What is your role within RG?
I am a Payroll Manager here at RG, responsible for delivering a comprehensive payroll and auto enrolment service to over 250+ payroll clients and the development and progression of a fantastic team.
Tell me about your career to date…
My payroll career began at RG back in January 2014 when I joined the firm as a trainee payroll assistant with little previous payroll knowledge. Thanks to extensive payroll training, mentorship, and the opportunity to get practical hands-on experience for the last 9+ years, I now jointly manage RG’s busy and thriving payroll department.
What does your current role involve?
My role involves supervising the smooth production and delivery of end-to-end payroll processing for over 250+ payrolls of varying size, frequency, and complexity.
What this entails can differ from business to business which is why there are never two days the same in the wonderful world of payroll and auto enrolment pensions.
My main responsibilities include supporting our clients by calculating, processing, and advising on statutory payments, court orders, annual leave entitlements, CIS payments, occupational maternity and sickness policies, tax, national insurance and student loan queries and a range of other technical payroll matters. I regularly set up and approve BACs payments of salaries and PAYE and produce payroll reports and journals for distribution and review payrolls prior to client delivery. I must be on first name terms with most of the HM Revenue and Customs Employer Helpline advisers as I regularly liaise with them regarding payment or data discrepancies and reconcile PAYE accounts on behalf of clients.
Our auto enrolment pension work includes setting up pension schemes with pension providers, uploading and maintaining pension data, consulting with pension providers, and ensuring our clients satisfy their auto enrolment duties.
Finally, as you would expect from a payroll manager, one of my most important roles is to support, train and develop the team to ensure we continue to deliver high quality work and are able to advise on all aspects of payroll and auto enrolment pensions.
What makes RG different?
Our people have a real passion for what they do and the people they do it for! This makes us great at building long standing trusted professional relationships, with a personal feel!
My three most notable achievements to date would be…
- Going to university was a big deal! So, I am proud to say I have a Law degree.
- Buying my own home! It was a dream come true for me and reminded me that hard work really does pay off.
- Being promoted to Payroll Manager with the support of our excellent payroll team.
Tell us about your day so far…
5.15am: Up bright and early for the gym!
7.00am: Coffee required.
8.15am: I arrive at the office and begin the day by reviewing emails received and responding accordingly. Next, I check the payroll diary to see what is required for the days ahead.
8.45am: The team have arrived now! We always check in first thing to make sure everyone is well, that they know what they are doing and are comfortable with the tasks at hand.
9.00am: Today, we have a new member of the team and so I am training them on the payroll software and helping them settle in.
12.00am: Our new member of the team is doing some in house training, so I have time to review some of the team’s work from this week.
13.00pm: Lunchtime! The team decide to take a walk outside, get some fresh air, catch up with each other and buy snacks to share back at the office.
13.30pm: Process salary payments to our clients’ employees and make PAYE payments to HMRC.
15.30pm: One of our clients calls to speak to me. They need some help answering an employee query regarding how their auto enrolment pension is calculated. We talk it over and I agree to send them a follow up email of all we have discussed.
16:30pm: I have scheduled some time with one of the team to show them how to upload payslips and PAYE forms onto the secure electronic payslip portal we offer our clients.
17:15pm: Finally, one more quick review of my emails, I allocate and prioritise any urgent matters that need to be addressed and I log off for the day… ready to do it all again tomorrow.
What do you enjoy outside work?
Spending time with family and friends is always top of the list, particularly my young nephew who keeps me healthy and busy with all the running around! I also enjoy my holidays; whether it be a city break to explore and soak up a new place and culture or relaxing on beach, I am happiest when I am not in Newcastle with a coat on constantly!