Meet our IT people
Sarah Lewis
Team Lead Online Services
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I started at PayPoint in 2011 in Retail Operations department and quickly progressed to a Team Leader. I was then given the opportunity to work on a new ATM product launch. Within three years I became a Tester and before I knew it I was appointed to the role of BAU Team Lead. In this role I look after the technical side of our transaction switch which we support 24/7. I look after a team of 10 and enjoy developing and supporting them in their careers.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into a role in IT?
Research as much as possible. ITIL is a good certification to have and having a basic knowledge of SQL really helps. Most of all I think if you have the right attitude, drive and determination then this is a great starting point. Customer focus is really important for many roles as we deal with a range of internal and external stakeholders every day.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
The team spirit is one of the best parts for me. When problems arise everyone in the team gets involved to solve them. My role is also varies which is great and it allows me to deal with different issues on a day to day basis, but also allows me to work alongside the various technologies we use. We have a number of projects in the pipeline to enhance the services and technologies that we use, this shows that we are always striving to improve our offering.
Adam Tarrier
Graduate Client Implementation Test Analyst
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I started working at PayPoint in September 2018 as a Graduate Client Implementation Test Analyst. I applied for a role here at PayPoint and with further discussion with the Recruitment team it was suggested that I apply for the Graduate role. My role is varied which involves testing and development for new client software before it is released. I am always looking at new techniques and procedures when working in my role which is great as it allows me to further my skill set.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into an IT role such as yours?
I recommend exploring different options where available. This will be the different types of roles and industries that may suit someone. It is a good idea to get a LinkedIn profile set up. For anyone looking to get into testing there is a course called the ISTQB which I would highly recommend.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
PayPoint provide opportunities for growth, development and training. The people I work with make the difference for me. It has a family feel in the team I work in and we really enjoy having fun at work.
Rupa Turangi
Senior Software Test Analyst
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I started at PayPoint in July 2015 as a Software Test Analyst. In 2018 I was promoted to a Senior. My role involves testing applications and correcting any errors that are found. I currently work in the MultiPay team, but I also liaise with cross functional teams to ensure our products are production ready. I am involved in several exciting projects where I support the successful delivery for our gas and electric products.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into a Software Testing role?
There are lots of courses online that can help give an introduction to Software Testing. It would be a good idea to consider automation and manual testing courses as this will certainly help in preparation for the role.
A role in software testing will require you to have strong attention to detail, be confident in self resolving issues which can arise at any time and have the determination to continue learning new technologies.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
The team support here at PayPoint is fantastic. I always feel I can approach my line manager or colleagues for help when needed. Your voice is always heard at PayPoint which gives employees the opportunity to progress and develop further.
Daniel Strange
Head of Service Management
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I am the Head of Service Management and have been at PayPoint since July 2016. I look after a variety of IT Services that PayPoint offers to its clients and consumers. These range from the terminals we provide to our clients in the shops, the mechanisms to allow top up’s for our consumers and I also look after the applications our internal teams use on a daily basis. I am accountable for all ITIL processes and the investment into on-going improvements. I also Mentor a team of Service Managers and really enjoy watching them grow within their roles.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into a Service Management role?
You don’t necessarily need an IT Background, but a good technical understanding does help. I came from an Application Support background so the technical understanding was already there for me. As long as you are passionate about customer service, enjoy dealing with internal and external stakeholders then this is a good start. It is worth doing ITIL courses as this will cover the basics of Incident and Problem management.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
For me it’s the way people work together. When challenges arise, everyone supports each other. Even though there are lots of teams it still has that family feel. I also have opportunities to present my ideas for continuous improvements which are always well received by the leadership teams. PayPoint is also passionate about staff progression. Since my time here I have been promoted twice from Service Manager to Service Team Lead and to my current role as Head of Service Management.
Amy Jackson
Head of Application Services
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I joined PayPoint in 2001 as an Administrator and progressed my career by learning different aspects of the business operation from the onboarding of new retailers, sales support, product support and the implementation of new services PayPoint has added over the years. I took a role in IT in 2006 as a Project Manager which gave me the experience of working to deadlines and managing budgets, backlogs of work, and the allocation of people. I am now a senior manager heading up 3 IT teams comprising of Business Analysts, Developers, Test Analysts and Administrators.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into an IT role?
