“IN A CAREER WHERE ERRORS CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LEGAL PENALTIES, EMPLOYEE DISSATISFACTION OR REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE, QUALIFICATIONS OFFER ASSURANCE”
In addition, IPPE develops, delivers and awards payroll qualifications which are: ● Government regulated ● CIPP-approved ● developed in collaboration with industry leads and working practitioners ● delivered by qualified working practitioners ● accessible through online delivery. This prospectus presents a comprehensive guide to IPPE’s qualifications, including the curriculum for each programme, but what else can they offer you or your employee? Career progression and employability Qualifications contribute to enhancing individual career prospects and employability. Employers actively seek candidates who hold, or are working towards, formal qualifications as it shows competency in the previously mentioned professional responsibilities, while also showing a commitment to the profession, a drive to improve and an ambition to succeed. Formal qualifications can also open doors to more specialised areas. By gaining specialised or higher-level qualifications, pay professionals can diversify their skillsets and move into more strategic roles which benefit the wider business. Transferable skills Many formal payroll qualifications teach beyond the calculations and legislation, to offer development in broader skills also vital to the profession. These skills can include: ● communication ● management and leadership styles
● project management ● data and systems analysis ● stakeholder management. The pay profession is also the custodian of extremely sensitive information – personal data, bank details, tax information etc. Holding and working with this data means that payroll operates under stringent data protection and security laws. Qualifications help to instil a strong sense of ethics and responsibility, often including training on confidentiality, compliance and fraud prevention. This ethical grounding is key in promoting positive cultures within organisations and maintaining trust with employees and employers. Developing these valuable transferable skills sets individuals apart from their peers. Candidates who demonstrate flexibility and the ability to perform effectively across a variety of functions are far more likely to stand out to potential employers. Automation and digital transformation As the world increasingly embraces automation, payroll is seeing a shift in working methods. Pay professionals need to evolve beyond the basic use of systems. Although confidence in manual processing remains a vital part of the core knowledge needed to support employees or clients with queries, mastering complex technological tools is key when heading into the future. Qualifications offer the opportunity to develop accurate knowledge of available technologies and provide insight into the challenges and achievements other organisations face, through interaction with peers while studying. n
IMPORTANCE IN THE JOB MARKET
“We are seeing a clear increase in the number of clients who now expect candidates to hold a CIPP-approved qualification when recruiting for payroll roles. For employers, the benefits are threefold: “First, it demonstrates a strong commitment to the profession, indicating that the individual is likely to remain and grow within the payroll field. Second, it provides assurance of comprehensive knowledge – qualified professionals understand the theoretical foundations across a broad range of payroll functions, not just the areas they’ve had hands-on experience with. And third, it ensures ongoing professional development, as IPPE qualifications offer access to regular legislative updates and a network of peers – both of which are invaluable in a constantly evolving landscape. “Some clients specifically seek out qualified professionals because they themselves hold the qualification and want to uphold a consistent standard across their team. In these instances, the qualification
adds an extra layer of credibility and prestige to the payroll function within the business. “Our Payroll Salary Guide 2024/25 found that 57% of respondents currently hold a payroll-related qualification. “For candidates, holding a recognised qualification can significantly improve career prospects, increase earning potential and help differentiate them in a competitive market. It’s also one of the most effective ways to broaden payroll knowledge, especially for professionals who have only worked in a limited number of environments. “Encouragingly, we are seeing more businesses offering funded qualifications as part of their benefits packages. And where this isn’t offered as standard, we strongly recommend that candidates explore this during the negotiation process – it’s a worthwhile investment for both employee and employer.” Gemma Creamer Director – Portfolio Payroll (part of the Portfolio Group)
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