Behind The Button

S1 E13: Wired differently, leading powerfully

In this episode, we’re joined by someone who has built an extraordinary career, from starting out as an apprentice with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to becoming President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. We're delighted to have Susan Ball, Chartered Tax Adviser on 'Behind the Button'. Susan reflects on her leadership journey, sharing how she stepped into leadership roles from a young age and learned to lead with honesty and authenticity. She speaks about living with dyslexia, explaining how she became open about it and discussing how sharing vulnerabilities can empower others to feel confident in speaking about their own experiences. Throughout the conversation, Susan discusses the defining moments that have shaped her leadership style, the challenges she's faced along the way and the importance of trusting and leaning on the expertise of the people around her. She also shares valuable insights into building supportive teams, navigating difficult periods in life and work and creating environments where people feel understood and valued. Released during the month in which Mental Health Awareness Week falls, this episode is a must-listen for anyone leading a team or looking to better understand neurodivergence in the workplace and beyond. Links Follow Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ball-ciot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ball-ciot/] Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT): https://www.tax.org.uk/ [https://www.tax.org.uk/] British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ [https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/]

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]