04:05 INTERVIEW
payroll teams that are so busy but sometimes feel unsupported by those who they need to work with. Often, when decisions get made internally, say, when the HR team is dealing with something that may involve payroll, no one says: “Let’s go and let’s bring someone from payroll in. Let’s go check and get some advice from them before the decisions have already been made.” Sometimes something is communicated and almost rolled out, and then it comes to you, and there is a whole heap of issues with what they are trying to accomplish. I’ve had years of learning to approach this issue diplomatically but still be firm in my decisions, decisions that may mean I’m refusing to do something (because it is noncompliant). But that isn’t easy for everybody. And it’s important that the people that surround payroll allow those teams to push back on
And it’s important that the people that surround payroll allow those teams to push back on occasion; it’s a role that needs to be respected and honored.
My time then is spent making sure my client is aware of what’s going on, their payroll is compliant, and their staff are paid. And, as we always say, accurately and on time. GPA: Who, outside of payroll, have you noticed that you work with the most? Chanelle Webb: I think your relationship with those outside of payroll is dependent on what environment you’re in. It can depend on your industry or where you sit. For example, in a payroll bureau, I tend to work outside of payroll a lot with global teams, tax teams, personal tax teams, then obviously the client, and sometimes third-party pension
providers. However, if I work in-house, then it’s the finance director, the HR teams, and pension providers. GPA: Have you had challenges that you’re facing that are oblivious to other kinds of people, other stakeholders, for example? And maybe they’re even contributing to the challenge, and they don’t even know it? Chanelle Webb: That’s a controversial question! Only because of every HR and every accountant who would read this. Well, the status of someone who’s a qualified accountant or somebody who is in HR. I think especially today we have somebody in payroll is seen as lower than
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GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 11
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