Get to know our Edinburgh based UK Service Delivery Manager, Debbie Barker

What is your name?

Debbie Barker

What is your role title?

UK Service Delivery Manager

What do you do in your role?

I manage and support our Edinburgh-based UK Payroll Team.

What key skills do you bring to activpayroll?

I am extremely passionate about my role within activpayroll. My main priority is ensuring that customers receive an excellent and personable service. I want customers to feel that they can approach us with any request.

What gives you the most satisfaction about your job?

First and foremost I want my team to be happy and comfortable within their working environment, if they are happy then everything else falls into place. I also take great satisfaction in helping our customers when they feel like they have been faced with an impossible task.

How did you get into the payroll industry and why?

I left school at 16 and started working as an Office Junior. A role came up within the payroll department and my manager asked if I was interested – and that’s how I got into payroll.

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

As the Edinburgh office has only been open for the past two and a half years, it was quite challenging for the first 18 months. There was a whole new team, unfamiliar systems and new customers. We overcame most of the challenges that came our way, ultimately making our team stronger and determined to be a success – which I feel we have managed!

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

I think my greatest achievement is to have a good work - life balance. I love spending time with my family and of course my dogs! My two boys think I love my dogs more than them – which at times is true!

What company value means the most to you and why?

Passionate – I think you have to be passionate about your job because if you are not, then you won’t give 100%!

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

I have 3 dogs which take up a good part of my time and I also swim every morning before work.

Who is your professional role model and why?

There are several different managers within activpayroll that I admire, I try to learn as much as I can to make myself a better manager.

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

I would like to have dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson, I would love to know how he motivated his players to achieve success year after year.

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