04:05 INTERVIEW
Now we’ve moved to providing enterprise-wide solutions that have the payroll applications built in. This helps with integration and customization. And we’ve started up new services for small- and medium-sized businesses. GPA: What inspired you to start the Turkish Payroll Association? Ayşe Nazmiye Uça: I wanted for Turkey some sort of credible body to set standards and controls for payroll functions. Those in payroll in Australia inspired me to think of this, and then Melanie Pizzey (CEO of the Global Payroll Alliance) added to that vision when the GPA showed support for starting the Turkish Payroll Association. We started in 2023. I called Melanie, and she came immediately to help with our first meeting. It was very good, and Melanie’s presence really helped. GPA: Who outside of payroll has been most influential in your career? Ayşe Nazmiye Uça: The CEO with the casino outfit that hired me as finance director was very rich, very powerful, and from Australia. But I observed he was
quite humble. He would wear an old coat and inexpensive watches, and he would greet everybody, including office boys and the cleaning staff. He created relationships all the way up and all the way down. And he was funny. He helped transform me from being a dull accountant by giving me license to speak for everything. He was very frank about serious matters, but he would still joke about how someone had bilked the company; it seemed money was not his primary concern, trust was. GPA: What are some of the unique challenges that global payroll professionals have with payroll in Turkey? Ayşe Nazmiye Uça: Well, we have very high inflation in Turkey right now. Our inflation rate exceeds 100%, although the government claims it’s much lower. So global companies need to be increasing salaries. The official minimum wage is not a living wage. Multinational firms also offer generous benefits compared to Turkish companies. In part,
38 I 04:05
GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online