News & Events
Behind the scenes of payroll: Meet Sophie
6th September 2023
As part of our ‘behind the scenes of payroll’ series in support of National Payroll Week, we speak to Sophie Macey, a senior payroll adviser at Rowleys. Sophie has 10 years’ experience in payroll and is currently studying for a CIPP Foundation Degree.
When did you begin your payroll career?
I started my career in accounts becoming AAT qualified before moving to work solely in payroll. I have 10 years’ experience working in payroll, mainly within accounting practices. The last five years has been at Rowleys, progressing from Assistant Payroll Advisor to Senior Payroll Advisor.
Why did you join Rowleys?
I joined Rowleys as it’s a well-regarded local firm with great training packages. The working environment is second to none with everyone being friendly and approachable.
Why payroll?
I genuinely love working in payroll as every day is so varied, requiring a variety of skills. The ever-changing legislation also means there is constant learning and training to be done, even for the most experienced professionals.
Payroll is such an integral part of every business and I think it’s great that what was once seen as a “push the button” exercise is now a widely recognised and respected profession.
What are the things you enjoy most about payroll?
I really enjoy the satisfaction of solving complex problems and queries, seeing the growth of the team and improving processes. You can’t get bored working in payroll as it is such an ever-evolving environment. Payroll teams are very close-knit, with everyone working together to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
When did you start the CIPP Foundation Degree? Why did you choose to do the course?
I chose to study the CIPP Foundation Degree as it is a well-recognised qualification within the payroll industry and enables further career progression.
I passed the Recognition of prior learning exam in early 2022, which allowed me to bypass the first year and start studying the second year shortly after.
The course is very interesting, not only covering complex payroll legislation but also focusing on management techniques and process improvement methods, which I have already transferred to the workplace whilst recently implementing a new payroll software.
What are your plans once you’ve completed the course?
Once I have completed the degree, I plan to progress my career at Rowleys, continually improving processes within the payroll department, whilst developing and supporting the team.
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my 10-year-old twins, beach holidays, fitness and learning Spanish. I also enjoy doing DIY projects on my house and garden.
What’s the best thing about working at Rowleys?
The best thing about working at Rowleys is the people. I have never worked anywhere with such a friendly, supportive atmosphere. We also have a range of regular social events to suit everyone.
Join the Rowleys team
To find out more about the current and future opportunities we have at Rowleys please get in touch for an informal chat, or visit our current vacancies page. We’re always keen to hear from talented people who are keen to grow their career with us.
You can also find out more about our payroll services on our payroll webpage.