If you have good technical and analytical skills already I recommend learning as much as you can about the business so you understand how you can support it.
If you don’t already have technical skills, then there are multiple different avenues you can take in IT. Find out what interests you and learn more about it. SQL, C# and automation are good technical skills to have, and understanding methodologies like ITIL, Agile/Scrum/Kanban can give a good background of how IT teams tend to work.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
PayPoint drives innovation to stand out in their market and to improve the lives of customers, clients and retailers, and so there is always something new and challenging on the horizon in IT.
Throughout my career here, I have had opportunities to grow and learn new skills, and I’m definitely not alone in this.
Andrzej Czarkowski
Senior Developer
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I started working at PayPoint in July 2018 as a Senior Software Developer. When I started everyone in the business was accommodating and welcoming which really helped me to settle in quickly. I currently work in our MultiPay team which is involved in developing our omni channel payments platform. Some of my day to day duties involve attending our daily scrum meetings, writing unit tests and coding. I also attend meetings with key stakeholders in the business to discuss our design architecture.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into an IT role such as yours?
If you have a real passion for everything computer based start learning. I began writing programs from the very basic type, which become more advanced the further I developed my career. There are many tools and tutorials on the web with many providing help in using programming languages such as C# which is a great starter. If you are creative and have good attention to detail, it makes a great career.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
The teams are all very friendly. Everyone is very approachable. Much of the development is in an agile environment which is a great way to work for the development teams. Communication goes through the right channels with this helping me do my job effectively. The role does have its challenges like all developer roles, but what is great is that my voice is always being heard at PayPoint and my suggestions are progressed.
Aneta Mihajlovska
Senior Developer
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I have been working at PayPoint since 2011 and presently work as a Senior Developer/ Development Lead. I started my career in PayPoint as an Application Services Developer in the Application Services team, and quickly progressed to a Senior in this team. I was then given the opportunity to move to the Development team as a Software Developer and soon after was promoted to a Senior Developer role.
In my current role, I have been given opportunities to manage both internal and external development resource; design and subsequently, code software solutions, including writing unit and, where applicable, integration tests; as well as regularly attend meetings with key stakeholders.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into a software development role?
They would need to be passionate about coding. And really, it is not just about having a passion for coding, but also a passion for IT in general. Someone interested in IT software development would need to be prepared to adapt to the ever-changing world of computing, thus constantly learning and exploring alternative ways to deliver better, quicker, more reliable piece of software. When I first started in software development and had very little coding experience, I remember Google being my best friend - there were so many code snippets and “How to” code examples to learn from. Even now, well into my software development career, Google is still my best friend. ☺ At PayPoint, we code predominantly in C#, but we also have a small team of Java, Android and Apple developers.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
For me it would have to be the people. Everybody is very approachable and friendly and I have always felt as if I am part of one big PayPoint family.
Makhan Aujla
Team Lead Application Support
How long have you been working at PayPoint and what role do you do?
I have been working at PayPoint since 2011 and currently work as a Team Lead for Application Support. In my time with PayPoint, I have progressed into various roles which has allowed me to develop and grow in the business and as a person. I originally started my career as a junior developer for a very well known brand and before I knew it I was offered an opportunity to start a role here as a technical operational analyst. I then moved into a senior role within that team and then into Application Support as a Senior member of staff and now Team Lead. I currently look after a team of analysts, support various apps used within the business along with supporting our terminal estate.
What advice would you give someone who is keen to get into an IT role such as yours?
I recommend researching into the different areas as IT is very broad. Once you know what you would enjoy it would be good to looks at courses online as there is a great variety. You can also look into part time study if you are working. IT is always evolving so make sure you keep an interest in what is going on.
What are the best bits about working at PayPoint?
The people. They make a big difference. There is a family feel and everyone works together. We all try to contribute towards a positive environment. Challenges can come up throughout the day but with a great team and camaraderie we enjoy problem solving and providing a great service to our customers as a team.