Behind The Button

S1 E12: 20/20 vision for pay

Emma Greenfield, Head of Payroll Services at Specsavers, is a dedicated pay professional with a career in the industry that began in her teenage years. Since then, she's built extensive experience processing payroll across a wide variety of sectors, working in both in-house teams and outsourced payroll environments. Her journey through the profession has given her a unique perspective on the challenges, changes and opportunities within the world of pay. In this episode of 'Behind the Button', we take a closer look at Emma’s career journey and the passion for payroll that's kept her motivated throughout the years. We discuss the different roles she's held, the lessons learned along the way, and why she ultimately chose to remain in payroll despite opportunities to branch into other areas of business. The conversation also explores Emma’s leadership journey, including how she found herself leading teams from a very young age and the experiences that helped shape her leadership style. From mentors and role models to real-life challenges and career-defining moments, Emma shares the influences which have guided her approach to supporting and developing others. Packed with Emma's honest reflections and her genuine enthusiasm for the profession, this episode offers an engaging look behind the scenes of a successful career in payroll. Glossary JBP model = joint business plan model, PAS = the CIPP's Payroll Assurance Scheme, P&L = profit and loss, SOPs = standard operating procedures Links Follow Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-greenfield-b456bb47/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-greenfield-b456bb47/] Find out more about the CIPP's Payroll Assurance Scheme: https://www.cipp.org.uk/best-practice/payroll-assurance-scheme.html [https://www.cipp.org.uk/best-practice/payroll-assurance-scheme.html] Find out more about Payroll QuickLearn or 'PQL': https://www.cipp.org.uk/training-landing/payroll-quicklearn.html [https://www.cipp.org.uk/training-landing/payroll-quicklearn.html] Find out more about IPPE qualifications: https://www.cipp.org.uk/training-and-education.html [https://www.cipp.org.uk/training-and-education.html]

S1 E11: Hosts in the hot seat: their lives in pay

In this special episode, we turn the tables on the traditional 'Behind the Button' format. Instead of leading the conversation, the hosts step into the spotlight as the guests. Join Lora Murphy and Adrian Goddard for a personal and wide-ranging conversation as they step away from their usual roles and share their own stories. Lora and Adrian talk about what they genuinely enjoy most about working at the CIPP, and the moments and motivations that have shaped their careers. Along the way, they talk about why they feel so privileged to work alongside so many incredible individuals across the profession, while reflecting on the shifts they’ve seen across the industry, exploring how it continues to evolve and what that means for the professionals working within it. This very special episode also sets the stage for Adrian’s debut as podcast co-host, launching Monday 11 May. Glossary DWP = the Department for Work and Pensions, GDPR = General Data Protection Regulation, RTI = real time information Links Follow Adrian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-goddard/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-goddard/] Follow Lora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lora-murphy-mcippdip/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lora-murphy-mcippdip/]

S1 E10: Pensions dashboards are coming: what does this mean for you?

Richard Smith joins us on ‘Behind the Button’ to share a story that’s both personal and highly relevant. After losing his wife to cancer, Richard found himself accessing a pension much earlier than expected. It’s an experience that brought home just how important it is to understand what you have in place financially, especially when life takes an unexpected turn. We focus on Richard’s work on the Government’s new pensions dashboards, as he’s been closely involved in both the design and testing of this exciting initiative. They’re set to make a real difference, bringing all of an individual’s pensions together in one place, including those that may have been lost or forgotten over time. With state pension figures included too, the aim is to give a much clearer picture of what you might have to live on in retirement, helping people plan with more confidence. Richard’s passion really comes through in this episode, bringing to life not just how the dashboards work, but why they matter. It’s a thoughtful conversation about real-life experience and a practical step forward in how we all approach retirement planning. Links Follow Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-smith-b15935/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-smith-b15935/] Richard's blog, 'Dashboard ideas': https://www.dashboardideas.co.uk/about/ [https://www.dashboardideas.co.uk/about/] MoneyHelper website: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en [https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en] Pensions Dashboards Programme website: https://www.pensionsdashboardsprogramme.org.uk/ [https://www.pensionsdashboardsprogramme.org.uk/] Retirement living standards website : https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/ [https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/] Financial Times 2014 article, 'Retiement Saver Service': https://www.ft.com/content/74bdbe44-0da0-11e4-815f-00144feabdc0 [https://www.ft.com/content/74bdbe44-0da0-11e4-815f-00144feabdc0] SEI research, 'Creating an ownership mindset': https://www.seic.com/sites/default/files/2022-12/Creating%20an%20ownership%20mindset%20with%20DC%20members_SEI_December%202022.pdf [https://www.seic.com/sites/default/files/2022-12/Creating%20an%20ownership%20mindset%20with%20DC%20members_SEI_December%202022.pdf] 2026 Standard Life centre for the future of retirement: https://www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-the-future-of-retirement/research-reports [https://www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-the-future-of-retirement/research-reports]

S1 E9: The psychology of pay

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with the fabulous Emily Trant as we explore the fascinating psychology behind pay. In this episode, we dive into how individuals perceive money differently, and how those perceptions are shaped by personal experiences, societal influences and access to financial opportunities. Emily joins us fresh from recording her own widely acclaimed podcast, The Invisible Worker, where she shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked workers in society. Bringing that same insight and passion to this discussion, Emily challenges us to rethink how financial systems are designed, and who they’re really designed for. A key theme in this episode is inclusivity in financial products. We examine the gap between the people creating these systems and the diverse populations they’re meant to serve, raising important questions about representation, accessibility and fairness. This is an episode which will leave you reflecting on your own perceptions of money and how we can build a more inclusive financial future. Glossary OECD = Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, SMEs = small and medium-sized enterprises Links Follow Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-trant/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-trant/] Invisible Worker podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLESOtaKdqCttJkiqJTiAAAaSX8YKmsAZc [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLESOtaKdqCttJkiqJTiAAAaSX8YKmsAZc] Stream: https://stream.co/en [https://stream.co/en] The State of Financial Wellbeing Report 2025: https://stream.co/en/reports/the-state-of-financial-wellbeing-2025 [https://stream.co/en/reports/the-state-of-financial-wellbeing-2025]

S1 E8: Leading the CIPP: vision, strategy and the future

In this special episode of 'Behind the Button', we turn the spotlight onto leadership as we sit down with our very own Jason Davenport, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CIPP. Join us for an insightful conversation exploring the Institute’s refreshed strategic direction, including the four key pillars shaping its future and guiding its work across the pay professions. But it’s not all strategy, as Jason also shares his wonderful personal story. From his unique journey into payroll to his experiences beyond the office, we dive into the person behind the role. Despite being CEO, Jason remains hands-on, still rolling up his sleeves and getting involved in processing payroll for CIPP staff, demonstrating a genuine passion for the profession at every level. Expect honest reflections on career growth, family life, ambitions and what working in the pay industries truly means to him. This episode offers the perfect blend of industry insight and personal perspective, and is a must-watch for anyone with an interest in the world of pay. Links https://www.cipp.org.uk/membership