Pam Hall – Senior Payroll Administrator
How long have you been working at Acorn?
I started working at Acorn eight years ago. I came into the company as a part-time, temporary maternity cover in the HR office. My role then involved doing odd jobs like references and answering queries. A permanent position became available in the payroll team, which was amazing because I love working at the company and wanted to stick around, plus I had over 20 years’ experience in a payroll environment. Thankfully, I was successful and moved across to be a Payroll Administrator in 2018. I held this position for two or three years before the Senior retired and I was promoted into their role. I’ve been here ever since and I’m still loving it.
What are the main responsibilities within your job?
I should be everybody’s favourite person, because I pay people!
In the UK, we make sure our staff get paid correctly and on time for our office staff, field staff, production staff, and our team based up in Lemac. We run four weekly payrolls, four monthly payrolls, and manage overseas payroll for some of our international hubs, including South Africa, France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
Even though the bulk of the work is the same, every day is different because you never know what is going to happen. There’s always plenty to do and it keeps me and my team very busy. There are only two of us the payroll team - myself and the lovely Patrycja. She started with Acorn in May 2025 with limited payroll experience but she has taken to the role so quickly. I have full peace of mind that she will get the job done if I am on annual leave, or on a different project. I think she is a little superstar!
What drew you to Acorn initially?
Sadly, I was made redundant from my previous role and I needed a job close to home, as my kids were still young at that time. I was interested in the part-time maternity cover as HR Administrator as it worked nicely around my homelife. Honestly, I thought it would be a stop gap until I could find something else in a specific payroll environment, so I’m thankful that a permanent payroll position became available at Acorn because it’s a great place to work and could see myself working here for a long time (turns out I have!).
After working at my last company for 21 years, I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into a brand-new company and different environment, but it’s a good company to work for and I like the people that I work with – we definitely keep each other motivated in the office!
What is the best part of your job?
Being surrounded by a great (and a bit crazy) bunch of people in my office! We manage to have a lot of giggles, eat a lot of naughty cakes, but still get all the work done. I also like that not every day is the same, and I find that when you pay everybody correctly, you get a good sense of achievement.
What have the training opportunities been like for you throughout your time at Acorn?
There are lots of training opportunities at Acorn, and I am always being asked if I want to do more which is great. Most recently, I have been on the internal team leader training course which I found very insightful even though we are only a small team. It’s given me a greater understanding of both how to manage a team but also to provide help to others if they need any advice.
Do you have a favourite memory about working at Acorn?
I really like the annual Garden Party that is held in the grounds each summer. All money raised through ticket sales and drinks on the night is donated to Manorlands which is a great charity close to my heart.
At the party, I like how all different departments come together and we have a good laugh and a boogie. We even get visitors from our international hubs. It’s nice to put a face to a name because I speak with them a lot over emails. The food and cheap drinks at the Garden Party are great too – the gin bar especially!
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My dream job would have been to work as an air stewardess, as I loved the idea of travelling the world. My favourite place to have visited has to be Switzerland as it was beautiful, I would love to go back. I’m not sure how I ended up working in payroll as it is the complete opposite but I still love what I do.
What is one thing people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?
I have been a Brownie/Guide Leader for over ten years. I like helping young girls to develop new skills that they potentially wouldn’t learn anywhere else and achieve their badges for doing it. My favourite is outdoor cooking because it’s a lot of fun and we get to eat lots of goodies along the way. Both myself and my two children have grown up being part of the Brownies/Guides community, and we all love it.
Quickfire: This Or That?
Halloween or Christmas? – Christmas. It’s my favourite time of year, and I HAVE to watch The Holiday every year otherwise I don’t feel Christmassy!
Pink or Blue? – Blue, but my favourite colour is either purple or yellow.
Warm or Cold? – Warm – I hate being cold!
Pasta or Pizza? – Pizza. My favourite topping is quite controversial, but it’s Ham and Pineapple.
By the sea or in the countryside? – By the sea. I love visiting Whitby on the East Coast, it’s beautiful.
