REWARD
How payroll’s changed – and so have I
Maria Mason ChMCIPPdip, Partner, BDO, discusses how far payroll has come and how it now sits within the modern workplace, reflecting on her own career journey
I began my career as a legal secretary in a solicitors’ office where I learned essential organisational skills and attention to detail – skills which would later prove invaluable as I worked through the ranks of the payroll profession. My decision to embark on a payroll career was a deliberate one. I started my first role over 30 years ago, in a large information technology and payroll bureau. In the intervening years, our profession has undergone a huge amount of change and there have been plenty of challenges to overcome and barriers to break down. Cultivating skills and expertise In my first payroll job, I was fortunate to work in an environment which valued skills and potential over previous experience. The company invested heavily in qualifications and training, ensuring everyone had the skills to become professional consultants in their chosen fields. I knew I wanted to move into a sales role, but I was determined to gain the necessary payroll expertise first. I progressed through various roles within the business, from payroll associate through to team leader, payroll manager, implementation manager, account
manager, sales executive and global sales. Each new role added an additional layer of experience and skill, and the training and qualifications I was fortunate to have access to through my employer provided the solid grounding and knowledge I needed to succeed. “Access to payroll- specific training and qualifications is the foundation of my approach to attracting and cultivating talent in my team” Access to payroll-specific training and qualifications is the foundation of my approach to attracting and cultivating talent in my team at BDO. We’ve implemented an all-encompassing framework of payroll training and education that all our people have access to. I believe both experience and qualifications are equally important for progression. Qualifications demonstrate
commitment to learning and skill development, while expertise improves decision-making and problem-solving. To be at the top of your profession, a mix of both is essential. Perceptions about the pay and reward function – and the development opportunities available to young professionals entering the field – have changed considerably over the past 10 to 15 years. The Covid pandemic really catalysed this, with payroll teams given key worker designation, playing an important role in keeping the economy afloat. Today, the modern payroll function is a diverse team of individuals with a spectrum of skills and areas of expertise adding value to the business. Payroll processing expertise remains at the heart of what we do, but there are also: l people and pay data analysts l business insight specialists l pay and human resource technology experts l process and implementation specialists l benefits specialists l accounts and relationship development managers. All of these, plus many, many other fields to specialise into.
PROFESSI NAL in Payroll, Pensions and Reward
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June 2025 | Issue 111
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