PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
# Be Payroll Sharmina Ahmed ACIPP, payroll administrator, XPS Pensions Group, talks about her experiences of studying with the CIPP and working in the payroll industry
What course(s) have you studied / are you currently studying? I’m currently a year one student of the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management, which lasts for three years. How would you describe your experience of studying with the CIPP? I would describe my experience as I approach the end of my first year as a bit of a rollercoaster. I was definitely unprepared for how time consuming / demanding the course would be on top of a full-time job. This did mean sacrificing some weekends. However, it’s been great to top up my technical knowledge and enhance this even further. I really believe knowledge is power, and you should grab it where it’s available. I love getting into the nitty gritty manual calculations of tax, pensions, student loans and National Insurance (NI). Why was it important to you that you gained this qualification? I’ve always wanted to complete the degree after achieving my Level 3, to delve deeper into the payroll world. This is to ensure I open new doors for myself while I’m still in my 20’s with no children to look after. It felt like the perfect opportunity and work have been so supportive. Can you describe your payroll career / journey to us so far? I’d describe my payroll journey as a big whirlwind. A lot of it started off during lockdown, so I got very used to working remotely without being able to fire off quick questions to colleagues. Instead, I got into a routine of working things out for myself. I started off my career in a bureau where it was fast paced and extremely busy. Here, I achieved a wealth of knowledge and experience, not just in payroll processing but in pension legislation, year-end tasks, month end processes and learning how to manually calculate a lot more than just tax and NI.
Do you have any plans for further study with us? If so, what are they are why? I plan to continue with year two and see what the course has in store for me. What advice do you have for someone who is thinking of studying a qualification with the CIPP? My advice for someone considering studying a CIPP qualification is to prepare to give up your weekends. (Especially if you’re doing the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management.) These courses are going to require real commitment and dedication if you want to pass. However, the rewards you’ll reap after will be worth it, as employers are always keeping their eye out for individuals with a CIPP qualification. Be organised and don’t leave your studying / writing until the last week as you’ll overload your brain and most likely nothing will sink in. Bulk up on your flash cards, colourful pens and file dividers. If your workplace is kind enough, take advantage of the office printers, as there’ll be lots of material that will need saving for future modules. Lastly, remember to use your resources – your work colleagues and tutors can provide a world of free advice and have years of experience in the payroll world. How do you feel about working in payroll? What does working in payroll mean to you? Like many, I didn’t actively choose a payroll career, but now I see what an integral part we, as administrators, play in everyone’s day to day lives. We’re unsung heroes! I love how relevant this job is in ‘real life’ – understanding how the UK’s tax system works, how a tax code is made up and what it represents. For example, family members are always asking me to work out their tax to ensure it’s correct. Understanding the importance of a pension contribution and how this will affect my future is also important to me. It’s certainly not an easy career (especially as I am not a numbers person) but no day is the same and that’s what I enjoy the most. n
20 | Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July - August 2023 | Issue 92
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