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and identify the mix of experience and qualifications which will best position them to achieve their goals. This way, they can tailor their professional development to meet the demands of the evolving payroll landscape, enhancing their appeal to potential employers and their prospects for advancement. HL: Although a combination of experience and education is ideal, it’s important to always emphasise the skills you’ve acquired along the way, regardless of your career journey so far, to tap into the era of skills-based hiring. EW: Gaining a recognised payroll qualification will enhance individuals’ portfolios and increase the chances of successful job applications. Reading HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) guides can help to gain a deeper understanding of the payroll process. Downloading software such as HMRC’s Basic Payroll Tools and becoming familiar with different payroll functions would also help increase background knowledge. Watching HMRC’s free webinars on areas such as national minimum wage, statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay are also good starting points to gain knowledge and experience. Becoming a member of the CIPP and reading Professional magazine would also help the individual gain up-to-date knowledge in the payroll world. Gaining information technology (IT) and data protection knowledge and skills is also key to the role. Free online courses can be found to assist with broadening knowledge. All these added extras are perfect to help build upon a CV and make the individual stand out from the crowd. I came into my role with no previous experience or payroll qualifications. I began by completing online Microsoft courses to update my IT skills and I watched HMRC videos on YouTube in relation to tax codes and pay as you earn. Is there an ideal combination when it comes to qualifications and experience? EC: I think it’s ideal to have both qualifications and experience as they both have positive impacts on your career and future opportunities. In my opinion, they go hand in hand, and you will be at your strongest with both – qualifications are good for knowledge and technicality, but I feel you really pick things up when you come across them
in the workplace. Having experience alone could potentially prevent you from being selected for a future role and may mean you miss certain technical elements you would learn when gaining a qualification. However, these are skills you can develop so I feel unless it’s a trainee role, experience is always going to hold importance. PH: When it comes to the ideal mix of qualifications and experience in the payroll industry, there isn’t a one- size-fits-all answer. Roles within the field are becoming more diverse, and the environment in which payroll professionals operate can greatly influence what works best. It’s essential for employers to foster an environment where individuals can flourish. This means payroll leaders have a responsibility to provide newcomers with opportunities to explore different aspects of the industry and support them in pursuing relevant qualifications. At BDO, we provide individuals with financial support by sponsoring their studies, and we ensure they have the time, flexibility and resources they need to succeed. At the same time, candidates must take the initiative to seek out experiences and dedicate the necessary time and effort to their education. This proactive approach is key to unlocking potential and advancing to more senior positions within the payroll sector, should that be your ambition. HL: There are positive takeaways to be gained from both educational and professional experience, where a person thrives most will depend on their individual learning styles and preferences. EW: Ideally, I believe anyone working in a payroll environment should have studied, or be working towards, the CIPP’s Level 3 Payroll Technician Certificate (PTC) as a minimum. This qualification provides a deeper understanding of the payroll function and allows individuals to gain experience carrying out manual calculations, which is a skill required to work successfully in a payroll role. Overall, I believe it depends on the individual. Some individuals learn better on the job, whereas others learn more from reading and carrying out research. Gaining the PTC along with on-the-job experience would allow the skills needed to work within a payroll department to be gained, creating the perfect combination. n
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | June 2024 | Issue 101 30
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