We caught up with our apprentice Payroll Assistant, Reegan Henderson who started with us back in April, to find out how she’s finding life at Blu Sky!
Hi Reegan, could you tell us about your background and what made you apply for the role at Blu Sky?
I have spent the last 4 years working in hospitality and I was looking to start a lifelong career but was unsure on what I would enjoy!
I was studying childhood studies at university but left this after 2 years as I was not enjoying it and felt like I needed a change. I began looking for apprenticeships, so I could work while gaining a qualification and this is when I found the job opportunity at Blu Sky.
Blu Sky were looking for someone to join the team as a payroll assistant and complete an apprenticeship through EMA training and Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
I had no previous experience of working in payroll but have always been interested in numbers and thought this could be right for me.
What was the application process like?
Before being interviewed by Blu Sky, EMA had their own initial Maths and English assessments I had to complete so EMA could gain an understanding of my basic Maths and English skills.
Along with this, I also had to complete my Xero payroll and advisor certifications, which allowed me to gain some understanding of the software prior to starting my role!
How’ve you found the role so far?
I am now managing payroll for around 100 clients, and I have gained so much knowledge in such a short amount of time, I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Before starting this job, I thought payroll was very simple and had no idea how much there was to learn. Along with actual on the job experience, I get online lessons from EMA training which allow me to dig deeper into a certain aspect of payroll, so far, I have completed lessons in National Insurance and PAYE.
These lessons have been very beneficial to my day-to-day work as they have allowed me to gain a better understanding of the payslips I am producing. When seeing payroll deductions and alterations, I am now able to work out why they’re applied, along with what they mean.
If I feel as though I need a refresher and to further enhance my knowledge, CIPP offer ‘knowledge checks’, which are short exams that allow me to test my skills.
How did you find joining the team virtually?
It has been very strange, starting a career during the current Covid-19 situation. The pandemic meant I couldn’t meet the whole team in person, but they were all very supportive of my learning, friendly and available to offer support whenever I needed it.
I was introduced to everyone via 121 Teams meetings in my first few days, which made me feel more comfortable when having to ask for help as I had been able to have a short chat to get to know the team on a personal level, before having to speak with them professionally.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
One thing that I have loved about starting at Blu Sky is that I get to speak to clients to make sure they’re happy with the payroll service they are receiving. I can help to deal with any queries they may have regarding their payroll, pensions, or their PAYE deductions. It is very rewarding to know that clients appreciate your work and are happy with the service you are providing. This keeps me very motivated to ensure myself and Blu Sky are maintaining a strong reputation with our clients.
Want to join our team?
We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch on: info@blusky.co.uk, if you’d like to find out about our latest positions.
