A Day in the Life of a HR & Payroll Assistant

It’s national payroll week and over the course of this week we’ll share some insights into all things payroll to celebrate our payroll colleagues and what they do to ensure everyone gets paid correctly and on time.  

We're kicking off with a feature on Amy Baker,  one of our expert HR & Payroll Assistants to get a glimpse into the daily routine of the role.
 
What does your day look like?
It’s busy and varied! I have the autonomy to be able to manage and prioritise my workload as long as everything is completed within deadlines. My day starts with logging in to check emails and catch up on messages. Then, I log into our CRM to review my work allocation, prioritising tasks to ensure SLA’s are achieved and there aren’t any breaches.
 
My day involves inputting into the HR/Payroll system, dealing with queries about maternity entitlement and pay, sick pay, pension queries, you never know what to expect and it’s a real mix.  There may also be a team catch-up to talk about workload, priorities, team absence, changes to processes/legislation etc, I could be on refresher training or might need to have a discussion with my line manager about a complex issue or calculation.
 
I might be rota’d to help the Helpdesk providing cover during their breaks and meetings by answering calls, supporting live chat, and responding to emails. On payroll processing days, I’ll be checking payroll reports and will liaise and support customers with queries or questions about what’s processing through the payroll that month. 
 
My day ends when I’m satisfied that everything I needed to achieve, has been.
 
What are the key skills needed for your role?
Attention to detail and knowledge of HR and Payroll legislation are crucial. It’s essential to manage and prioritise your workload while understanding the wider impact on other teams to meet payroll deadlines. Emotional intelligence is key, as we handle people’s pay, and mistakes can understandably upset them. Dealing with these situations sensitively and empathetically is critical.

I also handle a lot of personal data, so being aware of GDPR and ensuring security is a priority. Understanding our customers’ needs and the business context is important. Logical thinking and effective communication are necessary to interact well with both the team and our customers.
 
What are some of the challenges you face as an HR & Payroll Assistant?
Every day brings new challenges, and no two days are the same. These range from calculating simple or complex calculations, answering a question about tax, having to deal with overpayments to making additional payments due to late submissions or handling urgent inquiries.
 
What do you find rewarding in your role?
The most rewarding part is the satisfaction that I’ve played a part in getting people paid each month.   Working as a team to meet deadlines gives me a great sense of achievement. On a personal level, I enjoy resolving complex payroll queries and ensuring everything is correct. It’s never dull working in payroll, it’s challenging, but it is so rewarding!