Supporting the people behind the numbers

I finished school in 2009 just as the economy was struggling with the impact of the financial crisis. It was a really difficult time—most of us just had to try to work our way through it. I had been a labourer for a while in my early teens, doing mostly brickwork and plastering. Then, in my later teens and twenties, I started doing theatre and bar work. My career really didn’t really take off until just over five years ago when I joined ifac as a trainee.

Joining ifac was a real turning point for me. I’ve been able to train as a payroll specialist and I’ve also obtained a diploma in employment law. The support and encouragement to develop your career here is great. Everyone wants you to do well.

Day-to-day, my work involves processing wages for clients. I could be helping an employer who has spent his whole life running the business and is still working to make it a success or it could be someone who is just starting out.

It could be going to someone in their first job or it might be someone saving for a car, mortgage or looking after their family. My job is making sure that everyone on the payroll is paid correctly and on time.

As well as processing wages, I spend a fair bit of time dealing with queries. When I pick up the phone, it’s often someone who needs advice or help with something urgent. I regularly check in with clients to see how they are getting on and I have a lot of interaction with my ifac colleagues in our offices around the country.

Keeping up to date is an important part of my job—for example we have to make sure that changes in employment law and measures announced in the Budget are correctly applied to payroll. Ifac ensures that I get ongoing training and support. As someone without a degree, it means a lot that I’ve been able to build my career here.

In my spare time, I’m a bit of a bookworm. I also enjoy film, music and getting out in the car to visit somewhere scenic.