What are the most significant challenges facing payroll professionals today? 

Today I think the challenges to payroll are multi-facetted. Key to any move forward is ensuring a continued full understanding of legislative changes that are upcoming as well as further changes to come. This aligns to the position and strategy of the new government, the path they want to take, and their reaction and the effects on the economy going forward. Finally, we are moving more and more towards ever increasing technologies, whether than be A.I., Robotic process, or the general technology environment. It’s a vital part of the payroll roe that we understand, embrace and integration the latest options to improve process, remove complexity, increase accuracy, and therefore make further time   to focus on the ever increasing and diverse requirements and allow us to focus on our people.

What excites you most about participating in Reward & Payroll Summit this year?

Having the opportunity to talk to and hear from like-minded professionals, share knowledge, and listen to the views, thoughts, and position around the future.

Which session or theme are you most looking forward to, and why?

Any future changes or clarifications on key aspects around how we move forward as an industry.

What advice would you give to companies looking to innovate while ensuring compliance in today’s regulatory environment?

Ensure you embrace not only technology, user experience, and the self-service options available, but also ensuring you are receiving the support and updates on change from key partners in the industry which includes the Payroll Centre and CIPP.

What role does technology and/or AI play in transforming payroll, and how can businesses leverage it effectively?

It’s the future you cannot ignore, but as I mentioned it’s about embracing change, understanding what you can achieve, ensuring you understand how it fits within your technology and process and effectively integrating the technology that suits you – but it’s just as important to remember that technology doesn’t stop moving, so what’s right today may not be or could be superseded tomorrow, so keeping on top of change and listening and learning from experiences of others.

What inspired you to have a career in payroll, and what keeps you passionate about it?

For me it is the people aspect in a continually changing environment – no day’s the same and you feel an enormous value-add to any business. I have had the pleasure of seeing and being involved in all aspects of payroll over 39 years and am very happy to now be in a situation where I can share my knowledge and help the knowledge and improvement of others.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your session at Reward & Payroll Summit?

We will be really focusing on the future which encapsulates not only the use of technology but an opportunity to understand what other aspects of change and trend are coming not only in the UK but what their effect will be in the global environment to assist in payrollers strategic design and future considerations.

Hear more from Richard at this year’s Reward & Payroll Summit