Paying tribute to all the heroes working in the payroll department
In the US, people often talk about “unsung heroes” when describing those who do the heavy lifting behind the scenes to give others space and opportunities. Undoubtedly, this description applies to everyone who works in the payroll department.
The pandemic has meant an increased workload for many people, not least when it comes to all the advice that they are expected to give on top of their usual ongoing work – while at the same time needing to familiarize themselves with temporary regulations and support packages.
Having the right skills is an asset that more and more people have come to recognize during the pandemic. This applies not least to those working in the payroll department.
“I feel that it’s important that a workplace has one (or more) people you can turn to when it comes to salary issues, not only with regard to your own salary but also to general salary issues. It’s valuable and saves time having a person who can support both managers and employees in matters such as pensions, how my pension is affected if I choose to take time off, if I want to change my salary, etc.,” says Mette Brubak, Senior Solution Consultant at Unit4.
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Mette also believes that, unfortunately, many workplaces fail to understand how much knowledge people who work in payroll have.
“Your salary is something you expect to receive once a month, which has to happen without fail. That’s why it’s important to create understanding and spotlight the heroes who work in this area and who possess incredible knowledge of current laws, regulations, and agreements. If companies had greater knowledge about this, they could use their salaried colleagues as a sounding board for many more issues than they do nowadays.”
How would you describe those who work in payroll? Are there any common characteristics that these people typically have?
“The first thing that comes to mind is that these people are very loyal and service oriented. They are always willing to help and do everything to make sure that salaries are correct – even if the relevant documents may be incomplete and late. They are also very thorough and incredibly good at juggling lots of things at once.”
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Do you think the pandemic has meant an increased workload for those who work in accounts and payroll?
“I’m convinced that the workload has increased, not least due to the temporary regulations and support packages that have been added, which often required quick solutions at short notice and initially involved many manual procedures to put everything in place. In many cases, it has also meant a change in the way of working since, just like in many other professional roles, people have had to quickly learn to work more online, which we will benefit from. For instance, people can no longer lock a folder with information in a cabinet at the workplace when many of them now work from home.”
Having the right skills is an asset, especially if you work in accounts and payroll. Do you think more companies and workers have realized this because of the pandemic?
“Perhaps smaller companies have realized the importance of having someone who knows the ins and outs of payroll. But I think we have a lot of work to do in terms of highlighting the importance of having the right skills when working in payroll and finance. The different roles can, in many cases, support each other, but it’s difficult to keep up to date in both areas.”
Finally, what makes a good payroll consultant?
“I would say that a good payroll consultant not only has the right expertise but also has an eye for detail and is curious. Payroll is an area that is constantly changing, not just in terms of laws and regulations, but now also the entire way of working.”
For more information about our HR and payroll system, read here. For more information on how Unit4 can help your firm, check out our suite of integrated solutions, watch a demo, or talk to our sales team today.
