We are delighted to introduce Victoria McKay, who has joined our expanding team as Head of Payroll Services. After working alongside Victoria for years, we knew she’d be the perfect addition to help us deliver our premium payroll service.
From the Royal Navy to payroll mastery
Victoria’s journey into payroll wasn’t conventional – and that’s exactly what we love about it.
After leaving school at 16, Victoria joined the Royal Navy, where an aptitude test revealed her natural fit for logistics. When she read the payroll job description, everything clicked.
“It ticked all the boxes of what I liked doing and what I was good at. Plus, with the Royal Navy, you had the chance to travel, so that really appealed to me,” Victoria explains.
Five years in the armed forces gave Victoria discipline and attention to detail that served her well throughout her payroll career.
Building her payroll expertise
When Victoria left the Navy in 2010, she joined a managed payroll business and worked her way up through the ranks..
Over 15 years, she tackled everything – large commercial organisations, education establishments, complex multi-site payrolls. She eventually became Regional Operations Manager, leading 80 people across six different teams.
This breadth of experience means Victoria has seen every payroll challenge imaginable. And as we know at Ascend, there’s no substitute for that real-world expertise.
Victoria’s love of payroll
We asked Victoria what drives her passion for payroll.
“I love the challenge of making things more efficient. Every month, looking if there are tweaks you can make to improve how you do things.
This is why I love working within managed payroll. There is so much variety, and you come across scenarios you would never encounter if just working for an internal payroll team. You are constantly learning, and with different payroll cycles, payrolls are coming in every day, which really keeps you on your toes.”
The Ascend difference attracted Victoria
After 15 years with her previous employer, Victoria was looking for her next challenge. Our approach to building a premium managed payroll service caught her attention
“I really love the management part of my job, building a team and getting the right people in the right roles. With Ascend, I can build my team, and I know that the company isn’t just about getting ‘bums on seats’. They are committed to investing in people and attracting those with the right attitude and mindset. This really resonated with my beliefs.
If you get people with the right aptitude and attitude, processing knowledge can be taught. It is the essence of the person I am concerned about, making sure they are the right fit for the client, the team and the company.
I believe that a great payroll person will put the interests of the client first, but also has the confidence to challenge them if they see something that isn’t compliant, or could be done better.
They also need to enjoy what they do, as payroll can be very high-pressure, which is why it is so important to have a strong team around you, as we all rely on each other.”
A word from our CEO
“I am absolutely delighted that Victoria is joining the Ascend Payroll team. Having worked alongside her for the past 15 years at a previous business, I know first-hand the depth of expertise, professionalism, and passion she brings to everything she does.
Victoria has worked across every stage of payroll – from hands-on processing through to leading and managing entire departments. Her expertise spans both the corporate and education sectors, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the unique needs and challenges our clients face.
She has a strong track record of mentoring processors and team leads, developing capability within her teams, and building effective KPI frameworks to measure and enhance client outcomes. Alongside this, she has worked closely with third-party providers and maintained strong client relationships through regular weekly and monthly meetings.
What stands out most, however, is Victoria’s genuine care, consideration, and empathy for both her teams and her clients. This people-first approach, combined with her technical expertise, makes her a fantastic addition to Ascend.” Stewart Waddell, CEO
