the following year and thankfully was able to complete my final two years, graduating in 2012. By this time the payroll section was again being restructured which was the motivating factor to search and apply for the job with my current employer as a payroll administrator for a bureau for pensioner payrolls. I believe having the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management was a contributing factor to being successful in my application for that job. During my five years here I enrolled and completed the BA (hons) in Applied Business and Management, and have
progressed in my role from processing monthly pensioner payrolls. I have responsibility for the successful migration of the payrolls for new clients, and have secured the position as deputy team leader for the client payroll section. Why did you choose to study the BA (Hons) in Applied Business and Management (CIPP)? I chose to study for this as I really enjoyed studying for the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management and found that distance learning mixed with applying work-place scenarios was a way of learning to which I could fully relate and excel in as well as being able to fit it in well around my work and personal life. How important is this degree in relation to your future career? I believe it is very important, especially now I have taken up the position as deputy team leader as it has given me confidence and knowledge in how I can undertake the position to the best of my ability. Payroll legislation is ever-changing so there were modules throughout both the Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) course which helped prepare me for ways of positively adapting to change. How do you cope with the work life balance and include your study? I was very lucky to have a supportive employer who provided study days, and my family would make themselves scarce when needed. Together these made studying and meeting deadlines a lot easier for me – although there were times
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | March 2017 | Issue 28 12
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