Professional June 2021

MY CIPP

Spotlight on...

application of policy, legislation, regulation, and case law on payroll has always been of particular interest to me. I’ve always been keen to remain close to what is coming next and work closely with my team to prepare the business for the changes that were coming. I enjoy the problem-solving element, studying the legal framework, and interpreting that framework into a practical reality. When I saw the policy role vacancy with the CIPP it felt like the perfect role, an opportunity to influence policy from the outset, represent the voice of payroll, and then help payroll professionals across the UK put those changes into practice. Did you study a specific course to help you enter this career? When I first joined the Leicestershire Constabulary payroll team, I had no experience of payroll. I was, and still am, incredibly grateful that my manager was keen to support me in learning more about payroll and enrolled me onto the CIPP Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. The course provided me with an in-depth and thorough education in the wide-ranging role of payroll – from the relationships between internal and external customers, to calculating statutory payments and deductions. This qualification provided a fantastic foundation to my payroll career. Was there amoment in your career/life that made youwant to enter a career in payroll? Payroll often isn’t particularly well understood by those outside the industry, and I was one of this group before I joined the profession. So, it’s difficult to say a moment that made me want to enter payroll. However, the opportunities I had with JCB – working on some really exciting projects that brought big changes to the business – showed me the impact that payroll can have. It was then that I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the long term. Howdo you feel when you knowyou havemade a positive difference through your advice andwork? I have so much respect for the payroll community across the UK. Payrollers are

hardworking, meticulous and seem to have this innate superpower of attention to detail. They never fail to amaze and inspire me. They’re pragmatic problem solvers, customer focused and are committed to delivering accurately and on time, every time. The opportunity of making a positive difference to this industry makes my role so rewarding. I really understand the pressure that payroll teams are under, and if the CIPP and the policy team can ease some of that pressure, give them a shoulder to lean on, or offer them support – whether that be through our Beconnected: National Forums, our BeKnowledgeable webinars, our webcasts, special interest groups or via News Online or Professional magazine articles – it makes me feel so proud to be a part of that. What has been you biggest sense of achievement since joining the policy teamwith theCIPP? For me, this is a brand-new journey with the CIPP. However, even this early into my journey I’ve had some fantastic opportunities – being part of the BeConnected: National Forums, a member of Reward Strategy’s global payroll question time panel, and joining a roundtable to discuss the future of national minimum and living wage – all in my first few weeks! However, I think the biggest highlight so far is having the opportunity to be a part of the consultations and calls for evidence that came out of Tax Day in March 2021. The future is certainly not going to stand still in the world of payroll and I’m so excited to be at the heart of it. Tell us about a typical week as a policy teammember? The policy team have such a varied working week. The team work really hard on pushing out lots of content to support our members and payroll professionals to keep up to date. We produce articles for Professional magazine and prepare for and present on webinars. (We can’t wait to deliver some face-to-face events when safe to do so again.) Another big part of the role in the policy team is working on government consultation responses and being a part of working groups and forums. The CIPP are keen to ensure that the views of the payroll profession form part of changes that impact the profession in the

Samantha Johnson LLB(Hons) MCIPPdip CIPP’s policy lead

As one of our newest team members here at the CIPP, Sam is excited to work closely with members over the coming months and years. Howdid you start your payroll career?Was it choice, or did you fall into the role likemany payrollers do? Throughout my teens, I’d always planned on becoming a barrister. I had this ‘court room drama’ view of a legal career sporting a (not so) fetching wig and arguing my case to a judge and jury. On completing a law degree, you have to study for another year and complete a bar vocational course to fully qualify as a barrister; well, at this point, and now in my early twenties, I wasn’t sure if law was my true passion. I wanted to experience more of what the world had to offer, and as a typical skint student I wanted to earn some money. So I took up a civilian role working for Leicestershire Police. After a few years, I did some soul- searching and reflected on what I really wanted from my career. I’d always loved studying maths at school, so I decided to begin studying accountancy to see if I was suited to a career in finance. Not long after, an internal vacancy came up within the finance department for a payroll administrator. I applied for the role and was lucky enough that they took a chance on an eager twenty-something with no experience. Since then, I’ve never looked back. Howdid you thenmove into policy? With a legal background, the practical

| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | June 2021 | Issue 71 8

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker