Our Payroll Manager, Emma Hawley, recently received the news that she passed her second year in her Foundation Degree in Payroll Management! She has one more year to go, of home studying plus a university tutor group every six weeks, until her degree is complete!  This is an incredible achievement, and we want to shout about it from the rooftops.  

We pride ourselves on the variety of specialist skills within our team, and we have so many opportunities to further your training and qualifications whilst working within a dynamic and successful environment.

We thought we’d catch up with Emma to find out more about her career and skills here at Benson Accountants.

What did you do before you joined Benson Accountants?

Prior to my work here I worked for HM Revenue and Customs before they closed local offices and made me redundant. I had a variety of jobs there, but the most recent one was working in the Employers Section. This was very much the ‘other side’ of payroll where I dealt with Employers queries such as calculating parental pay, how to complete P45s and how to file the payroll information electronically.

What drew you to working for Benson Accountants?

Not long after I was made redundant, a friend told me about a new Accountancy practice that had just set up in my neighbouring town and suggested I send in my CV. I did just that and received a call where I was invited into the office for a chat…nine years later and the rest is history!

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What made you want to complete a Degree in Payroll Management?

It wasn’t until my employment at Benson Accountants that I had considered gaining any professional qualifications.  The Practice asked me if I would be interested in completing the Foundation Degree, and encouraged me to do so, with their full support.

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What is your favourite part about your job?

The personal contact we have with our clients. We have such a wide spectrum of industries that we process the payroll for, ranging from large construction companies with hundreds of employees to small family businesses employing their children, but each one is as important as each other and I love helping each of them to pay their employees correctly and on time.

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What advice would you give to someone considering a career in payroll?

Be prepared for anything! Payroll is not just about tax and national insurance being deducted from people’s wages!

What is a fun fact about you that people might not know?

I have a little business of my own making bespoke gifts for celebrations such as chocolate bouquets, balloon decorations or etched slate coasters. Most of my amazing colleagues here at Benson Accountants have asked me to make something for them and seeing the delight my creations bring, makes it all worthwhile.

Once you’ve completed your degree, do you have further career goals?

I want to see the payroll team grow, and to lead the team into an exciting new chapter here at Benson Accountants.