MY CIPP
Spotlight on...
Joanne Leather
Tell us a little about your career and background? My background before joining the CIPP was in finance, balancing the accounts for a branch of a family-run financial services organisation. It was very different to how these things happen now – I didn’t have a computer and it was all handwritten in big ledgers with colour coded pens. I also ran a very small payroll there – that was very different too. Although the manager had a computer that I was allowed to use to run the payroll and print the payslips from, I had to count out the wages in cash and pack it all into small brown envelopes each week. The staff would then come to a small window in my office wall to collect and sign for their pay packets. I joined the CIPP as a qualifications administrator in March 2013 and have never looked back. Over the years, I have taken every opportunity the CIPP has offered me to undertake qualifications and training, to work my way to my current role of education manager, which I started in January 2021. What are your day-to-day duties at the CIPP? My work varies so much that I don’t have a typical day, week, or even month. I am line manager to our 84 fabulous tutors, the education services manager, Vicky Hilton and the end point assessment organisation specialist, Gemma Mullis. Supporting my direct reports is vital as this, in turn, enables them to fulfil their roles in supporting students and all our other learners. I work alongside all other departments within the CIPP to enable the successful
Tell us about the future for CIPP’s education department? My plans are to work with the wider CIPP team to continually improve our service and products. We already have a portfolio of industry valued qualifications, but industry evolves, and we’re working towards expanding this offering to provide a wider selection at all levels. Technology is enabling us to explore new ideas and delivery methods. The Payroll Technician Certificate has undergone an excellent refresh, and, in April 2022, we launched the Payroll Technician Certificate Advanced, which offers key additional areas essential for any payroll department. Both qualifications are far more interactive and engaging for students and successfully embrace the format of online delivery, making them accessible from any location. We have some exciting endeavours on the horizon that I’m unable to discuss at present but watch this space! What do you think you and your team can bring to the future strategy of the CIPP? Through the improvement of our current products and the development of new qualifications, I believe we can further raise the profile of the payroll and pensions professions. The education department works alongside our amazing tutors to provide students with all the tools they need to achieve their professional goals. With our dedication, commitment and passion, we will continue to support, challenge and educate our students, to lead their professions. n
delivery of our qualifications. For example, I work closely with the material updates team to schedule content changes, and the marketing team to discuss priorities with campaigns and new product releases. Teamwork is important to us all to maintain the CIPP standard. I also collaborate and maintain strong professional relationships with our academic and professional partners, along with industry specialists, to continually improve our products, ensuring they remain industry relevant. Our other top priorities are to continually develop both our tutors and staff, improve systems and develop exciting new products. What does your current role mean to you? I love my role within education – it’s challenging, thought provoking, and often demanding. In return, the rewards are seeing so many students graduate each year and achieving their goals within the payroll and pensions professions. It’s amazing hearing from past students and members about how gaining qualifications in these fields has boosted their confidence in their own abilities, and helped them to develop both personally and professionally. My passion is elevating the future of these professions by continuing to ensure the content of our qualifications is hitting the very core of what employers need their employees to know. By providing qualifications at every level and by working to raise the profile of these industries, this makes them firm choices for the younger generation, and not professions that are ‘fallen’ into.
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 82 | July / August 2022
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