WHAT IT TAKES TO BE…. A PAYROLL MANAGER with

Celebrating International Day of Accounting with David Cameron, Vice President of the LCASS

International Day of Accounting is an annual celebration to commemorate the publication of Luca Pacioli's book on double-entry bookkeeping in 1494 which is the bedrock of modern day accounting. In the modern day, International Day of Accounting is about the appreciation of the crucial work Accountants do and the recognition of their importance for business longevity and success. This year, we caught up with David Cameron of EY's Restructuring Team and Vice Presidentof the Leeds Chartered Accountants Student Society (LCASS) to gather his advice for those in the early days of their accounting career and insights about all things ACA.Starting a Career in Accounting 1.What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in accounting?I would say the sooner you realise that all of the exams require a fair amount of work and can’t be blagged (no matter how easy you found A-levels or university), the better. ACA is tough but I think it is certainly passable for most people, as long as you put the work in. The next big piece of advice I would give is if you go into the initial mundane tasks, when you first start, with a positive can-do attitude, it goes such a long way. The people who go into tasks with that outlook often find they move onto much more interesting tasks, quickly. Finally, the last tip I’d give to anyone starting out in accountancy is start building your network straight away, not only will it benefit your career in the end when everyone climbs the ranks together, it is even more beneficial from a social point of view at the junior levels. People you meet at networking events will become your friends and just enhance your overall experience when you are starting out. 2.How can recent graduates make themselves stand out to potential employers?It sounds cliché but I think showing your personality in an interview and just being yourself is something people feel as though they shouldn’t do. I really believe that that’s by far the easiest way to stand out. The majority of applicants will also have a great CV, the way you will stand out is by the employer thinking that they will enjoy working with you every day. Picking an ACA Specialism 3.Can you share some insights on the different specialisms available whilst studying ACA?Audit and Assurance:Examining financial statements and processes to verify accuracy and provide confidence to stakeholders through regulatory compliance. Tax:Advice on tax planning, compliance or strategy, dependent on what department of tax you’re in. Transactions:This could be a role in Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Finance, Transaction Due Diligence or Restructuring. 4.How did you decide on your own specialism, and what influenced your choice?I work within the Restructuring service line and absolutely love it. I’d always had a big interest in how businesses work operationally, and Restructuring allows me to assist businesses through times of distress with the hope that we can help to provide a solution to save/improve the business. Being in the service line I am in, it has allowed me to think outside the box and use problem solving at work as there is never the same solution for each business in a time of crisis, with solutions ranging from running an accelerated sale process of the business to possibly refinancing its existing debt. What the ACA Has to Offer5.What are the key benefits of pursuing the ACA qualification?First and foremost, the comprehensive skillset you acquire through completion of the ACA qualification shouldn’t be overlooked as it allows you to apply knowledge you have learnt from topics/exams usually unrelated to your usual job role to situations where it is required or even personal situations. I believe that the practical work experience you gain (at least 450 days of practical work experience) whilst completing your ACA enables you to improve your technical skills at a far quicker rate as you are utilising knowledge you have learnt at work on a daily basis, to better your understanding of the technical aspects, something which you don’t get to do at university or school. I would say the largest benefit is realistically the career flexibility and opportunities it allows you to have access to. As mentioned above, there are so many different avenues that you can go down through having an ACA qualification. If you don’t like one role, you can quite easily try something different. 6.How does the ACA prepare accountants for the challenges both inside and outside of the profession?As touched on above, the comprehensive knowledge gained from an ACA qualification is fantastic and can be applied to so many different scenarios outside of an accountancy role, such as personal tax planning or even the strong financial acumen gained to assist with running your own business. ACA also of course reiterates the importance of ethical behaviour and integrity throughout your studying period which helps instil such traits into students. Learnings from this will help students make correct decisions at work or even in their own personal life when faced with difficult choices. Personal Journey into Accountancy 7.Can you tell us about your journey into accountancy and what inspired you to choose this career?I joined the EY Leeds Restructuring team back in 2020 via the school leaver programme. I probably got unlucky with the year I joined given we were in the midst of the pandemic, however, what I was certain of even back then was no matter what, I still just wanted to get into work rather than continue full time education. I was keen on the potential qualifications I would come out of university with; however, I knew that I had always much preferred working throughout school than the education side of things. I was drawn to the Restructuring apprenticeship due to the element of problem solving involved and the opportunity to leverage commercial skills. Admittedly, I wasn’t overjoyed about the prospect of 15 ACA exams, however, I knew the end goal was worth it and provided some incentive. Four years later and I have completed my ACA and my apprenticeship. I’d recommend this path to many, for the experience and level of qualification I’ve been able to obtain by such a young age, coupled with the opportunity to meet so many people that will be mates for life. 8.Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career path?Nothing I would change that’s in my control. It would’ve been ideal to have joined at a time outside of the pandemic as it did effect the social side of things for the first year or so. To find out more about the ACA click here.Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

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The role of a payroll professional has evolved significantly in recent years and is very much recognised as a very skilled and expert role that requires qualifications and considerable experience to deliver a successful service.

As part of a regular series of articles where we talk to those in different roles and industry sectors, we caught up with Roxanne Talbot who has many years’ experience working in payroll to discuss her career to date, what she looks for when recruiting new team members and what those looking to forge ahead in the sector should consider in order to achieve success in this complex and challenging role.

What was your first job in payroll and how has your career developed?

