PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
# Be Payroll Liam McCarthy, Payroll Lead, Office for National Statistics (ONS), discusses his payroll career, the qualifications he has taken and how CIPP membership has benefited him throughout his time working in the industry
How did you begin your career in payroll? I began my career in payroll at the age of 18 as a payroll apprentice, completing what was then the Level 2 Diploma in Payroll. After finishing my apprenticeship, I progressed ‘up the ladder’ into several different roles, eventually becoming the payroll team leader. Two years ago, I decided to take the leap and change employer for the first time in my career. I joined ONS, initially as payroll manager, then after just a month and a half, I took over as payroll lead. Which qualifications have you taken? Following completion of the Level 2 course, I took the Level 3 Payroll Technician Certificate, followed by the Level 5 Assistant Payroll Manager Apprenticeship, through MBKB. How did you manage studying with your other commitments (for example, working / family life)? Throughout the qualifications I’ve taken, I’ve been at very different stages of my personal life and career. I found balancing my other commitments with study the most challenging during the Level 5 course. As I was completing an apprenticeship, this meant 20% of my working time was dedicated to studying. Although I achieved this, dedicating the time week-on-week while in a supervisory / management role was tricky. To succeed, I conducted ample planning of my time well in advance. I also liaised with my line manager constantly to advise them of the progress of my course and the time I would need. Planning meant I was able to give reassurances to both myself and my manager that work wouldn’t suffer. From a personal perspective, it was hugely important to dedicate periods to ‘switch off’ from both work and studying. It’s vital to prioritise your mental wellbeing while undertaking any form of study.
How have your qualifications helped you in your career? My qualifications have allowed me to ‘rise through the ranks’ of the payroll professional ladder. The knowledge and experience gained cannot be understated and taking them allowed me to gain the credentials to demonstrate my ability as a strong payroll professional. I chose to switch employers while studying for the Level 5. My new employer was willing to take me on as payroll manager while completing my studies and supported me through this. Do you intend to take any more qualifications with IPPE? Absolutely! I’m currently taking a short break from studying, as I’m hoping to move house this year. Once things have settled down, my next steps will be to enrol onto the BSc (Hons) Leadership and Management, with a view to progressing onto one of the Level 7 courses in the future. Which CIPP member benefits would you encourage other payrollers to use and why? I think the benefits the CIPP offers to members are fantastic and membership is great value for money. The Advisory Service always provides prompt and accurate details to any questions I have, and I feel like I couldn’t do without their support sometimes. The various webinars and sessions
from the fantastic Policy Team always provide the best information regarding the constantly changing payroll world. You can see that they dedicate a lot of time to ensuring we, as members, are getting the most accurate and up-to-date information. Once of the main things I would encourage people to take advantage of are events where in-person networking is possible, such as the Annual Conference and Exhibition, Payroll Live or one of the member-only events, such as BeConnected. The payroll community has a strong bond, and we thrive off each other. CIPP events provide the best opportunities to network, and I always ensure I snap up a place when they become available. Do you have any tips / guidance for people just entering the profession? Payroll is undoubtedly challenging, but it can also be extremely rewarding. I look back on my career to date now that I’m in my 10th year, and I don’t think I’d have done anything differently. I feel that the more you push yourself, the more you’re rewarded. Take on any learning opportunities you can and tap into the vast amount of payroll professionals within the network. There’ll undoubtedly be challenges and bumps along the road, but I always say to stick with things, and you’ll learn from those challenges and any mistakes you make. You’ll become a better payroll professional each time.
PROFESSI NAL in Payroll, Pensions and Reward
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June 2025 | Issue 111
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