“I never expected that a role I initially fell into would become the career I’m now actively looking to develop and progress in, and I’m glad that it did.”
National Payroll Week: How our team got into Payroll
8 September 2026
To mark National Payroll Week, we are shining a spotlight on the people behind our payroll service and the different paths that led them into the profession.
When people think about payroll, they often assume it’s simply about making sure employees are paid on time. While that’s undoubtedly a crucial responsibility, modern payroll is far more than a transactional process.
As one of the most important functions within any organisation, payroll professionals are responsible for navigating ever-changing legislation, tax requirements and data security standards. With little room for error, payroll requires a unique combination of technical expertise, attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Many professionals find themselves gravitating towards the payroll industry through unexpected opportunities and go on to build rewarding, long-term careers. We spoke to some of our payroll team about how they got into the role and what they enjoy most about this complex profession.
Discovering a passion for Payroll: Izzy’s story
A 20 year career: Bobby’s experience
“I didn’t choose payroll. Payroll chose me. And looking back, it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
A new direction: Denise’s journey
“Following redundancy, I found it difficult to find a position similar to my previous role, so I decided to focus on payroll opportunities instead.”
Expanding horizons: Natasha’s experience
“Having experience on both sides of Payroll gives me a deeper knowledge of the whole process.”
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Discovering a passion for Payroll: Izzy’s Story
Izzy Firmin | Payroll Senior
I first started my career in accountancy shortly after I finished school in 2021, initially working as an Accounts Assistant before moving into a Trainee Accountant/Payroll Specialist role. I hadn’t originally set out with the intention of pursuing a career in payroll, but as I gained more experience, I found that I really enjoyed what payroll had to offer.
Alongside working, I completed my AAT qualifications, which gave me a strong foundation in accountancy and payroll. Over the years, I have taken on increasing responsibility and developed both my knowledge and confidence within the payroll profession. This progression has led me to my current role as Payroll Senior, and I am keen to continue building my expertise and advancing within the industry. As the next step in my professional development, I will soon be enrolling on the CIPP Payroll Specialist qualification.
I think one of the things I’ve enjoyed most within payroll is the opportunity to continually learn. Payroll is constantly changing so there’s always something new to understand. Looking back, I never expected that a role I initially fell into would become the career I’m now actively looking to develop and progress in, and I’m glad that it did.
Izzy’s story highlights something that is common across the payroll profession. While many people don’t begin their careers with payroll in mind, they often discover a role that offers continuous learning, clear progression opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference to both businesses and their employees.
A 20 year career: Bobby’s experience
Bobby Battu | Head of Payroll (Wilson Partners)
Twenty years ago, I was introduced to payroll through an opportunity that would ultimately shape my career.
Payroll wasn’t a path I had originally planned to follow, however, as I gained experience, I quickly discovered the variety, challenge and responsibility the role offered. What started as a new opportunity grew into a rewarding career that has taken me further than I ever imagined. Today, I lead payroll teams, manage complex projects, advise clients, drive change and help shape the future of payroll services.
Payroll is often misunderstood as simply processing payslips, but those of us in the profession know it’s so much more than that. It’s about people, trust, problem-solving, compliance and technology. Above all, it’s about ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex landscape.
Payroll offers continuous learning, diverse opportunities and genuine career progression. Whether your interests lie in people, systems, legislation, client service or project delivery, payroll provides a path to develop specialist expertise while making a real difference to both businesses and their employees.
Wilson Partners joined Affinia in August 2026, bringing with it a number of Payroll professionals like Bobby. Bobby’s career demonstrates how payroll can evolve from a single opportunity into a long-term profession built on trust, expertise and making a meaningful difference to both businesses and their people.
A change in direction: Denise’s journey
Denise Murphy | Payroll Clerk
I started my career in industry, working for a privately owned business from March 1988 until April 2016. I was an Office Manager, and payroll formed an important part of my role. I was responsible for processing payroll for more than 300 employees, paid four-weekly, across a number of care homes, as well as coordinating the monthly payrolls for the other companies within the group.
It was a role with a lot of variety but sadly was made redundant from it after 28 years’ service.
Following redundancy, I found it difficult to find a position similar to my previous role, and so I decided to focus on payroll opportunities instead.
I accepted a payroll position in a professional services firm in April 2016 and stayed there for 9 years before deciding to join KRW Accountants in August 2025.
In May 2026, KRW Accountants joined Affinia, bringing with it a number of new colleagues who now support our payroll function, including Denise.
Denise’s journey demonstrates how payroll can become a rewarding long-term career through hands-on experience and a willingness to adapt to new opportunities. Her story also reflects the breadth of experience found within the profession, with valuable skills often developed across a variety of business and operational roles before progressing into payroll.
Expanding horizons: Natasha’s experience
Natasha Yeo | Payroll Assistant Manager
I initially moved into payroll while studying for my AAT. At the company I was working for at the time, I was given the opportunity to process the internal payroll, which became the starting point for my career in the profession. I quickly discovered that I enjoyed the combination of accuracy, problem-solving and the responsibility that comes with making sure employees are paid correctly and on time. What started as a temporary opportunity ultimately developed into a long-term career.
For the company I was working for at the time, I processed the internal payroll, which provided the starting point for my career. I quickly found that I enjoyed the combination of accuracy, problem-solving and the responsibility that comes with ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time. What started as a temporary opportunity ultimately developed into a long-term career.
Over the next 10 years, I built my experience and technical knowledge within payroll. A little over a year ago, I was given the opportunity to become involved in payroll system migrations. Although this was very different from the day-to-day processing of payroll, my experience in payroll gave me a valuable perspective throughout the process. Being able to understand payroll from an operational perspective meant I could identify potential issues, challenge data and consider how system changes could affect the end payroll outcome. It was important to me that we weren’t simply transferring data successfully, but that the new system was configured to deliver the correct payroll results.
Once the migrations were complete, I supported the rollout of the new payroll system, working closely with colleagues and clients to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption. I have found it valuable to see the full journey from migration through to implementation and then into BAU. Having experience on both sides means I can better understand the challenges faced by the implementation team as well as those who ultimately take ownership of the payroll.
I am continuing to develop these skills and would like payroll migration and implementation to remain an important part of my role going forward. What began as an unexpected opportunity to support a different area of payroll has become an area of my career that I particularly enjoy.
Natasha’s experience highlights the breadth of opportunities available within the payroll profession. While payroll is often associated with day-to-day processing, the profession also offers exposure to projects, systems, technology and change management. Her journey demonstrates how payroll skills can open doors to a variety of specialisms and how experience gained in one area can provide a foundation for developing expertise in another.
A profession full of opportunity
Whether entering payroll through accountancy, administration, finance, operational roles or specialist project work, one thing is clear from these stories: payroll offers a career built on trust, expertise and continuous development.
As Isabelle discovered, payroll provides constant opportunities to learn and progress, and as Bobby states, a career in payroll is a great path for developing expertise. Denise’s story demonstrates how valuable experience can evolve into a long-term and rewarding career, while Natasha’s highlights the diverse pathways available within the profession, from day-to-day processing through to implementation and project-focused roles.
As businesses continue to navigate increasing complexity and compliance requirements, payroll remains an essential profession, helping organisations support their people and operate with confidence.
