REWARD
Let’s get quizzical: pay profession edition
Gary Barker, Senior Consultant
Ashley Bartle, Senior Consultant
Ben Mawbey, Managing Partner
Will Jackson MCIPP, Cheif Executive Officer and Founder
Join us as we quiz The Leppington Group (TLG), on all things pay profession related, diving into their journeys, the challenges they’ve faced and the successes they’ve achieved
We spoke to: Gary Barker, Senior Consultant Ashley Bartle, Senior Consultant Will Jackson MCIPP, Chief Executive Officer and Founder Ben Mawbey, Managing Partner. Q: Did you choose to work in the pay professions, or did you fall into the role? Gary Barker: I’m not afraid to admit I fell into payroll. My payroll journey has been a little like getting on a ride at a theme park. I somehow found myself strapped into it, being rattled around and spun upside down at high speeds while making sure I don’t lose my wallet or my glasses! Ashley Bartle: I also fell into payroll, but I’ve probably always been heading in this direction. I’m a numbers person so it’s not too much of a surprise that this is where I’ve formed a career. Ben Mawbey: I kind of fell into payroll too. Although maybe less so than some of my friends at TLG. I’ve always loved numbers but originally started in the
human resource (HR) side of things. I quickly learnt that the disciplinary, capabilities stuff was a bit too fluffy for me so I ditched it for a life in payroll. I joined for the numbers and stayed for the community. Will Jackson: I fell into the role. I’d always previously worked in tech and business intelligence. A migration project from a mainframe HR and payroll system to SAP opened my involvement in payroll and that’s where I found my love of the profession. Q: If payroll were a film genre, what would it be and why? GB: I’d go for thriller, as whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, 4-weekly or monthly, payroll always has a twist in the tale but good payrollers find a way to save the day. AB: My wife will be happy with what I’ve gone for – musicals! Musicals rely on precise timing, co-ordination of various creative elements like music, dance and story and follow a structured sequence. Similarly, payroll requires exact timing in its regular cycles, co-ordination
among multiple departments and strict adherence to rules to ensure accurate and timely payment. Both demand careful orchestration and precision to deliver a successful outcome. “If you aren’t in the pay community, you’re missing out. If you are, you know you’re in an elite club of amazing professionals doing an amazing job” WJ: For me, it would be a spy thriller. The thing about payrollers is that they operate behind the scenes. They have extraordinary knowledge and exposure to company information and underpin the security of the organisation in keeping the population paid accurately and on time. They’re the hidden heroes, are incredibly supportive of each other and
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | November 2025 | Issue 115 50
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