Have You Met Callum McAndrew?

What is your name?

Callum McAndrew

What is your role title?

UK Payroll Team Lead

What do you do in your role?

I lead and support the activYellow team, based in Edinburgh, UK

What key skills do you bring to activpayroll?

I am incredibly passionate about my role at activpayroll. My main priorities are to ensure my team are happy and fully supported in their job and that customers are receiving an outstanding service on a daily basis. Anyone that knows me well knows I like to learn continually to share my knowledge with my colleagues and help train team members, in this way enhancing our customers’ service.

What gives you the most satisfaction about your job?

The most satisfying part of my job is knowing that my team is happy and providing support to anyone, from team members to colleagues in other departments when they are in need of help. It’s a great feeling when my team receive positive feedback from a customer for the support that we provide.

How did you get into the payroll industry and why?

I graduated from Heriot Watt University with an Accountancy and Finance Degree. After I graduated, I applied for a job in Edinburgh at a payroll bureau as a Payroll Administrator in one of the ongoing teams as I wanted to work with numbers even if it wasn’t in an accountancy based role.

What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on at activpayroll? Why?

When I started working at activpayroll, the Edinburgh office had not been open for very long, therefore I had to learn the new systems and how to liaise with the customers which was challenging. We overcame this with great team work and by taking on board everyone’s ideas to help improve processes along the way, which we continue to apply on a day to day basis in the office.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement outside of activpayroll?

My greatest achievement would have to be completing my honours degree in Accountancy and Finance. Four hard years of studying and stress has helped me cope with the fast paced environment that I work in and has giving me a lot of helpful lessons which I use in my position at activpayroll. I better add in that buying a house with my partner this year as well just in case she reads this!

What company value means the most to you and why?

Flexible means the most to me as I believe that without flexibility the service we provide at activpayroll would not be as successful and our team and customer relationship building would not be as rewarding. It is only by being flexible that we meet the team and customers’ needs.

Do you have any hobbies/ What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to keep fit and football is my main hobby which I play in two separate leagues and sociably with my friends. If I am not playing football, I am watching football and I am a season ticket holder for Dunfermline Athletic. I also like to play squash and I am partial to having drinks with my friends.

Who is your professional role model and why?

I look up to several managers in activpayroll for guidance and to help me become a better team lead and person to all my colleagues and customers.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

JK Rowling- I am not ashamed to admit that I am a bit of a Harry Potter fanatic. I would love to sit down and listen about how she managed to come up with the story and how she has continued to expand her business through various other projects.