How Do I Become A Payroll Clerk? With Pictures

A graduate of the University of Connecticut and Emerson College with degrees in English and publishing, she is passionate about books, baseball, and pop culture , and lives in Brooklyn with her dog. The cost of the certification exam will be reimbursed to the student once proof of payment for the exam is reviewed by Penn Foster.

AdvancementFinancial clerks can advance to related occupations in finance. EducationFinancial clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers of brokerage clerks may prefer candidates who have taken some college courses in business or economics and, in some cases, require a 2- or 4-year college degree. Not everyone has what it takes to be a successful pay clerk, meaning applicants need the right set of skills and an aptitude for the job. Attention to detail is essential along with exceptional typing ability. Payroll clerks should have a firm understanding of math and computers as well as be strong communicators who relay important paycheck information to other employees.

One to two years of full-time work experience is typically preferred. Most payroll clerks are able to learn on the job, as the majority hold what are considered to be entry-level positions. Job qualifications listed in payroll clerk job descriptions typically include a high school diploma or the GED equivalent. High school courses in accounting and bookkeeping are also helpful in landing good jobs. Payroll clerks may also advance their careers and industry knowledge by becoming certified payroll clerks. Certification is available through the American Payroll Association , an industry-wide professional association specializing in the education of payroll clerks, administrators and managers (). Payroll clerks can take written proficiency examinations leading to official designation as a Certified Payroll Professional or a Fundamental Payroll Certification .

All Levels:

In addition to these duties, payroll clerks may keep records of benefit deductions, sick leave and vacation pay, 401 contributions, and other nontaxable wages. However, this figure can fluctuate depending on the size of the company, number of hours worked and location. Some clerks are hired as temporary employees during the busy season or work for smaller firms. As a payroll clerk gains experience in the industry they can expect an increase in pay. This is especially the case for workers that have five or more years invested in managing payrolls. In order to become a certified payroll clerk, you must an exam administered by the American Payroll Association.

• Financial clerks should have good communication skills so that they can explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers.
• The primary prerequisite for this position is a positive attitude and a sound work ethic.
• Further, jobs for the related occupation of billing and posting clerk are projected to grow 3 percent between 2020 and 2030, which offers another option for employment.
• Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Bookkeepers Association Payroll Certification Exam, which can help your resume stand out when you’re applying for jobs.
• These financial professionals are responsible for maintaining and processing large amounts of financial data and payment information for companies.
• Most employers will also expect you to be detail oriented and capable of following instructions.

Apart from being motivated, professional and organized, the ideal candidate should be able to either work closely as a team member or alone. A few other areas of expertise may include strong customer service talent and the capability to meet close deadlines. If you’re a stickler for details and get a warm glow of satisfaction from the idea of people getting their paychecks on time, then you might want to consider becoming a payroll clerk. These financial professionals are responsible for maintaining and processing large amounts of financial data and payment information for companies. With flexible, online courses, you’ll learn how to become a payroll clerk and build essential industry skills on your schedule, from home. As they gain experience and skill, they will be assigned more difficult tasks.

Salary Rankings And Facts

Anyone interested in finance who doesn’t necessarily want to invest in a college degree could get a job as a payroll clerk. Also called timekeeping clerks, payroll clerks are responsible for compiling employee data to ensure paychecks are filed accurately. Payroll clerks may hold an entry-level administrative role, but their work is essential to keep employees happily paid on time.

Administer and perform all payroll and benefit functions of the seminary. Reviewed auditors’ financial statements to internal versions for updates – for twelve of firm’s entities. Support Management in word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, scheduling meetings and travel arrangements. Created and maintained files for purchase orders, invoices, and reimbursements to employees. Prepared financial statements and corporate expenses to be electronically transferred to Chase Manhattan Bank.

Determined content and assembles data in order to prepare monthly financial statements. Created many spreadsheet workbooks to track PTO, expenses, required state mandated trainings and quarterly and fiscal year end reports.

Payroll Clerk Jobs You Might Like

Payroll clerks make sure paychecks are delivered via mail or placed in employees’ work stations. They often set up direct deposits of paychecks into employees’ bank accounts. OnlineDegree.com is not a college or university and we don’t offer degrees.

• EducationFinancial clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation.
• Financial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations.
• By passing American Payroll Association exams, you can earn Fundamental Payroll Certification or become a Certified Payroll Professional.
• They keep accurate records ensuring that all employees receive the correct paychecks.
• We have tried to provide relevant, up to date information about colleges, careers and degree programs.
• While not available everywhere, some high schools offer vocational programs that help you build skills necessary for working in accounting-related positions.
• Job qualifications listed in payroll clerk job descriptions typically include a high school diploma or the GED equivalent.

In these organizations some payroll clerks may be known as bonus clerks and commission clerks. An excellent payroll clerk has great understanding of the concept of confidentiality. You will be experienced in entering data with attention to detail and will have good maths skills to make the necessary calculations. The ideal candidate will be a thorough professional with good communication abilities. Depending on where you are located, you might have an opportunity to seek certification as a payroll professional. In most cases, you won’t be able to seek this type of certification before you become a payroll clerk, as certification agencies often require at least a couple of years of experience. Once you have gained the required level of experience, however, certification may increase your chances of earning higher pay or qualifying for a promotion.

