MY CIPP
Spotlight on...
Meena Salhan MCIPPdip Policy and research officer
How did your career in payroll start?
Was there a moment in your career / life that made you want to enter a career in payroll? I never knew there was a role dedicated to making sure people are paid for the work they do. I always thought a payslip was generated by a ‘magic machine’. Little did I know about the dynamics of the payroll world. However, if it weren’t for my interest in the accounting field, I wouldn’t have been introduced to payroll and I wouldn’t be writing this piece for Professional today. What’s been your biggest sense of achievement in your career so far? By far, gaining my Foundation Degree in Payroll Management. This almost acted as an official stamp to certify my 13 years in the payroll profession. It was challenging, juggling studying and working full-time, but I’ve learnt that perseverance and effort pay off in the end. What skills does a policy team member need to have? Passion – it could be argued that this is a skill, a quality, or both. However, it’s innate and means you continuously strive to be the best. You must be both proactive and reactive due to the nature of the role – reactive to news and changes, and proactive with projects and events. Being a policy and research officer not only involves independent and team working but also maintaining relationships with stakeholders, members and professional bodies. You
must be an all-rounder: a writer, content analyst, researcher, presenter, informer, engager, creator, communicator and above all, a source of trust, acting as the bridge between payroll laws / legislation and the real world. What advice would you give to someone who is just at the start of their payroll career? Don’t underestimate your true potential, or payroll as a profession. It’s an incredibly important role, which ensures the economy keeps running and workers are paid their hard-earned money. Payroll doesn’t need to be repetitive and all about numbers – there are many different roles within the payroll field you might never have considered, such as analyst, consultant, developer or technician, to name just a few. Take me for example, I never knew I could use my payroll knowledge to become a policy and research officer. Explore different avenues and make use of opportunities, whether that be within your current company or somewhere external. Don’t be afraid to ask for help because nobody can ever know everything. Years of experience and continuous on-the-job training is vital but I feel holding a CIPP qualification is the icing on the cake. Sign up to a payroll course which suits you best, as this will contribute to your career progression and self-development. If you feel payroll is where you belong then stick to it and keep on going. n
I had the opportunity to work for an accountancy firm in the early stages of my career and started with book-keeping. Little did I know that payroll would come knocking at my door. A payroll assistant role became available and, having little knowledge of exactly what payroll was, I decided to go for the role as I wanted to learn and absorb everything that came to me. At this point, I chose to embrace and dedicate myself to payroll and haven’t looked back since. How did you then move into the CIPP’s policy team? After obtaining my Foundation Degree in Payroll Management in 2022, I wanted to explore a new chapter in my career, and at the right moment, a role became available at the CIPP. I was already associated with the CIPP, as both a student and a member, but having the opportunity to join the CIPP on the other side, not just as a student, was exciting. Did you study a specific course to help you enter this career? I studied business and accountancy, as I initially thought I wanted to pursue a career in finance. My studies and experience didn’t go unused, as they allowed me to gain a better understanding of finance and how other departments link with payroll. If it weren’t for accountancy, I wouldn’t have been introduced to payroll.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July - August 2023 | Issue 92 18
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