My payroll career began in my early 20’s working for DWP as a HR and Payroll Advisor processing payroll for people working within the Jobcentre Plus. After a few years of working for DWP I moved to McKesson Shared Services to process Payroll for the NHS – both roles gave me a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge which gave me the confidence to advance my career further.

I then moved into a more challenging role as an Assistant Payroll Manager for Education Placement Group where I studied and achieved my Foundation Degree and BA(Hons) in Payroll Management and Applied Business Management. After five years, I had gained significant experience and had enhanced my knowledge and skills to allow me to apply for a role as a Payroll Manager and was successful. I am now employed by a Government Department, managing and delivering a complex and challenging payroll that continuously keeps me on my toes!

Have you always wanted to pursue a career in payroll?

I’m very much like a number of payroll people – I was lucky that this career chose me, and I am so glad and grateful that it did. When I landed my first job as a HR & Payroll Advisor I had actually applied for a job as a Jobcentre Advisor! I had no idea that I would be placed as a HR & Payroll Advisor, but ever since that day my love for payroll has continued, and my eagerness to be successful in this profession has grown stronger!

I love payroll because each day is never the same. I love the customer service side of things; but my favourite part is the fact that legislation and payroll requirements are constantly changing and improving. There is always something new to learn that keeps you engaged and striving for more.

What would you say are the key qualities and skills that someone must have in order to succeed and build a career in payroll?

Payroll is extremely important within every organisation and holds a huge responsibility and I would say there are two distinct parts to the role which require very different qualities and skills.

Firstly, payroll is a customer service-based role. You are, maybe without realising it, delivering a paramount service that requires you to be patient, understanding, compassionate, eager and have a desire to solve problems that will resolve and restore faith.

Secondly, payroll is complex, challenging and ever changing and because of this, those working in payroll are required to understand the legislative requirements around processing all types of payments and how they should be treated in respect of Tax, NI and Pension. There is so much to know in this field that it requires a person that is determined, dynamic, adaptable, flexible and strives to always do things right!

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a career in payroll?

For those entering the field, payroll is a rewarding, fast paced, intricate and customer focused role that will keep you interested and focused. You can leverage your career by doing qualifications and gaining more experience, and I would certainly recommend that you look to attend industry events that will help broaden your thinking and determine your future career goals.

If you are looking to move into a more senior role, firstly, don’t be scared! If you have the knowledge and experience, be confident that you have the ability to fulfil the role as a senior officer, assistant manager or manager – wherever you are in your path. Look to gain as much experience as you can by challenging yourself to step into areas of payroll that you have not dealt with before to build your knowledge and skills. If you have a good manager, they will welcome your eagerness and will look to set objectives that will help you achieve goals.

When it comes to recruitment, what do you look for in your ideal candidate and what makes them stand out from the crowd?

When recruiting the imperative thing for me is the person’s attitude. Whilst technical skills are required, it’s vitally important that the person is able to connect with the customer, to understand the impact payroll issues can have and has the willingness to go the extra mile to resolve any problems. Not only does someone need to have great analytical and problem solving skills, but I also look for an empathetic person that has a desire to help.

How do you think the role of a payroll professional has evolved in recent years?

The role of a payroll professional has evolved so much over the years and now, more than ever, it is recognised as a very skilled and expert role that requires qualifications and considerable experience to deliver a successful service. It’s evolved in a positive way and is now recognised as a career and not simply just a ‘job’ and the important contribution that it makes to the successful running of an organisation will see it strengthen.

Organisations are realising the management information and data that can be derived through payroll can help them to understand their businesses better which will aid them in making positive, impactful changes that will add value.

What has been the biggest change or challenge to affect payroll?

Whilst payroll faces continual changes through the introduction of new legislation or changes to regulations, undoubtedly the biggest challenge that those working in payroll faced - and continue to face - is the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst my organisation was fortunate in that its workers were front line and we did not need to use the furlough scheme, like all organisations it still added additional pressure to the payroll function with increased reporting requirements for the business, large scale absence administration, legislative updates, business communications and the adaptation of working from home.

What additional changes to working practices have come as a result of COVID-19?

The COVID-19 situation has affected all those working in payroll; requiring quick adjustments to be made that would ensure delivery as usual with little or no impact to employees pay.

In addition, many organisations had to adapt quickly to the transition of working from home to ensure tasks were completed as normal and the service was uninterrupted. Managers also had to develop stronger trust in their teams and processes; and whilst it is challenging to manage teams virtually, the pandemic has made a number of organisations realise that they can depend on teams working from home and have a better productivity rate.

One particular area of focus was the move from face-to-face training and development to virtual video call. Whilst as an organisation, we are fortunate to have a virtual option, it’s much harder to deliver training and keep people engaged. It required people to become more creative to keep people engaged through those sessions – especially during a time when all interactions were virtual.

How do you see the future for those working in payroll?

The future of payroll looks positive, yet it becomes more challenging and complex each day. Each year payroll becomes more affiliated and recognised as a career path, rather than just a job.

CIPP have worked hard to get people and organisations to recognise payroll as a profession and their vision is starting to be realised. I anticipate that organisations will start to emphasise the importance of gaining payroll qualifications to help engage, upskill and give employees confidence in the services they provide.

Additionally, there will no doubt be further changes to payroll legislation that might see additions to statutory payments, and reporting requirements that will help organisations to further analyse their organisations to help embed equal opportunities within organisations.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent transactional finance professionals across the full spectrum of roles including accounts payable, credit control, payroll and purchase ledgers. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.