Personal development
Diary of a student…
and tutorials. These give you the opportunity to share ideas and knowledge. My tutor is amazing and so is my tutorial group. I am excited to see us all graduate next autumn and incredibly proud of us all. What do you hope to gain from this qualification – both in terms of skills and also possible career progression? Completion of the Foundation Degree will help assert my understanding of payroll and broaden my knowledge. After I have completed, I intend to further my qualifications and start my Master’s degree with the CIPP and study the MSc in Strategic Leadership. n Foundation Degree in Payroll Management Designed for those who wish to thrust into the dynamic world of payroll management, this qualification develops an in-depth understanding of payroll processes and also the legislation, contractual conditions and case-law which underpin the profession. Alongside this, students also acquire a broad range of managerial knowledge and skills including operations management, project management, marketing principles and budget controls. This is the only university-accredited payroll qualification offered in the UK. Students who successfully complete the programme graduate from the University of Worcester. The programme caters for those who work in all payroll environments; from payroll service providers, accountancy firms, in-house payroll teams and sole payrollers. Completion of this course significantly enhances career opportunities in the payroll industry, enabling progression onto not only payroll management roles, but also payroll consultancy, payroll software development and positions in reward and benefits management.
GemmaMullis ACIPP Policy and research officer, CIPP
Tell us a little about your background and life so far. I’m 36 years old and currently live in Solihull with my two sons who are thirteen and nine. Life with two boys is very interesting indeed, from walking the side-lines of cold muddy rugby pitches, to Mario Kart matches on the Switch. Juggling that with working full-time does make life very busy, but it’s enjoyable at the same time. What can you tell us about your career and qualifications? I have been working within the payroll, finance and human resources profession for the past sixteen years. I began working in a finance team under an apprenticeship scheme, starting as a finance administrator, progressing to a finance manager, then into payroll. Like most, I did not choose the payroll life – it chose me. When I was offered the opportunity to work for the Chartered Institute I jumped at the chance. For anyone in payroll, this was an opportunity to work for the elite. Why did you choose to study the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management? I left formal education with A–C passes in all exams taken and began an apprenticeship in business administration. After this, I completed my Association of Accounting Technicians qualifications and progressed within the finance department. Shortly after, I became a mum, which meant qualifications were not at the forefront of my mind. I had always wanted to study, so when I
began working with the Chartered Institute the time was perfect to gain a qualification in a profession I was passionate about. Choosing the Foundation Degree was something I never doubted. I knew it was a well-recognised qualification and wanted to back up my knowledge with it. Howdo youmanage thework-life balance and your study? Do you have any tips for others in the same position? I think being a full-time working mum and studying is tough; however, it’s all about managing your time effectively. The beauty of this course is that it allows you to study when you find the time to fit it in. Deadlines and module workshops/ tutorials are given a long way in advance and expectations of study times etc are given when you enrol. It really is all about managing your time and making time for you. Sacrifices do have to be made, but I just think about how elated I am going to feel when I graduate. With that in mind, I am pushed to make time to complete assignments and put the effort into study. Planning your study time is key in my opinion. So get yourself a diary and block out time to focus on you, as this is your future and career you are working towards. What would you say is themost important thing you have learned so far? I have learned that it’s essential to put the effort in, to make time to study and importantly to attend all module workshops
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July/August 2020 | Issue 62 22
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