We are thrilled to announce that Liam Ridgill has joined Ascend as our Product and Commercial Director. Liam brings not only experience of working in the managed payroll sector, but also rock solid expertise in Project Management and getting software development ‘over the line’.
From apprentice to Product Director
Liam made the decision after leaving school to enter the commercial world when he chose an apprenticeship over taking up his University place. The next 5 years saw him gaining invaluable experience in Accountancy Software and IT Infrastructure as Operations Coordinator covering disciplines such as project management, purchase ledger and procurement.
It was during this time that he got a taste for working with software development teams, so in 2017, when an opportunity came as Product Manager in the Innovation Team at a managed payroll business that was creating its own software solutions, he made the move and entered the world of payroll.
As Liam explained, “Moving to an agile development environment was a steep learning curve, but I enjoyed getting stuck into sprint planning, backlog refinement, Q&A and retrospectives. I especially loved the user engagement element of the role, working with stakeholders, internally and externally, to ensure we delivered the best solution.”
One of Liam’s first projects in this role was to be involved in the ISO 27001 certification, which was successfully delivered within 6 months and he continued to head up the implementation and re-certification for 6 years. With this skillset and experience, he will be heading up Ascend’s quality certification activities.
Exposure to the corporate world
Following the acquisition of his employer by an international software company in 2021, Liam moved into a centralised Product Management role, looking after a number of products within their portfolio. He was also involved in a high-profile project to migrate over 1,500 customers from third-party legacy software to their proprietary cloud technology, and worked with sector specialists in education to build and develop integrations via API.
An exciting new challenge with Ascend
After taking some time to recharge and focus on his family and the direction he wanted his career to go, Liam decided to join Ascend Payroll. Going beyond the sector or service we provide, it was the ethos of our business that really attracted Liam.
“In Ascend, I’ve found a company where the values align perfectly with my own. Their central ethos of ‘Do the right thing, always’ resonates deeply with my personal values of accountability, honourable purpose, courage and integrity.
I am also excited about the opportunity to work on software developed in-house, without the technical debt and compromises often associated with legacy software. This allows us to take advantage of the new development landscape that tools like AI offer.
What I strive to do is always find solutions that improve efficiency. That makes things better and delivers an improved ROI”
In his new role, Liam will have the opportunity to flex his project and product management muscles, but also have a strategic input into the commercial direction of the business not just as a provider of payroll services but also as a payroll tech provider.
A word from our CEO
“Having had the pleasure of working with Liam since 2017, I have always been impressed by his professionalism, his depth of knowledge, and his commitment to delivering solutions that truly make a difference. It is a privilege to now welcome him into our business.
Liam brings with him a wealth of experience across payroll, technology, and client services, with a career spanning accountancy software, IT infrastructure, project management, procurement, and operational delivery.
Among his many achievements, Liam successfully implemented and maintained ISO 27001 certification across three cycles, led the commercial, implementation, and product development lifecycle for ePayslips, and acted as Product Owner for internal bureau management systems, always with a focus on driving efficiency and operational improvements.
He has also built strong relationships with suppliers and sector specialists, created and delivered client KPIs and reporting, and was instrumental in developing an award-winning Tips and Tronc service, which fits nicely with our current service offering, including our own
Tips and Tronc service.What stands out most about Liam is his ability to balance technical expertise with strong stakeholder management, working closely with clients, colleagues, and partners to deliver solutions that bring real value. His knowledge, innovation, and collaborative approach make him a fantastic addition to our brilliant team.
I am confident he will make a significant contribution to our future growth and success.” Stewart Waddell, CEO
