PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT
Benjamin Carter MCIPPdip Payroll consultant, MHR Diary of a student…
That said, this approach requires a lot of self-discipline and occasional browbeating from my partner to get in front of my laptop. As my partner is currently undertaking the Foundation Degree, we work and study together and she has proved to be pivotal in ensuring I achieve the best I can from this course. The balance between work, studying and a personal life is very hard to get right and I don’t think anybody has got it just so. (I certainly haven’t.) Which has been your favourite module throughout the course? This would have to be the first module; enhance leadership. In many ways, this expands on the principles taught in the Foundation Degree’s leading the team module and it was satisfying to see our requisite knowledge being actively used assessment. I discovered from this some interesting facts about myself which I could and did apply to my working life. I was pleasantly surprised that the course could directly benefit my career so early on. The result I gained from this module was also better than I expected. As more is demanded from you at this level compared to the Foundation Degree, I struggled a bit at first. Earning a good grade gave a massive confidence boost and assurance that I could complete this course. For someone who is thinking about studying for a CIPP qualification, what would your advice be to them? Go for it if you wish to make the most out of your career. But don’t underestimate how much of a commitment it will be. Tell your close ones of your intentions and buy them into it as well. Like it or not, their support and encouragement will be crucial to your success. n and expanded from the outset. As part of this module we had to undertake an emotional quotient
Can you give a brief background to your life? I live near Brighton and have resided in Sussex my whole life. Outside of work, I enjoy keeping physically active and regularly find myself running, cycling or hiking over the South Downs. (I occasionally ‘borrow’ my sister’s dog to keep me company on the latter activity.) I also enjoy socialising with my friends and dragging them into pubs to find what real ales they have on draught. Can you give us an insight into your career and qualifications background? Like almost everyone in the payroll profession, I fell rather than leapt into it. I currently work for MHR as a payroll consultant. Although I’ve only been in this position for six months, I’m thoroughly enjoying it and particularly like the travel element and working with payroll staff from a wide variety of industries. Previously, I worked in a payroll bureau managing a varied portfolio of payrolls. Whilst in this role, I completed the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management as I wanted to gain accreditation for the knowledge and skills I possessed as well as expanding on them. Prior to that, I worked for HM Revenue & Custom (HMRC) for five years in various roles; the highlight of which was in employer compliance. This experience formed the backbone of my payroll knowledge (at a time when HMRC staff were trained properly). I’ve also been serving in the Army reserves for thirteen years so I’m used to giving up my spare time to subject myself to an alternative discipline. That said,
juggling my work, the Army and my studies has proved to be a significant challenge. Which course are you studying and why did you choose it? Following the Foundation Degree, I jumped straight into the CIPP’s BA(Hons) in Applied Business and Management without stopping to think that I might appreciate a break from studying. I wanted to apply and broaden the knowledge and skills I took from the Foundation Degree onto the next level. I toyed with undertaking the MSc but felt that this three-year course was too big a jump for me. That said, I haven’t ruled out registering for it after completing the BA. How important is this degree in relation to your future career? It is useful for my current role through expanding my understanding of project management, business finances and change management. But by undertaking this course, I’m speculating on the future of payroll. I believe that with its ever increasing complexity and closer links with human resources, the prospects for payroll professionals will branch out into genres not previously seen as their preserve. I feel that completing this course will put me in good stead to take advantage of these opportunities. How do you cope with the work life balance and include your study? I don’t like to ‘pencil in my diary’ particular days or evenings to study or write assignments as I then feel compelled rather than want to work on my course.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | December 2016/January 2017 | Issue 26 16
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