National Payroll Week 2025 – Colleen’s career progression

Career Progression in Payroll

National Payroll Week was established in the UK by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) in 1998 to celebrate the payroll profession and to give them all the recognition they deserve.

We also want to celebrate the achievements and promotions within our own payroll team – a team who are accredited to the prestigious Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) and who work hard to maintain the very highest of standards within a constantly changing legislative environment.

We catch up with Colleen Hutton, who we met previously, and who started working for Thomson Cooper in December 2018 as an Administration Assistant at reception before joining the payroll bureau team.

Exam Update

I completed the CIPP Level 3 Advanced Payroll Technician Certificate in 2022/2023. There were 3 exams in total, covering topics such as manual tax and national insurance calculations, statutory payments, statutory deductions, data protection, auto-enrolment and salary sacrifice pensions.

I am currently working towards the CIPP Level 4 Payroll Specialist Certificate. There are 4 exams in total, covering topics such as the complexities of national minimum wage, legislation, expenses and benefits, overpayment recovery, termination packages and more complex manual calculations.

What are the next steps?

I have one more exam left for my CIPP Level 4 Payroll Specialist Certificate, and on completion of this, my next steps are to do a supervisory course within the firm. As I am currently Level 3 qualified, I am an Associate Member of CIPP which ensures I stay up to date with the latest news and articles.

Extra responsibilities

From July 2025, I started acting as senior payroll administrator two days a week. This involves more senior tasks e.g. checking payrolls, dealing with complex queries, onboarding new clients, training new staff and exposure to larger, more complex clients.

Main challenges and benefits so far

It can be challenging to work to tight deadlines and manage a large workload, whilst maintaining concentration and accuracy. The laws and regulations are constantly changing, and it is important we keep up to date with this to ensure compliance. Although it can be tough studying whilst working full-time, Thomson Cooper have supported me through my professional training, allowing me to progress further within the firm.

Future plans 

My goal is to progress into a more senior/supervisory role at Thomson Cooper.

Fundraising feats

Our 2024 & 2025 Charity of the Year is Alzheimer Scotland and I have been challenging myself to take part in some of the fundraising events. In May 2024, I took part in the MacTuff 5K with 4 colleagues and we raised £842. In August 2024, I took part in Zipslide the Clyde with 2 colleagues and we raised £525.

I will soon be taking part in an abseil from the Forth Rail Bridge in September – 165ft down! You can find out more about the latest challenge in aid of Alzheimer Scotland here.