Payroll managers keep records of employee salaries, benefits, and taxes. Most employers prefer professionals with college degrees and HR experience. Aspiring payroll managers can start preparing in high school and work towards a four-year degree in HR, accounting, or business administration. Experience gained in assistant positions can lead to promotions to management tasks. Certification from professional organizations can improve job opportunities. With experience and credentials, payroll managers can advance to become HR supervisors or executives.
Payroll managers are human resources (HR) specialists who keep careful records about employee salaries, benefits, and taxes. Managers work in a variety of settings, but most are employed by large corporations, retail stores, hospitals, and schools. Requirements to become a payroll manager can vary by setting and employer, but most companies prefer to hire professionals with college degrees and several years of HR experience. Additionally, seeking voluntary certification from a respected national agency can broaden a person’s opportunities to become a payroll manager.
An individual who wants to become a payroll manager can start preparing for the career as early as high school. Majors in math, economics, communications, and computer science can provide foundational skills that can pay off immensely in a future payroll career. A student may be able to obtain an entry-level position in a company as an HR or timekeeping clerk to gain hands-on experience in a business environment. Closer to graduation, he or she might start looking at community colleges and universities with strong business programs.
An associate degree is sufficient for some payroll management jobs, but a person can significantly improve their skills and credentials by working toward a four-year degree. A student who wants to become a payroll manager can choose to major in HR, accounting, business administration or a related subject. Advanced courses in mathematics and business management provide a thorough understanding of common terminology, payroll techniques, and tax law. After graduating, a graduate can search for vacancies by browsing job search websites and utilizing career placement services at their school.
An individual can become a payroll manager immediately upon graduation, but most workers start their careers in assistant positions. As an employee or assistant, a new professional learns firsthand how to use electronic filing systems, adjust benefits packages and prepare taxes. The experience gained allows the worker to hone professional skills and build strong relationships with employees and bosses. With several years of experience, successful assistants are often rewarded with promotions to management tasks.
Many professional organizations offer certification to new or aspiring managers to improve their chances of finding higher-paying jobs. In the United States, the American Payroll Association offers certified professional payroll credentials to workers who have at least three years of experience and who pass written exams. Many other countries have similar organizations to help managers progress in their careers. With the proper credentials and many years of experience, a payroll manager may eventually have the chance to become a leading HR supervisor or even an executive within their company.
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