Pros
Fourth is a great company with wonderful people. There is a generosity of spirit which makes this a good company to work in. Work in the Payroll Bureau is very fast paced and the days fly by. Fourth gives priority to developing it's people and encourages everyone to live the Fourth values. Payroll Specialists are encouraged to undertake qualification courses with CIPP and these are usually paid for by Fourth. In addition, Trainee Payroll Specialists are given superb internal training to help them get started on a career in payroll. Overall, communication is good and everyone has a monthly one to one with their manager which provides an opportunity to talk openly about work issues. Senior management are very supportive and always approachable. Fourth is very generous with nights out, treats, fun activities etc. There is an optional annual review process which allows for salary increases up to the top of the job scale. Employees are encouraged to review their progress with their manager each month and the managers are very committed to helping staff to get the most points possible. There are many opportunities for progression to higher grades and Fourth favours promoting from within. The offices in Macclesfield are bright, airy and air-conditioned. This makes for a very pleasant work environment.
Cons
Although the annual review form is very transparent regarding what salary increase will be given for each objective, it is also long and unwieldy with a lot of repetition. Employees are encouraged to review it each month at their one to one meetings, but many do not do this because it is so off-putting. Salaries for Payroll Specialist are good, and there are many opportunities for progression. However, the salary at the higher grades are too low to make it worth the extra responsibility and good people can command a better rate elsewhere. Lack of flexible working hours is a major con. Fourth places a great emphasis on work/life balance, so this is a glaring omission especially given that the bureau can be exceptionally busy at times and fairly quiet at others. Payroll Specialist are expected to organise their own holiday cover. Whereas I understand the complex reasons for this, I think it is unfair on the individual and causes some resentment.
