Bernie O'Sullivan
Shanakill Family Resource Centre

I have worked in Shanakill Family Resource Centre since 1995. Originally, I had a place on a Community Employment Scheme as a bookkeeper and very quickly learned how much I did NOT know about payroll and employment law.
In 2000, I was made a permanent member of staff and I felt I could no longer accept my lack of expertise in the payroll area. Employees were coming to me with queries about their pay that I did not feel competent in answering, so I sourced a course that concentrated on payroll issues.

I successfully completed the IPASS Certified Payroll Technician course and then went on to complete the IPASS Diploma in Payroll Management course.

My confidence has increased dramatically, as now, not only can I answer employees' and my employer's queries, but I can also give them advice on various tax and employment law situations.

Working for a small company can have its difficulties, as it is very hard to be on leave or even sick on a payday. Let's just say that I have paid wages online from some very strange places! But on the other hand, I know each employee individually, so they are all a person to me and not just a number. It is great to be able to give someone a tax tip and have them come back to me jumping around with joy because they got a rebate. (The payroll administrator may expect a cream bun or a choccie bar for such a good result!)

Last year some of my co-workers nominated me for the IPASS National Payroll Awards. I was delighted to be shortlisted for the award, so off we went to the Awards Black Tie ball. We had a fantastic night and to top it all off, I won Payroll Administrator of the Year. I was absolutely thrilled to win, but it meant so much that my colleagues thought to nominate me for such an award. Now when I feel overworked or stressed by a deadline, I can look up at my award and it always brings a smile to my face!

I love my job. It is very interesting and constantly changing and I get a great deal of satisfaction from being able to help my co-workers with their tax problems.

I am delighted to be associated with National Payroll Day as I feel it will give payroll operators across the country the chance to highlight the work they do. It is no mean feat to deliver a correct payroll on time every week or month. I am really pleased that Barretstown will benefit from any funds raised and as payroll people are very diligent in everything they do, I know that the fundraising efforts will be extraordinary.