FEATURE TOPIC
“Paying people correctly will keep them focused on the company’s main objective”
What is the highlight of your career so far? RE: Receiving Payroll Manager of the Year in 2014 and Payroll Team of the Year in 2017 from the CIPP were great personal achievements, along with being in the Reward 100, and now 300, every year. There was also being nominated for awards and winning Bureau Lead last year. But the most pleasure I get is from receiving thank you messages from former colleagues for getting them started in payroll or helping them grow, as well as from clients who appreciate my efforts to deliver a first-class payroll service. Ultimately, we in payroll can impact a company or employee’s productivity, mental health and family life if we don’t do our job correctly, so we always need to be 100% on our game. JG: Joining BDO and meeting Maria Mason has been the highlight of my career so far. Maria is the most inspirational payroll professional I’ve met and has become my mentor and friend over the past six years. Being part of the change she’s driving at BDO and in the industry makes me very proud of the payroll profession. Her passion and ambition have inspired me, and I now see that hard work and dedication can take me as far as I want to go in this field. EMZ: Every day in payroll presents new opportunities for learning and I never find it boring. The continuous growth and variety in the work have been the most rewarding aspect of my career. JM: There have been many highlights but having an opportunity to work in Barcelona for eight weeks was really exciting, so not only working but being able to spend time in such a lovely city. CW: Being elected to the CIPP board in 2020 by its members, then becoming chair in April 2023, has been the proudest moment of my career – being able to make a difference in the payroll profession and represent our members. Also, looking back on my career starting on a YTS and the progress I have made to my role today as head of HR shared services. How can payrollers develop their skill set and keep it relevant to the demands of the job? JG: Being part of an industry that’s always changing and driven by legislation, it’s crucial to stay up to date. As payroll
professionals, we need to be proactive with our learning. Fortunately, there are many free resources available, like Professional magazine and News Online , and HM Revenue and Customs’s free webinars. Professional qualifications, such as the Payroll Technician Certificate or the Payroll Management Degree, are very useful. They not only improve payroll knowledge but also help professionals progress and stand out in the payroll field. It’s also important to have payroll managers who mentor and share their knowledge with junior professionals, providing them with the tools to keep learning. Networking with other professionals and attending industry events are fun ways to stay current while meeting inspirational leaders who can offer different perspectives and valuable insights. EMZ: Continuous learning is essential in this career. CIPP training courses and learning from experienced colleagues are excellent for expanding your knowledge and skills. There are many resources available online for anyone dedicated to advancing in this field. CW: Become a CIPP member and take advantage of the benefits available. Keep your knowledge up to date and relevant by attending training and update sessions, networking at the many events throughout the year and collaborating with like-minded people. How would you encourage new people into our industry? RE: Every company needs a payroll solution, whether internal or external, so for the foreseeable future the future is bright for payrollers to have a fantastic career. Payroll provides a great opportunity to learn about your ability to multitask, build a growth mindset attitude and organisational skills. Every day in the payroll world can be different. Payroll was previously very much a transactional function and while this is still the case, with the improvement in tech it’s becoming so much more. For instance, a lot of the data a business needs to plan its future is within the payroll arena, such information in relation to the gender pay
gap and future workforce costs. Ultimately, you can be a key person in ensuring a business can deliver its core service aspirations; paying people correctly will keep them focused on the company’s main objectives. Payroll is not just processing someone’s pay, it has many guises. Payroll professionals are the conductors of a business; everything comes off us. We set the beat and flow of the organisation. We are a key communication tool of a business, as well as controlling a vast array of the data a business needs. JG: Payroll, like many other professions, has seen major changes in the past decade thanks to technology. However, it’s an industry that will always need payroll professionals to interpret information and provide that essential human touch. Payroll offers a fascinating job with many different elements, making it suitable for a variety of people – from those who love numbers and Excel formulas to sociable professionals who enjoy building strong relationships. Throughout my payroll career, I’ve found that payroll professionals are very supportive and approachable. They’re always ready to help, especially those new to the profession who are keen to start a career in payroll. EMZ: I started my career in finance as a payroll administrator with Historic England one year ago and I am determined to continue in payroll because it’s highly rewarding. Knowing that what you do has a direct impact on people being paid accurately and on time is very fulfilling. Also, payroll is an essential function in any organisation, so there will always be job opportunities available. JM: Payroll is not dull. There are many changes to come as companies explore ways of working, such as artificial intelligence and new benefit packages that attract the right people. Such changes often need scoping, with payroll being asked to contribute, especially where there is an impact on pay. It’s exciting to be involved in new projects and seeing them through to make a difference. CW: A career in payroll has so much to offer and is very rewarding. There are many paths you can take and lots of opportunities to progress in your career. n
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2024 | Issue 104 32
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