As National Payroll Appreciation Week continues on, we wanted to outline the trajectory and career path it takes to succeed in Payroll Management. Many begin as a Payroll Clerk and work their way up to Payroll Manager or Supervisor. But what are the necessary skills and experience needed to grow in this field? We’ve listed what employers are truly looking for when hiring Payroll professionals.
Bachelor’s Degree or certificate
A Bachelor’s Degree is generally required when applying for Payroll positions. Many choose to major in accounting, human resources, administration, or a related field. These programs will garner experience in basic payroll duties, sales, taxes, and even QuickBooks. It is also an opportunity to learn professional and leadership skills, such as verbal and written communication, time management, and deadlines awareness.
Payroll systems and experience
All roles within the payroll realm require some level of experience using specific technologies. There are many payroll platforms, but a few consider are Workday, ADP Workforce, Paychex, Gusto, and QuickBooks. These systems allow you to adapt to streamlining paychecks, customizing portals, managing time and attendance, running payroll reports, assessing important tax deductions, and tracking time-off for employees.
Compliance knowledge
An important aspect of working in payroll is keeping up to date with applicable changes to taxes, medical benefits, and various laws pertaining to payroll. This also requires a strong ability to maintain confidentiality and adherence to new and existing legislation changes.
Additional hard and soft skills
As with any career, payroll management requires many hard and soft skills. Most importantly, it demands a need for collaboration, the ability to meet strict deadlines, and an understanding of how your company operates. Additionally, payroll specialists need to be able to communicate with employees and vendors in productive manner, while also maintaining a excellent sense of time management.
Many of the Accounting & Finance recruiters at Green Key recruit for payroll positions. Interested in starting or advancing your payroll career? Connect with our recruiters on LinkedIn today!
