FEATURE TOPIC
pathways in pay
This issue, Lora Murphy MCIPPdip, CIPP Editor, speaks to leading figures in the field about how they entered the industry, how roles and required skill sets have evolved and what the future may hold
calling. The role demanded precision and accuracy, offered meaningful interaction with colleagues and required problem-solving when figures didn’t quite balance. I was drawn to the pace, deadlines and sense of responsibility. Payroll felt vital – an essential function at the heart of every organisation. From then on, every career decision I made was rooted in payroll. It wasn’t just a job; it became my professional identity. Russell Webb: I joined the British Army at 16, eager to see the world and serve Queen and country, never imagining that a career in payroll existed. After eight years in the forces, I drifted between roles until I found myself managing a payroll team – not because I was the most technical person, but because they needed a strong people manager. For me, leadership has always been about leading by example: you can’t ask your team to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. This mindset pushed me to learn payroll management from the ground up, including the intricacies of payroll outsourcing. From there, I moved into account management and later, sales, but my payroll background gave me a solid foundation for understanding the full scope of outsourced payroll support and the value it brings to clients. Q: How do we encourage the next generation of talent to take up a career in the pay professions? AG: We’ve got to show them the impact and the possibility. Payroll isn’t just pressing a button, it’s ensuring millions of people across the UK can live, thrive and plan for their futures. At the CIPP, we’re starting earlier,
This issue, Lora spoke to: Adrian Goddard ACIPP, CIPP Commercial Director Emma Greenfield MCIPP, Head of Payroll Services, Specsavers Kerri Kingston, Assistant Payroll Operations Lead, Aviva Russell Webb, Business Development Manager, Phase 3.
Q: Everyone has their own story about how they got into the pay profession. What’s yours? Adrian Goddard: I came into payroll because I was hungry to grow and wanted my work to matter. In my early twenties, I interviewed with a payroll organisation and from the first conversation, payroll provoked intrigue – this was about people’s lives, not just numbers. In the final stage they asked for a role play; I stood up to deliver it because that’s how I communicate best,and I received an offer the next morning. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with payroll’s purpose. It’s the heartbeat of every business, ensuring mortgages are paid, families are fed and dignity is protected. And I deepened my craft beyond software and payroll services. My wife, an accountant turned teacher, had me working through manual calculations so I could understand the ‘why’ behind the payroll systems. That blend of people, process and purpose is why I’m still here and why I serve the profession so passionately. Emma Greenfield: After completing my A-levels and securing a place at university to study accountancy with law, I made a last-minute decision to enter the world of work instead. I began an apprenticeship at a local accountancy firm, which included studying for my Association of Accounting Technicians qualification. However, I quickly
realised that practice wasn’t the right fit for me. I transitioned to an in-house accounts team, where I was introduced to payroll processing. I found the world of debits and credits confusing, but payroll immediately clicked. I enjoyed the structure and purpose it brought to my role. Fortunately, the company was acquired by an international firm, and I was offered a full-time payroll position. One of the highlights early in my career was travelling to Colorado, which really cemented for me that a career in payroll would present me with exciting opportunities. Kerri Kingston: My journey into the pay profession began with a simple curiosity during my first office role. At the time, I had little awareness of what payroll truly entailed. I received my envelope with a payslip inside, saw the money land in my bank account – magic! That was the extent of my understanding. As I sat entering numbers from paper to computer, I began to wonder where all the data comes from. What purpose does it serve? Where does it ultimately go? These questions led me to a finance support role, where I got involved in reconciling accounts, including pay as you earn. That experience sparked something deeper. With just two prior roles under my belt, I applied for my first official payroll position. Almost immediately, I knew I’d found my
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | November 2025 | Issue 115 40
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