Payroll clerk jobs require computer skills, business acumen, and confidentiality. Entry-level jobs include clerk or payroll assistant, while more complex jobs require a bachelor’s degree in accounting and experience. Payroll employees can specialize in data entry or specific areas of payroll. As companies grow, there are opportunities for growth and advancement within the field.
There are many categories of payroll clerk jobs available, all requiring computer skills, business acumen and a strict adherence to confidentiality. An individual looking to enter the accounting field finds an entry-level job as a clerk or payroll assistant and works their way up to a management or supervisory position. Others, who may have an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, might find a position as a payroll administrator, manager, or senior physician.
A payroll clerk assistant is one of the entry-level payroll clerk jobs for people interested in calculating and keeping records of data corresponding to compensation, company earnings, taxes, and expenses. At this level, a payroll clerk can calculate employee hours and wages, withholding taxes, social security payments, and issuing paychecks. In a company that maintains employee records and schedules through computer systems, the payroll clerk may be responsible for verifying the accuracy of data, including vacation and sick leave, before processing payments. This position usually only requires a high school diploma, as many employers offer on-the-job training, but excellent math skills are required. An ideal candidate will have some type of office experience.
An accountant or payroll analyst is a more complex job than the entry-level payroll clerk. This job requires the employee to conduct consultations, advise the payroll department on complex transactions, conduct internal audits, and organize and present material to external auditors. A candidate for this type of job will usually have a bachelor’s degree in accounting and at least two years of experience in this field. Employers looking to fill this type of payroll clerk job often prefer a Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
On the information technology side, larger departments may have payroll employees who focus on data entry. These individuals are often referred to as data processors or input operators. Generally, payroll knowledge is not required for these payroll clerk jobs, but some data entry experience is required.
In an organization with more than three employees in the accounting department, payroll jobs can be assigned as different levels of accounting professionals or payroll employees. Entry-level professionals generally follow standard procedures for maintaining and issuing payroll and records, while a senior professional typically handles more complex tasks and trains intermediate and entry-level accounting officers in the department. Often, payroll clerk jobs at a very large company are classified by specialty. For example, some employees only handle specific areas of payroll, such as annual bonus programs or sales commissions.
As companies grow and expand, payroll employees must maintain records associated with departments, benefits, and larger hires. Although the routine parts of this type of work are repetitive, as a payroll employee works and expands his skills and practices, he often finds many opportunities to grow with a company. Someone dedicated to this field can get a payroll management position.
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