REWARD
Dianne Hoodless MSc ChFCIPP FHEA, head of group payroll, The Foschini Group, takes time to explain the multiple career paths available within the payroll profession, and the key skills needed to thrive in the industry W ho stood up in the classroom when asked about their career aspirations and said, “when I Job roles Once you’ve secured a role in the
Payroll supervisor They’ll be responsible for all the above but are also likely to supervise the administrators and will perform and oversee accurate, correct and timely payroll reconciliations and audits. They’ll recommend and implement operational procedures and processes, in support of financial services operations, and monitor compliance with approved policies, procedures and processes. Payroll manager / head of payroll They should be able to oversee the roles of the administrator and supervisor, also playing an integral part of the business, supplying the strategic / financial data to the senior leadership team. They’ll implement, maintain and review payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions. Payroll managers and heads of payroll will conduct constructive and performance evaluations for their teams. There’s a noticeable increase for global payroll professionals based in the UK. Their duties include onboarding and managing payroll for international employees. Depending on the employee’s home / host country, global payroll can include several actions, including tax payment, tax withholding, tax equalisation, NI certification and settling home / host liabilities, reviewing permanent establishments, calculating wages and benefits and liaising with third parties and tax authorities who are based overseas. Skills beyond the technical A career in payroll is about more than just
profession, what does the career path look like? There are many roles available which can lead you over different pathways. Your first decision could be whether you want to work in-house or in a bureau. So, what’s the difference? An in-house payroll is when a company has its own internal department to deal with the payroll process for the organisation, gross to net and beyond. The payroll professionals are normally employees and are paid through the same payroll system as other employees. A payroll bureau specialises in providing outsourced services. A payroll bureau can take care of specific parts of an organisation’s payroll processes, which can include supplying HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with information on behalf of an organisation, providing them with detailed financial reports and processing payslips. The roles can be varied, even if they have the same title. Generally, the roles fall under the following headings: Payroll administrator Duties can include but aren’t limited to: l deduction of tax and National Insurance (NI) payments l processing of holiday pay l statutory absence l expenses l calculation of overtime
grow up, I want to be a payroller”? I bet none of you reading this. Many payroll professionals will openly admit they fell into the role, so what does the career path look like and what are the skills you can develop along the way? If you don’t fall into the role, like many of us have, what other ways can you join such a rewarding profession and what does a career path look like? How to get started There are several ways to join the profession, starting with apprenticeships, and there’s currently the: l Level 3 apprenticeship for payroll administrators l Level 5 for payroll assistant managers. Study a qualification, such as the Payroll Technician Certificate (PTC), to gain a general understanding and the technical skills required before you apply for a role. Apply for a payroll administrator role, as at this level, many roles will require you to demonstrate you’re thorough and pay attention to detail, have administration skills and can work well with others. Join a professional body to gain that all important insight into the profession and keep you updated with the legislative changes. If you’re already working in finance or human resources (HR), it can be a simple transition, as you’ll have many of the core skills required to be a payroll professional. What you’re not so likely to have are the technical skills required.
l shift payments l pay increases l answering staff queries.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | May 2023 | Issue 90 36
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