FEATURE INSIGHT
The wrong attitude Thomson says a negative, dismissive and uncaring attitude are the worst traits a professional should have because “no professional should have these and payroll is no different”. This sentiment is shared by Hodson: “Anybody who demonstrates an inflexibility to change or negativity will find it hard to progress in the profession. We are really answerable to direction from internal and external influences so you have to accept that you may not always like or even agree with what is thrown at you but you need to approach it in a positive way. It is always okay to have a little moan but it can’t become an embedded attitude.” A good professional should also know their limits and not be a ‘yes’ person. “It might seem like you are being accommodating and helpful by trying to assist everyone with everything, but this can lead to being overwhelmed and overworked,” explains Pullar. “A good professional should know their capacity and not take on too much. They should also know when to say ‘no’ for their benefit or for the benefit of the organisation.” Payroll can be complex, it is process and date driven, customer focussed and confidential, it is a vital part of each and every organisation, explains Booy. She says: “We all go to work and hope to get paid accurately and on time; to achieve this takes a committed, numerate and confident individual. Payroll and pensions are constantly changing so it you do not like a challenge or change, this profession is not for you.” Passion and pride Overall the most important traits are being positive, passionate and proud, insists Hodson. “Let’s not forget that being a reward professional is still underpinned by tight deadlines, complex legislation, external governance and difficult scenarios and you need to be both positive and passionate to deal with this. However, that positivity and passion is also what drives the agenda for then wanting to do things better, or try new things or bring in new technologies,” he says. “I don’t think the profession will ever stop changing and as professionals we need to evolve with it and take opportunities to push forward when they arise.” Hodson says the ability to be proud
of our work and profession can often be forgotten as we move on to the next deadline so quickly, but to be a good professional and particularly a good leader of a team you need to be able to be proud of what we do and allow individuals the time and space to celebrate our achievements. “You have to love what you are doing. and this gets you through the difficult days when things don’t go to plan and also helps you keep that focus for wanting to continually improve things and improve the customer experience,” he adds. ...more important than ever that professionals constantly refresh their knowledge and skills... Learning and development Most industry professionals concur that simply acquiring the right attributes, attitudes and skills isn’t enough – continuing professional development (CPD) is crucial in ensuring they remain fit for purpose. The CIPP are advocates of building the profession and encouragement for learning and development related to the workplace. “We never stop learning or growing in business. In payroll it is important to stay up to date on legislative changes for compliance reasons, but it is equally as important to keep up to date on technology changes and develop ‘soft’ skills,” says Pullar. He believes that as the role of payroll has changed over time, this has highlighted the importance of keeping up to date throughout your career. “Legislation and systems continue to evolve. When I started in payroll thirty years ago it was on a Kalamazoo card system, so I was fortunate to learn manual calculations from the onset and I had HMRC books to refer to for PAYE and NICs calculations.” Over the years computers and automation have replaced old systems and processes, making it easy for professionals to become complacent. However, relying on technology to run
the payroll and automated processes to complete calculations can impact skills and knowledge, he says. “I recommend attending seminars and workshops to keep up to date,” says Booy. “If you intend to have a long successful career in payroll it is vital to keep up to date with changes through as many channels as possible.” And this shouldn’t be difficult for those intent on continuing their learning journey. As well as the CIPP’s own training, software providers often hold annual conferences, while publications and reputable websites are also a good source of information and are easily accessible. “Payroll professionals in particular handle the largest cost to business – the workforce pay and related benefits and deductions – so compliance is key,” says Gibson. Less than competent teams can put a business at risk for fines and penalties; however, they may not realise. “Employers need to realise responsibility for learning and development for payroll and pensions professionals as it will pay dividends in eliminating the risk for fines and penalties,” adds Gibson. Keeping up with the times So, how should professionals remain one step ahead and ensure their attributes and attitudes are both current and relevant? “Network, network, network. Pick up the best traits you can identify with from colleagues and acknowledge the behaviours and skills you don’t want to replicate and always be proud of the work and service you provide,” advises Hodson. And, of course, as payroll becomes more about overall pay and reward strategies than just salary, especially with legislation such as gender pay gap reporting and GDPR impacting on payroll, it is more important than ever that professionals constantly refresh their knowledge and skills. “As technology advances and legislation continues on its ever-evolving treadmill, I can see things changing dramatically as the years go by,” says Gibson, adding that there are likely to be some exciting times ahead for UK business and the impact on payroll and pensions. Thomson concludes: “Stay in tune with times, adapt to the times and look to the future to be ready to embrace the inevitable changes.” n
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | April 2018 | Issue 39 42
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