MY CIPP
Mathew Akrigg ACIPP, Policy and research officer
How did you first begin working in payroll? The first time I dipped my toe into payroll was when my finance director went to Australia for a whole month, leaving me to run the company payroll for a whopping 11 employees. Miraculously, everyone was paid correctly and on time! After that, I made the choice to apply for a job doing payroll full time and loved it. # ChoosePayroll . That role was working in a specialist payroll provider for temporary staffing in the National Health Service. A niche that set me up well with some obscure payroll knowledge and a passion to learn more. How did you then move into the CIPP’s policy team? As someone who likes diving into details, finding out the truth and solving the puzzle, who treats every day as a learning opportunity, the job just seemed perfect. I saw the job description and set my heart on it. Luckily, the policy team felt the same way about me joining the team and I was welcomed aboard. It’s such an unorthodox role within the industry, but it’s an absolute thrill to represent the industry and help to educate payroll professionals. It’s tough at times, but something I have enjoyed so much. I'm so glad I made the move to the CIPP and the policy and research team.
Did you study a specific course to help you to enter this career? When I first started my career in payroll, I had just finished my AAT level 4 qualification. Something which seems fairly common in this industry is to transition from accountancy to payroll. I definitely think there are a lot of transferable skills between the two. When I joined the CIPP, I was enrolled onto the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management and I’m currently in my third and final year. I can honestly say, and not just because the CIPP employs me, that the course has been fantastic for my payroll knowledge. Previously working in a niche did leave me with some gaps that may seem obvious to other payroll professionals and the course has tightened up my knowledge. What skills does a policy team member need to have? Obviously, the role requires a degree of previous payroll experience. Like I previously said though, there are always gaps to tighten up. Therefore, the second thing I would say is the willingness to learn. I don’t like the phrase ‘every day is a school day’, but you really do learn so much in this job, hearing all the weird and wonderful scenarios our members need help with. Besides that, policy team members need a passion for payroll that comes
through in presentations, writing and interactions with government and members. What has been your biggest sense of achievement in your career so far? Just over two years ago, I had never presented to a crowd before; now, I have presented to an audience of 400+ at our Annual Conference and Exhibition and hosted webinars with more than 600 attendees. The feedback I, and the rest of the policy team, have received from these events makes all the hard work worth it. We’re constantly doing everything possible to ensure the profession is up to date, compliant and representing the profession to the best of our ability. What advice would you give to someone just at the start of their payroll career? No one knows everything. I keep talking about learning because I truly believe that payroll is a lifelong learning opportunity. I’m still surprised by edge cases and bizarre queries brought to us from members but relish the opportunity to work them out and assist. But with so much to learn, there’s so much you don’t know, so don’t get down about any gaps in your knowledge – you will get there. n
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 97 | February 2024
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