Our staff spotlight this month is Joanne Stringer! Joanne explains her role as Payroll Clerk here at The Accountancy Partnership.

What is your job title?

Payroll clerk.

Give an overview of the duties, functions, and responsibilities of your job.

All sorts, from dealing with HMRC queries, to ensuring accurate calculating and processing of payroll for our clients, to ensure HMRC deadlines are met.

What is a typical working day like for you?

Busy! Processing payroll involves salary calculations for our clients’ employees, including maternity pay, holidays, bonuses, and sick pay. There’s also a lot of queries, and back and forth with HMRC if issues arise.

What particular challenges do you regularly encounter?

We often act as the middle-ground between clients and HMRC, so there’s lots of relaying messages and explaining everything to clients. There’s also the ever-changing HMRC policies and procedures to keep up with!

What are some of the biggest challenges faced by your clients?

Payroll can be very complex, so it can be hard for clients not really understanding why things are done the way they are, or what needs to happen and when.

How are you able to use your skills to solve problems for them?

Patience and understanding goes a long way. We’re here to help! It’s our job to be reassuring, and help clients prioritise, keeping them updated and make them feel at ease and confident that issues are in hand.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love having new things to learn, which in payroll is ever changing. And I really enjoy working alongside others – clients and my colleagues – solving problems and keeping each other motivated.

What do you like most about working for The Accountancy Partnership?

The people I work with! They’re a great team, and we have good fun. There’s definitely lots of support. Plus, every day has new challenges and things to learn.

What skills do you find most useful to do your job?

Problem analysis and attention to detail are really useful. Good organisation is a must, as well as understanding, empathy, and patience.

Where’s your favourite place to visit on days off?

New Brighton beach walks with the dog. Sunny days consist of ice creams at Café Crème, or hot chocolate on a windy day. Last summer I tried stand up paddle boarding, so I’m keen to pick that up again this year.

Tell us about your proudest achievement

Graduation and being a Mum (more recently, a Nan). I am also proud of myself for retraining to be a payroll clerk, as for most of my adult life my career was in children’s education.

What are you reading/binge watching at the moment?

The Responder – I’m enjoying seeing the local landmarks and familiar places not so far away from where I live.

Find out more about the payroll services that Joanne and the team provide. Just hit the live chat button, or get an instant online quote.

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About The Author

Ronan Ferguson

Junior Marketing Executive and Part-Time Copywriter. When I'm not working, you'll likely find me in a boxing gym, or knocking balls around with a wooden stick on a green baize.

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