When you mention you work in payroll to friends and family, they often don’t really understand what is involved. People receive their pay and expect it to be right every time, without ever thinking about what goes on behind the scenes to make it happen.
When I joined Ascend Payroll as a Payroll Apprentice in February 2026, I was so excited to start my payroll career, but unsure about what this would look like day to day.
6 months in and I thought I would share with you a typical day as a payroll apprentice, where no two days are the same and every day is an opportunity to learn something new.
9.00am – starting the day
The first thing I do when I arrive is:
- Check my emails
- Make my to-do list
- Grab a drink
9.30am – the team sit-down
Every morning we have a 15-minute sit down meeting.
We do this as a way to learn, enjoy a morning drink and give updates. What are we working on today? Is there anything likely to affect a colleague or client?
Today was mini teach back day, where Paul Chappell our Head of Legislation and Compliance talked about legislation updates. Our clients expect us to be fully up to speed with not only the rules and regulations now, but also to be aware and prepared for what is coming, and these sessions really help me to keep up to date.
9.45am – payroll time
After the sit down I will check our payroll tracker to see what payrolls have come in.
I support payroll processing throughout the day, making sure everything is completed accurately and deadlines are met. Attention to detail is everything!
1pm – lunch break
This is my time to recharge. I always try to get out for a walk and step away from the desk for a while. Of course… a Tesco meal deal is usually my lunch of choice!
1.30pm – Apprenticeship learning
This afternoon I spent time completing my apprenticeship coursework.
Recently I have been learning about tax and National Insurance.
Alongside my coursework, I attend regular apprenticeship workshops, which I find incredibly helpful and they give me the opportunity to expand my knowledge, ask questions and help me to reinforce what I’m learning in the workplace. Huge thank you to my tutor Megan, from Smart Training, who is always there to support me whenever I need help.
3.30pm – learning from colleagues
One of the most valuable parts of the apprenticeship is shadowing my colleagues.
They always take time to explain every process thoroughly, answer my (many) questions and make sure I fully understand everything. I always make sure I have my notebook nearby to take plenty of notes so I can look back on them.
Today I was shadowing my colleague Tom who was teaching me all about pension uploads.
5.00pm – end of a productive day
Before I finish work, I take a few minutes to reflect on everything I have achieved during the day and prepare for tomorrow’s tasks so I can start the next day organised and ready to go.
Then it’s straight to the gym before heading home.
Being a payroll apprentice is an incredible experience. Working alongside such a supportive team, learning new things and gaining valuable experience, I’m excited to continue developing throughout my apprenticeship and to see what my future in payroll holds!
