REWARD
Choosing payroll: A smart choice
To continue the celebrations of National Payroll Week and the Annual Conference and Exhibition, Maria Mason ChMCIPPdip, Partner, BDO, talks us through why picking a career in payroll is a very wise and fulfilling choice
I ’ve spent more than three decades building a career in payroll. Over that time, I’ve witnessed extraordinary change in how our profession is viewed. There was a time when payroll was often perceived as a routine, push-button activity, folded into the finance or human resources (HR) department. Over the last 20 years, through continuous innovation, collaboration and an ever-expanding skillset, payroll has stepped into the spotlight. Today, the pay and reward professions are recognised as invaluable, high-profile and value-adding, offering diverse career specialisms, opportunities for continuous development and the potential to earn salaries which reflect this growing impact. Payroll is a vital business function There’s no disputing the importance of this profession: every single employee needs to be paid accurately, on time, every time. When that doesn’t happen, it can undermine employee trust, escalate compliance issues and create financial instability for people. Because pay is so central to a business, payroll stands out as a key function. The profession’s importance was underscored more than ever during Covid-19, when payroll teams were classified as key workers, ensuring wages were maintained despite massive workplace upheavals. From my own experience, I’ve seen thick and thin cycles in the economy,
but the underlying importance of payroll remains constant. We’re protected by the fact that no matter what the economic climate is, organisations will always need to pay their staff and correctly handle statutory requirements like tax, pensions and benefits. This necessity underpins our status as a secure profession and offers a level of stability that many other career paths may not. At its core, payroll is about people. Pay affects every employee in every organisation, and getting it right has a direct impact on motivation, trust and overall wellbeing. That sense of responsibility and the opportunity to influence outcomes in a tangible way continues to make me proud of my profession. For young professionals looking for a stable yet constantly evolving path, and the potential to truly make a difference, payroll may well be the perfect fit. Adding value and influencing business decision-making I made a conscious choice to move into payroll, initially starting at a large information technology and payroll bureau. At the time, payroll roles were often regarded as predominantly processing focussed, but I quickly realised we had the potential to influence far more than payslips. Over the years, consistent effort has gone into demonstrating payroll’s business value. Today, it’s not unusual to see payroll
professionals moving into executive leadership roles and, in a growing number of cases, earning six-figure salaries. My career path saw me progress from an entry-level role, where I gained core payroll knowledge, through to leadership positions such as payroll manager, implementation manager, account manager and eventually, partner. Each stage reinforced that deep payroll expertise – coupled with a willingness to speak the language of business – can build strategic credibility. By framing our insights around business needs, risk and cost control, we become natural contributors to senior-level discussions. This is a radical shift from the outdated perception that payroll is a cost centre and only deals with transactional processes. Continuous opportunities for growth and development Payroll is an ever-evolving field, which is ideal for those who are curious and enjoy lifelong learning. Regulations shift with changes in employment legislation, tax codes, social security contributions and data governance. The further we delve into these updates, the more we can deepen our expertise and stand out as trusted advisors. I credit much of my professional growth to environments that appreciated potential and heavily invested in staff qualifications. In every role, I actively pursued growth through formal training and hands-on experience.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2025 | Issue 114 32
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