THOUGHT LEADERSHIP | 55
P eople who know me will know that I’ve always talked about playing the long game, and that approach has shaped where I am in my career today. My working life in payroll began at the age of 16 in 1974 at the National Coal Board, where I quickly realised that my career wasn’t a race to the top, but a journey – one that’s involved learning, maturing, participating, volunteering, mentoring and seizing opportunities. Along the way, there have been many diversions, but by playing the long game, staying patient and accepting both the highs and lows, I’ve arrived exactly where I wanted to be. Over more than 50 years working in pay industries, I’ve experienced redundancy, chosen to leave roles voluntarily and moved positions in pursuit of promotion and career progression. With each change came an element of uncertainty about what the next stage of the journey would hold. I’ve always believed that confidence in our own judgment and ability is essential in dealing with the challenges we face in our professional lives. I’ve enjoyed progression. With each change came an element of uncertainty about what the next stage of the journey would hold. I’ve always believed that confidence in our own judgment and ability is essential in dealing with the challenges we face in our professional lives. I’ve enjoyed the challenges of work, both the good and the bad, because it’s often the difficult moments that make us stronger. At the age of 62, I wasn’t looking to change roles, and for many at that stage of life, retirement would have been an understandable consideration. Instead, I was offered a fantastic opportunity to move into a new payroll service delivery sector that I hadn’t experienced before – something I found genuinely fascinating. The offer came in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which added another layer of consideration to the decision to move to a new organisation. The role promised to be an exciting one within an accountancy bureau and involved building a national payroll service line from the ground up. I was assured I’d have the freedom needed to establish this, which was a key factor for me..I was offered the job on the day of the interview and didn’t need time to think about it. I accepted the role of Director of Payroll Services at Azets immediately and haven’t looked back since. I wanted to seize one final opportunity to finish my career on a high, and this role has completely re-energised me. Changing roles at any age can be daunting. The and for many at that stage of life, retirement would have been an understandable consideration. Instead, I was offered a fantastic opportunity to move into a new payroll service delivery sector that I hadn’t experienced before – something I found genuinely fascinating. The offer came in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which added another layer of consideration to the decision to move to a new organisation. The role promised to be an exciting one within an accountancy bureau and involved building a national payroll service line from the ground up. I was assured I’d have the freedom needed to establish this, which was a key factor for me. I was offered the job on the day of the interview and didn’t need time to think about it. I accepted the role of Director of Payroll Services at Azets immediately and haven’t looked back since. I wanted to seize one final opportunity to finish my career on a high, and this role has completely re-energised me. Changing roles at any age can be daunting. The knowledge and experience gained from previous roles, along with advice from the people you’ve worked with, should never be underestimated. Looking ahead to the colleagues you’ll be working alongside can also bring a knowledge and experience gained from previous roles, along with advice from the people you’ve worked with should never be underestimated. Looking ahead to the colleagues you’ll be working alongside can also bring a sense of confidence and excitement as you consider what you can achieve together. I believe it’s important to earn respect from everyone around you, wherever they sit in the organisation. You P eople who know me will know that I’ve always talked about playing the long game, and that approach has shaped where I am in my career today. My working life in payroll began at the age of 16 in 1974 at the National Coal Board, where I quickly realised that my career wasn’t a race to the top, but a journey – one that’s involved learning, maturing, participating, volunteering, mentoring and seizing opportunities. Along the way, there have been many diversions, but by playing the long game, staying patient and accepting both the highs and lows, I’ve arrived exactly where I wanted to be. Over more than 50 years working in pay industries, I’ve experienced redundancy, chosen to leave roles voluntarily and moved positions in pursuit of promotion and career the challenges of work, both the good and the bad, because it’s often the difficult moments that make us stronger. At the age of 62, I wasn’t looking to change roles,
sense of confidence and excitement as you consider what you can achieve together. I believe it’s important to earn respect from everyone around you, wherever they sit in the organisation. You won’t win everyone over but always be true to yourself and do the right thing. Remember, the easy decisions are rarely the right ones. I actively support listening to others’ views and opinions, even if they differ from my own, and encourage others to demonstrate what their version of ‘good’ looks like. In doing this, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to show that you’re making the right decisions. Putting all this working-life learning into practice is a useful guide to shaping your own destiny. When you believe in yourself, nothing is impossible. I often take time to reflect on what I could have done better, and my advice is simple: listen to yourself – the strength to be the person you want to be is already within you. Always treat colleagues and clients with respect, and you’ll earn respect in return. Turn every negative into a positive, and every problem into a solution, because if you keep listening and learning, you can. won’t win everyone over but always be true to yourself and do the right thing. Remember, the easy decisions are rarely the right ones. I actively support listening to others’ views and opinions, even if they differ from my own, and encourage others to demonstrate what their version of ‘good’ looks like. In doing this, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to show that you’re making the right decisions. Putting all this working-life learning into practice is a useful guide to shaping your own destiny. When you believe in yourself, nothing is impossible. I often take time to reflect on what I could have done better, and my advice is simple: listen to yourself – the strength to be the person you want to be is already within you. Always treat colleagues and clients with respect, and you’ll earn respect in return. Turn every negative into a positive, and every problem into a solution, because if you keep listening and learning, you can. Each of us will have different ideas about how we want our careers to progress and where our own career Each of us will have different ideas about how we want our careers to progress and where our own career pinnacle lies. Speak to the people who are already where you want to be, understand what’s required to get there and identify the steps needed to reach the next level. Whatever your age, believe in your own ability and, for those like me in the more ‘mature’ category, don’t underestimate your career history or the years of experience gained at the ‘university of life’. Changing roles later in life brings a different set of considerations, including finances, health and readiness for a new challenge. I’ve found that my age has been an advantage in my role, giving me the career experience and life lessons needed to manage colleagues, clients, projects and situations, as well as a wealth of ideas to draw upon. One piece of advice I can offer is that while very little in life is certain, tomorrow will always come. So, while you focus on the present and reflect on the past, make time to think about what you want from tomorrow. I’ve worked with many great senior leaders and, today, I’m exactly where I want to be. As I reflect on when I might eventually decide to hang up the tax tables, I know I’ll have created a clear path for my successor and left a legacy behind. However, that’s my tomorrow. And I’ll let you know how my career is still progressing when I reach 75! I’ve worked with many great senior leaders and, today, I’m exactly where I want to be. As I reflect on when I might eventually decide to hang up the tax tables, I know I’ll have created a clear path for my successor and left a legacy behind. However, that’s my tomorrow. And I’ll let you know how my career is still progressing when I reach 75! pinnacle lies. Speak to the people who are already where you want to be, understand what’s required to get there and identify the steps needed to reach the next level. Whatever your age, believe in your own ability and, for those like me in the more ‘mature’ category, don’t underestimate your career history or the years of experience gained at the ‘university of life’. Changing roles later in life brings a different set of considerations, including finances, health and readiness for a new challenge. I’ve found that my age has been an advantage in my role, giving me the career experience and life lessons needed to manage colleagues, clients, projects and situations, as well as a wealth of ideas to draw upon. One piece of advice I can offer is that while very little in life is certain, tomorrow will always come. So, while you focus on the present and reflect on the past, make time to think about what you want from tomorrow.
Stephen Abbotts
Stephen Abbotts, Director of Payroll Services at Azets Director of Payroll Services, Azets
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