This National Payroll Week we’re shining a light on the people behind the payslips to find out why they #ChoosePayroll. So we’ve sat down with Dee McCormack, Payroll Manager, to hear how she landed on her career.
Dee, who joined Harold Sharp in September 2021 as Payroll Manager, is the first to admit that she did not necessarily ‘choose’ payroll as a career.
“Payroll is not typically something you stumble across as a function until you secure your first job.” she explains, “I didn’t have friends or family working in finance, so it just wasn’t something that was on my radar.”
Excelling in being meticulously organised and rather a whizz at shorthand, Dee left college to pursue an admin role. Little did she know, this first step would actually propel her into a longer-term career in payroll.
From admin to payroll
Dee began her career as an Admin Assistant working for a landscaping company. While her day-to-day tasks were varied, she began to get roped into payroll and it was this addition to her to-do list that piqued her interest.
She later left her admin role to pursue a secretarial position in the accounting sector. Once again, she took on a varied role which incorporated an element of payroll thanks to her prior experience. What started as managing payroll for just 20 companies quickly grew as the firm expanded. And, over the next 17 years, Dee’s role evolved alongside the company’s growth, allowing her to move sideways into a pure payroll role. Her enthusiasm and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, enabling her to pursue her passion and rise to the position of Payroll Manager.
So what is it that makes Dee so passionate about payroll? It’s more than numbers – it’s about the dynamic nature of the job. “The reason that I enjoy my job is largely because no two days are the same,” she says. “You’re never in the same situation twice, and there’s always something new that crops up.” It is this ever-changing environment that keeps Dee motivated.
What does the day-to-day involve in payroll?
“I didn’t choose payroll initially because I didn’t really know that it existed. It’s so important to educate students on their options and to ensure that they are aware of the different pathways available to them. There are numerous payroll apprenticeships available which are a great route to qualification whilst building hands-on experience.”
As a Payroll Manager, Dee is responsible for ensuring up-to-date knowledge of the latest legislation, managing the team’s workflow to meet strict deadlines and dealing with ad hoc queries. But what does the day-to-day actually look like for a payroll professional? Tasks might include:
- calculating employees’ wages and salaries, including hourly rates, overtime, bonuses, and deductions.
- ensuring accurate and timely payment to employees, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
- submitting Real-Time Information (RTI) to HMRC, including details on pay, deductions, and tax payments.
- staying up to date with changes in tax codes and national insurance rates and applying them correctly.
- calculating and processing employee and employer pension contributions under auto-enrolment schemes.
- ensuring that pension payments are made on time and in compliance with pension regulations.
- responding to employee inquiries regarding their payslips, tax codes, or discrepancies in their pay.
- providing support and information on statutory payments like sick pay, maternity pay, and parental leave as well as calculating and processing those payments.
- keeping accurate and confidential records of all payroll transactions, including payments, deductions, and adjustments.
- ensuring that payroll data is securely stored and accessible for audits or employee queries.
- regularly updating payroll software with new employee details, salary changes, or updated tax codes.
- managing the integration of payroll software with other systems like time and attendance tracking or HR software.
- preparing and submitting P60s, P45s, and P11Ds to HMRC and providing copies to employees.
- ensuring that all statutory returns are completed accurately and filed on time.
- identifying and resolving discrepancies in payroll accounts.
- completing end-of-year payroll tasks, including the submission of final Year End returns to HMRC.
“It might sound overly complex when you list out the day-to-day with little prior knowledge, but it’s really not that scary” explains Dee. “Our job is to be the behind-the-scenes team that makes sure that everyone in a business gets paid on time. We make sure the right people, get the right money, at the right intervals and we ensure that happens in a fair and legal way.”
What does the future hold?
At Harold Sharp, Dee leads a growing team of payroll specialists. She’s not just focused on managing payroll but also on developing her team’s skills.
Curiosity is one of Harold Sharp’s core values, and that means constantly questioning and learning. To deliver on that value, Dee has encouraged her team members, Cat and Katie, to complete their CIPP Technician qualification – a step she sees as vital for their professional growth.
“I don’t want my team to ever feel like they are stagnating – there’s so much to learn in the payroll space and it’s my job as a Manager to make sure we are constantly building knowledge and developing together.”
Dee’s career to date is a testament to the diverse pathways that can lead to a fulfilling career in payroll. Her story highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning and the unique challenges that make payroll an exciting and rewarding field.
So, why #ChoosePayroll? For Dee, it’s the variety, the challenge, and the opportunity to grow – both personally and professionally.
To find out more about our payroll services, email Dee or call 0161 905 1616.
If you’d like more information about working at Harold Sharp, visit our Current Vacancies here.
Dee McCormack
Payroll Manager
T: 0161 905 1616
E: dm@haroldsharp.co.uk