Behind The Button

Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
  • 5.0 (4)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Behind the Button is your all-access guide to the intricate, fast-moving world of pay. From 2026, every fortnight we sit down with experts from across the pay professions to uncover the stories, challenges and innovations shaping this essential industry. From legislative updates and technological change to the evolving roles found within pay teams, we explore the forces that keep pay professionals sharp, busy and always adapting. Because in payroll, nothing ever stands still. It’s never, ever boring. And there’s certainly more to it than pushing that elusive button to get people paid. But beyond the systems and processes, this is a podcast about people. We get to know the individuals behind the payslips, diving into their motivations, career journeys and the passions that drive them. Join us as we pull back the curtain on the world of pay, and discover what really happens behind the button.

Episodes

  1. S1 E4: Smart money moves: The payroll savings advantage

    3 DAYS AGO

    S1 E4: Smart money moves: The payroll savings advantage

    In this episode, we’re joined by Joss Tasker, CEO and Founder of Sync Savings, to unpack the power of payroll savings and its role in improving financial wellbeing. If you’ve ever felt like saving just isn’t possible, this is a must-listen. Joss shares practical, realistic tips for getting started, no matter your income, and reveals some eye-opening facts and figures on financial vulnerability in the UK. We also explore how payroll savings work in practice and why they’re such a powerful (and often underused) tool. For pay and reward professionals, Joss explains how offering savings vehicles through payroll can drive real employee impact while demonstrating the strategic value of payroll within an organisation. Whether you’re looking to improve your own financial resilience or strengthen your organisation’s wellbeing offering, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Glossary FSCS = Financial Services Compensation Scheme Links Sync-Savings website: https://www.sync-savings.com/ Sync-Savings 2026 financial wellness planner: https://www.sync-savings.com/sync-financial-wellness-planner-2026 Read Joss' article on opening up the conversation regarding financial vulnerability in the CIPP's Professional magazine: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/678606695/36/ Step Change: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice.aspx UK Government free debt advice links: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

    38 min
  2. S1 E3: Maria Mason: A payroll partner's personal story

    20 JAN

    S1 E3: Maria Mason: A payroll partner's personal story

    In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Maria Mason, the trailblazer who became the UK’s first-ever Payroll Partner. Maria shares her career journey and offers practical advice on how to get your voice heard at C-suite level. She also opens up about a pivotal moment in her career – being told initially she couldn’t become a Partner because she wasn’t an Accountant – and how she challenged expectations to redefine what leadership in payroll can look like. Beyond her professional achievements, this episode reveals a more personal side to Maria. She reflects on the values instilled by her parents, how her ambition has influenced her daughter and the emotional experience of watching a team member win an award after navigating an incredibly difficult period in their life. Honest, empowering and deeply human, this conversation peels back the curtain on Maria’s story and proves that it is possible to be a mum, study while working and thrive in the world of work. Links Follow Maria on LinkedIn: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/reBxCoYqjHyNKWT1f5HpvmFW?domain=linkedin.com BDO website: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/9WlBCpg0kCRrx6UDhjHGHkMA?domain=bdo.co.uk Disclaimer: "The contents of this podcast episode are for reference purposes only and may not be current as at the date of listening or viewing. They do not constitute professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific professional advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action based on this podcast episode. BDO LLP shall not be liable for any reliance placed on the contents of this podcast."

    42 min
  3. S1 E2: Paying the world: Global payroll uncovered

    20 JAN

    S1 E2: Paying the world: Global payroll uncovered

    Join us for a fun, insightful conversation with Max van-der Klis Busink, global payroll expert and author of The Global Payroll Manager’s Playbook, as he shares his true Passion for Payroll. Max takes us inside the complex world of global payroll, breaking it down in a way that’s refreshingly relatable, comparing payroll to building Lego and even the London Underground. Along the way, he reminds us that while payroll can be demanding and complicated, it can also be creative, rewarding and fun. Known for bringing humour and light relief to the profession, Max shares laughs, cracks a few jokes and shows the human side of payroll that often goes unseen. He also reveals what career path he might have taken if payroll hadn’t won his heart. Whether you’re deep in global payroll or just love hearing from people who genuinely care about the profession, this episode is informative, uplifting and not to be missed. Links Passion For Payroll website: https://passionforpayroll.com/ The Global Payroll Manager's Playbook': https://www.amazon.com/Global-Payroll-Managers-Playbook-Definitive/dp/B0F2S9D42B

    37 min
  4. S1 E1: From policy to payslips: HMRC’s Chief Executive talks payroll

    20 JAN

    S1 E1: From policy to payslips: HMRC’s Chief Executive talks payroll

    We kick off ‘Behind the Button’ with a must-see/listen episode featuring JP Marks, First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). JP joins us to share his vision for HMRC’s ambitious Transformation Roadmap, offering insight into how the organisation is evolving to build a more modern, transparent and trusted tax system. He also reflects on his own experiences of payroll, discusses the importance of co-design and explains why collaboration with the pay profession is essential to getting change right. In a heartfelt moment, JP thanks pay professionals across the UK for the vital work they do every day, in ensuring people are paid accurately and on time, allowing them to manage their day-to-day lives. Whether you work in payroll, tax or public service leadership, this episode offers valuable perspectives on transformation, leadership styles and the future of HMRC. Glossary DWP = Department for Work and Pensions NHS = National Health Service OBR = Office for Budget Responsibility ERP = Enterprise resource planning RTI = real time information MVP = minimum viable product AI = artificial intelligence R&D = research and development PPS = Principal Private Secretary Links HMRC's Transformation Roadmap - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-transformation-roadmap/hmrcs-transformation-roadmap HMRC app - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/download-the-hmrc-app Policy Paper, 'Tax Making Principles' - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-policy-making-principles

    46 min

  5. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Behind The Button trailer

    Behind the Button is your all-access guide to the intricate, fast-moving world of pay. From 2026, every fortnight we sit down with experts from across the pay professions to uncover the stories, challenges and innovations shaping this essential industry. From legislative updates and technological change to the evolving roles found within pay teams, we explore the forces that keep pay professionals sharp, busy and always adapting. Because in payroll, nothing ever stands still. And it’s never, ever boring. And there’s certainly more to it than pushing that elusive button to get people paid. But beyond the systems and processes, this is a podcast about people. We get to know the individuals behind the payslips, diving into their motivations, career journeys and the passions that drive them. Join us as we pull back the curtain on the world of pay, and discover what really happen behind the button.

    2 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Behind the Button is your all-access guide to the intricate, fast-moving world of pay. From 2026, every fortnight we sit down with experts from across the pay professions to uncover the stories, challenges and innovations shaping this essential industry. From legislative updates and technological change to the evolving roles found within pay teams, we explore the forces that keep pay professionals sharp, busy and always adapting. Because in payroll, nothing ever stands still. It’s never, ever boring. And there’s certainly more to it than pushing that elusive button to get people paid. But beyond the systems and processes, this is a podcast about people. We get to know the individuals behind the payslips, diving into their motivations, career journeys and the passions that drive them. Join us as we pull back the curtain on the world of pay, and discover what really happens behind the button.

Information

  • Creator
    Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright CIPP
  • Show Website
    Behind The Button