Insider profil

Picture of Ken W

Ken W.

Payroll Team Manager

Ask me a question
Corporate and Support Functions

Keen to receive questions about

Everyday LifeGeneralRoleWhy usWork & Life with Us

Top Advice

British Airways is a great employer to work for. The range and variety of roles available is huge and the options to get involved in many of them is available. Everybody has the same goal to ensure that our customers have a great experience and whether you are part of the front facing Cabin Crew or Check In Agents, or Engineers ensuring the aircraft is safe and reliable or Ramp and Turn Round Agents making sure flights depart on time, it is all part of what makes it run so smoothly. Even back office roles, such as Payroll, play an important part of this whole process.

Read more advice

Career path

Payroll Team Manager

British Airways

Started 05/2012 to Present

Payroll & Pensions Manager

British Airways

From 09/1978 to 05/2012

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

Due to the numbers of colleagues on our payroll (over 35,000 in total across all payrolls) and the variety and complexity of the different roles that they do, we obviously have to have strict deadlines and processes in order to manage the different tasks that we have to undertake every week or month. However, we also have the freedom and flexibility to override these processes when the need arises in order to accommodate any changes of circumstance or individual requests that may crop up. It is this flexibility that allows us to help individual colleagues when they require one-to-one assistance with a specific issue and allows us to give as personal a service as possible.

Greatest achievements

Professionally, in my previously role in Local Government, I managed to obtain to nationally recognised Payroll Award for our organisation. One of the first London Boroughs to achieve it. At British Airways, I am very proud of my team who work extremely hard and are able to cope with everything that comes our way. Personally, I have done a solo parachute jump from 2,000 feet and abseiled off the top of Twickenham Rugby Stadium, both for charity. I have zip-wired across a slate mine in North Wales, very high and very fast. I have also been on Safari in Kenya back in the 1980s, when the wildlife was still wild!

Other colleagues

Alice C

Fare Product Specialist

Top Advice

Let your personality shine - This is what will stand out to a potential employer. Other applicants may have just as much experience as you, but what they don’t have is your unique personality, so really bring that into your interview process. Do not let the job description scare you - it is ok to not tick all the boxes. Job descriptions are full of jargon and can be confusing to an outsider, do not let this put you off, if it is a role you think you are a match for, you are probably more than capable to perform in the role, and companies are likely to offer training to get you up to speed on the aspects you don’t yet have experience in. Don’t just be interviewed, do the interviewing – The potential employer want to ensure they are finding the right candidate, but you also need to be sure you are finding the right employer, don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge the working environment. You spend most of your life at work, you need to be sure you are finding an environment that aligns with you personally. Be honest with yourself and the interviewer. A mantra of mine is to do a job you love. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

Abi P

Top Advice

Anything is possible within a large company like British Airways. Once you are within a large set up the opportunities are endless and you can work across many departments, gaining experience as you go.

Dan H

Top Advice

I always say to my students at school ‘never be afraid to fail’. It’s only through failure that we learn how to succeed. Not everyone who applies to BA is successful the first time around. That’s OK. Just don’t give up and make sure you learn what you need to do differently next time. BA Cabin Crew come from all walks of life and all ages. If it’s something you’re really interested in then go for it, even if you think it’s way out your comfort zone or unlike anything you’ve done previously. Remember: to most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love aviation, the sky is home.

Discussions with Ken W
What is the dress code at Waterside?
in Career Tips·Monday, September 23, 2024
Picture of Benedict
Picture of Alice
4 responses
53 views
What is the work-life balance like in your role?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Picture of Benedict
Picture of Alice
3 responses
82 views
Hi, Please can you share your interview advice and how your onboarding exp is?
in Career Tips·Friday, April 19, 2024
1 response
36 views
Is a tattoo acceptable for a head office position?
in Career Tips·Monday, June 3, 2024
Picture of Alice
Picture of Simon
4 responses
57 views