S1 E17: Payroll pathways: opportunities, skills and success

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 technology, projects and the wider business. She discusses the skills which help candidates stand out, why attitude often matters just as much as experience and how professionals can continue developing throughout their careers. We also talk about what candidates want from employers today, from flexible working and meaningful benefits to clear opportunities for progression.Along the way, we learn more about Gill herself, including her love of creating elaborate fancy dress costumes and why her daughter's enthusiasm for work gives her so much pride. The conversation also explores the differences between the UK and Canadian payroll markets and why the future of payroll has never looked brighter.If you're building a career in payroll, recruiting new talent or simply interested in where the profession is heading, this episode is full of useful information and plenty of reasons to be optimistic.GlossaryAI = artificial intelligence, NPI = National Payroll InstituteLinksFollow Gill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-o-bab0726b/Follow Portfolio Payroll on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/portfolio-payroll-limited/Portfolio Payroll: https://www.theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=CIPP_Gill_PodcastJuly2026Gemma Creamer's article for Professional magazine: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/227085278/69/