REWARD
“What would I say to anyone starting out in the profession? Embrace whatever opportunities payroll gives you”
But at least you could process a payslip and make alterations to it if it wasn’t correct before submitting the Bacs electronically. Once computers became an established part of the payroll office, things moved on significantly. We saw the introduction of real time information, allowing data to go between HMRC and payroll systems electronically. Payslips are now accessible online and more information is entered directly onto systems by the payroll staff themselves. There’s no need to send a piece of paper in to the payroll team to show your new bank details anymore. Where payroll teams were once reliant on paper, now they rely on computers. It’s a very different world to when I started in payroll but, it’s one that I’ve embraced. And I always enjoy a challenge and to learn new things. Back then, to work in payroll, you didn’t need any qualifications unlike those pursuing a career in accountancy. In fact, there weren’t any payroll courses or qualifications available. What you learnt about payroll was taught by the person sat next to you in the office. Today, there are numerous payroll courses and qualifications to support staff entering the world of payroll for the first time and beyond. This is all thanks to the work of the CIPP. There’s also the well-established
celebrate those who work tirelessly to ensure staff are paid accurately and on time. This is also the time for payroll professionals to recognise all the hard work they do and to shout loudly and proudly about it. The Annual Conference and Exhibition and Annual Excellence Awards provide the opportunity for learning, networking and celebrating the profession. The CIPP has done so much to support the profession, including raising its profile. Payroll has truly become a profession in its own right during the time between starting my first payroll job and where I am today. There are many different roles available, whether that be working within a payroll team, specialising in computer programming, heading up a payroll team or becoming chief executive officer of a global payroll company. I never chose payroll, but I stayed I never chose payroll as a career. I was only going to stay for a couple of years in the job, but payroll had different ideas, and it chose me. Why have I stayed in the profession? There are several reasons. No two days are the same, there’s always something new
to learn, you get to meet so many wonderful people and the payroll profession has now expanded to work more collaboratively with pensions and reward. Payroll has allowed me to gain a degree and reach the top of my profession as a head of service. I oversee 35+ staff producing more than 12,000 payslips per month, covering pensions and reward as well as payroll. I’m also a Chartered Fellow member of the CIPP which is one of my greatest achievements. Would I change things? Definitely not. My 40 years in the profession has given me countless opportunities. And I think it’ll continue to give me more opportunities in the coming years. What would I say to anyone starting out in the profession? Embrace whatever opportunities payroll gives you. You won’t be disappointed. There are more changes and challenges ahead, and it will be the payroll professionals of the next generation to take them forward. For now, though, I’m still very much enjoying working in the payroll industry and can’t wait to embrace whatever comes our way next. And, of course, I look forward to celebrating my next milestone in the payroll and reward profession! n
National Payroll Week providing organisations the opportunity to
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 115 | November 2025
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