Portfolio Insights Technology & your Payroll career You don't need all the answers - you just need the appetite
By Gemma Creamer Director, Portfolio Payroll, part of the Portfolio Group
Technology, automation and AI are reshaping payroll, and employers are taking notice. Understanding the systems and tools that power modern payroll is increasingly essential; however when it comes to AI specifically, here is the reassuring truth: it is still in its infancy. No employer expects you to have mastered it, and no hiring manager is looking for someone with all the answers, because those answers don't fully exist yet. What employers are consistently looking for is appetite. A genuine curiosity about how technology can improve processes, and a willingness to engage, learn, and think about how things could work better. That attitude, more than any specific system knowledge, is what sets strong candidates apart right now. So where do you start?
fraction of the functionality available to them. Reach out and ask for a functionality review; most providers will do this at no cost. You may uncover automation opportunities or reporting enhancements that meaningfully reduce manual effort. Spotting these gaps and bringing them to your manager/team demonstrates exactly the process improvement mindset employers want to see.
online publications are also rich sources of learning. Build a habit of reading and engaging with this content regularly - even setting aside 20 minutes a week will compound significantly over time. You don't need to become a technology expert overnight. You just need to stay engaged as the landscape evolves.
Build Your Industry Network and Stay Curious
Make Your Tech Experience Visible
Technology experience only helps your career if it's clearly articulated. Don't just list system names on your CV - describe what you actually did. Were you involved in an implementation? Did you identify a process improvement? Did you train colleagues on new functionality? These are the details that differentiate candidates. At Portfolio Payroll, we help professionals frame and position this experience effectively, so the right employers take notice. The payroll professionals best placed for the future aren't necessarily those who know the most today. They are the ones paying attention, staying curious, and building good habits while the technology is still evolving. AI in payroll is in its infancy, and that means the opportunity to grow with it is wide open.
One of the most effective - and underused - ways to develop your technology knowledge is simply to surround yourself with people who are thinking about it. Attend industry events, both in person and online. Your software provider may run webinars or user groups; these are worth prioritising, as they give you direct insight into where the technology is heading and how other organisations are using it. Beyond your provider, look to the broader payroll community. Connect with and follow industry leaders on LinkedIn; pay attention to who is contributing thought leadership, sharing insights on automation, AI, and payroll transformation. Look at who is being featured and quoted in Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward, the CIPP's membership magazine, and seek those voices out. The people shaping the future of payroll technology are visible and accessible in ways they never used to be.
Get Involved in System Projects
If your organisation is exploring a new payroll system, put your hand up to be involved. Even in a junior role, asking to sit in on project meetings is a legitimate and highly effective way to build knowledge fast. Selection and implementation projects expose you to vendor conversations, configuration decisions, and change management - experience that would otherwise take years to accumulate. It also signals initiative and commercial awareness to the people who make promotion decisions.
Audit What You Already Have
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Once a system goes live, the relationship with a software provider can quietly fade - and most organisations end up using only a
Digital content, podcasts (such as Behind the Button by CIPP), and
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