Behind The Button

In this episode of 'Behind the Button', we explore Mathew Akrigg's journey from pay professional to leading the CIPP’s policy and Advisory Service functions. Mathew shares insights from his secondment with HM Revenue and Customs and his experience representing the pay professions in the House of Commons, discussing how evidence-based advocacy can help shape legislation and turn good intentions int...

Steve Krause of the South African Payroll Association (SAPA) explores the evolving role of pay in South Africa and its growing importance as businesses expand across African markets. As younger professionals help raise the profile of the profession, pay professionals continue to navigate complex regulatory environments, overlapping legislation and sometimes inconsistent guidance from revenue autho...

As part of our special global payroll leader mini-series of ‘Behind the Button’, we're joined by Jim Medlock, President of US payroll association, Payroll Org, to talk through payroll’s challenges, opportunities and the shared priorities of the profession across the world. In this episode, the conversation explores changing legislation, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the impact of a...

Jason Low’s family has spent three decades championing payroll in Australia, building the Association for Payroll Specialists (TAPS) into a thriving community dedicated to education, connection and professional recognition. In this episode, Jason reflects on TAPS’ remarkable growth, his unexpected career in payroll and why the profession deserves greater investment and support. He explores the com...

Join us as we speak to Shane Ormsby, General Manager of the Irish Payroll Association (IPASS). He shares his journey from higher education into payroll and his vision for the profession’s future. Discover how IPASS supports pay professionals in Ireland through education, qualifications and professional development, helping build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate an ever-changing regu...

In this episode from our special mini-series of 'Behind the Button', we’re joined by Peter Tzanetakis, President and Chief Executive Officer, from the National Payroll Institute in Canada for a fascinating conversation that goes beyond payroll. We talk all things hockey and Led Zeppelin before exploring his journey from a finance background into the world of payroll. He shares his first impression...

Payroll sits at the frontline of workplace compliance, and its role is about to become even more important. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Lisa Pinney, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Work Agency (FWA), to explore how the new agency is reshaping the way workplace rules are understood, supported and enforced. Lisa shares her journey from public service and environmental protectio...

What does the Employment Rights Act mean for pay professionals and the people they pay? In this very special episode of 'Behind the Button', we’re joined by the Minister for the Future of Work, Kate Dearden MP, to talk about the changes coming to employment rights across the UK. Kate talks about what first drew her into politics and her family’s trade union background. She also explains why she be...

Payroll is no longer just about processing pay; it’s becoming a strategic force for change. On this episode of ‘Behind the Button’, Abigail Vaughan, CEO of Zellis, explores how legislation, technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and shifting workforce expectations are reshaping payroll. From her unconventional career journey to leading through rapid change, Abigail shares why communication and p...

Anthony Macey, Chief Operating Officer of CIPP's Corporate Partner, Portfolio Payroll, talks about the growing opportunities within the pay professions and why payroll has become such a rewarding and varied career, using his experience of working in payroll recruitment for the last 22 years . Payroll is becoming more complex, with professionals needing to understand data, analytics and the wider n...

In this episode, payroll expert Clare Warrington shares insights from a career spanning nearly 40 years across retail, healthcare and logistics. Clare discusses the realities of payroll as a high-pressure profession where accuracy, compliance and customer service are essential, while highlighting the importance of maintaining work-life balance and protecting mental wellbeing. From starting as a te...

In this episode of ‘Behind the Button’, Sarah MacIntosh, Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health First Aid MHFA England, shares how her personal experiences and career journey have shaped her passion for improving workplace mental health. From financial services to leading a national organisation, Sarah explains why psychological safety is essential for both employee wellbeing and organisational...

What does the payroll job market look like right now? In this episode of ‘Behind the Button’, Director at Portfolio Payroll (our Corporate Partners), Gillian Owen joins us to share her insights into the changing world of careers in pay, and what employers are really looking for. Gill explains how payroll has evolved beyond processing payslips, with many roles now offering greater influence across...

This episode of 'Behind the Button' welcomes Sam Johnson, Payroll Partner at Dains, for a conversation about what it really takes to deliver great payroll for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Sam shares her unconventional journey from studying law to building a career in payroll and human resources. She discusses the nuances of supporting owner-managed businesses, why pay professionals m...

In this episode of ‘Behind the Button’, we’re honoured to welcome Jackson Parsons, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Duvet Flip to the show. He shares the inspiring story behind ‘Duvet Flip’, a movement built on the belief that life's challenges can become opportunities for growth and positive change. Following a life-changing health diagnosis during the pandemic, Jackson was prompted to re-e...

In this episode, we sit down with the remarkable Duane Jackson, whose story proves that it’s never too late to completely change the direction of your life. After serving time in prison for drug smuggling, he made a conscious decision to rebuild from the ground up. What followed was an extraordinary transformation: from a difficult and troubled past to becoming a successful software entrepreneur....

In this episode, we’re joined by someone who has built an extraordinary career, from starting out as an apprentice with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to becoming President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. We're delighted to have Susan Ball, Chartered Tax Adviser on 'Behind the Button'. Susan reflects on her leadership journey, sharing how she stepped into leadership roles from a young age a...

Emma Greenfield, Head of Payroll Services at Specsavers, is a dedicated pay professional with a career in the industry that began in her teenage years. Since then, she's built extensive experience processing payroll across a wide variety of sectors, working in both in-house teams and outsourced payroll environments. Her journey through the profession has given her a unique perspective on the chall...

In this special episode, we turn the tables on the traditional 'Behind the Button' format. Instead of leading the conversation, the hosts step into the spotlight as the guests. Join Lora Murphy and Adrian Goddard for a personal and wide-ranging conversation as they step away from their usual roles and share their own stories. Lora and Adrian talk about what they genuinely enjoy most about working...

Richard Smith joins us on ‘Behind the Button’ to share a story that’s both personal and highly relevant. After losing his wife to cancer, Richard found himself accessing a pension much earlier than expected. It’s an experience that brought home just how important it is to understand what you have in place financially, especially when life takes an unexpected turn. We focus on Richard’s work on the...

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with the fabulous Emily Trant as we explore the fascinating psychology behind pay. In this episode, we dive into how individuals perceive money differently, and how those perceptions are shaped by personal experiences, societal influences and access to financial opportunities. Emily joins us fresh from recording her own widely acclaimed podcast, The Inv...

In this special episode of 'Behind the Button', we turn the spotlight onto leadership as we sit down with our very own Jason Davenport, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CIPP. Join us for an insightful conversation exploring the Institute’s refreshed strategic direction, including the four key pillars shaping its future and guiding its work across the pay professions. But it’s not all strategy,...

In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Chamberlain, Head of Employment and People Solutions at JMW Solicitors, to break down what the Employment Rights Act means for pay professionals and payroll teams. Paul walks us through the key milestone dates payroll and human resources (HR) professionals need to have on their radar, along with the major legislative changes that will affect how organisations...

In this episode, Andy Nicholls explores the key pension responsibilities impacting pay professionals and what organisations must do to remain compliant. The conversation includes a practical walkthrough of automatic enrolment requirements, highlighting common error areas and how to avoid mistakes while meeting the expectations of The Pensions Regulator (TPR). There's also discussion on managing re...

In this episode of 'Behind the Button', we are joined by Steve Elcock for an in-depth discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) and its evolving role within payroll. The conversation explores how AI is currently being used across payroll departments to support accuracy, efficiency and compliance, as well as the opportunities emerging as technology continues to advance. Steve shares practical exam...