Having experience with today’s web-based payroll systems is crucial to get a job as a payroll clerk. Employers in the competitive job market look for payroll clerks with experience entering, filing, and reviewing employee information in record-keeping databases. Having great math, analytical, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills is essential. New payroll clerks may work as bookkeepers or accounting clerks before being promoted. Others will only need formal on-the-job training to advance into payroll clerk jobs.

Online Payroll Course Curriculum

Incumbents develop and provide training and technical assistance to internal and department/campus staff. While the CPP exam covers the same topics as the FPC exam, the questions are more detailed and thorough.

Coordinate with interview team to complete interview process with highest quality of customer service, and to complete applicant evaluations. Create and maintain file organization system for all requisitions, job descriptions, and candidate resumes and applications. Processed payroll each week for more than 500 employees across multiple locations.

Depending on the level of automation involved in a company’s payroll setup, a payroll clerk’s duties may include other clerical duties, such as calculating employee hours. Bureau of Labor Statistics , payroll clerks may only need the equivalent of a high school diploma to find employment, since most of their training occurs while on-the-job. Certification can be earned in this profession by passing exams through the American Payroll Association. Individuals who enjoy making data comparisons, checking figures, and running financial reports may be drawn to this career path. Our online Payroll Clerk Career Diploma can help students prepare to qualify for entry-level payroll clerk jobs in a variety of industries. Most payroll clerks will work in the accounting department of a company, though some may find jobs in human resources departments. After graduating from the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Bookkeepers Association Payroll Certification Exam to become a certified payroll clerk.

Payroll Clerk Education Requirements

Work-related experience improve their chances for promotion or entry-level employment. Processing paperwork for new employees and entering employee information into the payroll system. How to track employee time and differentiate between types of employee compensation. Explore a pathway towards a career that interests you while earning how to become a payroll clerk your high school diploma online. Provided training on many different administrative functions and created useful administrative reference tools and job aids for supervisory and administrative staff. Serve as primary regional contact for DAPPS, which is a web-based PeopleSoft program for payroll matters and personnel issues.

This profession, which is facing a decline in job opportunities between 2019 and 2029, is for people with strong organization, mathematics and financial skills. As long as companies have a paid staff of employees, they will need someone to make sure they are compensated in an accurate… Online payroll courses cover essential topics like how to report financial transactions, update statements, check financial records for accuracy, and more. Use free UK payroll software to perform essential payroll management… Assist facility personnel and accounting staff in research and resolution of payroll transactions. Budget preparation, general administration for the efficient operation of the human resources function in coordination with corporate departments. Imported/edited data files for Kronos (Time & Attendance) and ADP systems to process payroll.

Aspiring payroll clerks should heavily focus their high school curriculum in mathematics, computer science, and business. Applicants with only a diploma must complete on-the-job training with a more experienced payroll clerk.

You do not want to be the reason why people fail to get the wages they are entitled to; this much is easy to see. You have at least two options for career advancement, especially if you earned a certificate. For a more diverse set of duties and responsibilities, you could consider transitioning to a position as an administrative assistant. If you enjoy working with numbers, you could consider earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and becoming an accountant. Colleges and universities might allow you to transfer some or all of the credits you earned in a certificate program to an accredited bachelor’s degree program. Payroll clerks are hired by companies to ensure that employees are compensated for their work accurately and efficiently. In addition to keeping accurate records of current employees’ job activities and pay, you may also have to add all relevant data for new employees and remove data for former employees.

These professionals help ensure that employees are being paid correctly. Learn about the degree programs, job duties and requirements to see if… Common duties performed include payroll tax reporting, payroll accounting systems maintenance, and posting payroll transactions to journals/ledgers. Many employers recognize the need for well-trained, detail-oriented payroll clerks to help their businesses be successful. The largest employers of payroll clerks include those in the professional services, retail and wholesale trade, and finance and insurance industries.

Payroll clerks collect and organize time sheets and enter information related to employees and pay periods into a computer. They double-check aspects of payroll related to hourly wages and yearly salaries as well as overtime, vacation and sick days. On a regular basis, a payroll clerk’s responsibilities include screening timecards efficiently for any calculation or coding errors. There is a rising trend of using computer applications to perform these calculations and flagging errors in the data when there are inconsistencies. In offices that do not have automated timekeeping systems, working as a payroll clerk serves a vital function in terms of managing employee compensation and keeping workers happy.

Even though some employee hours are collected automatically, payroll clerks must check the data for discrepancies and correct paychecks as necessary. Payroll clerks also have to keep current on tax and labor laws to ensure their company is correctly computing payroll data. Payroll clerks are employed by just about every kind of company (large or small, corporate or nonprofit, etc.) that has employees. Typically, you won’t need a college degree or extensive training to become a payroll clerk. If you will not seek education after high school, you may have an opportunity to prepare for this job before you graduate. While not available everywhere, some high schools offer vocational programs that help you build skills necessary for working in accounting-related positions. Completing such a program may make you a more attractive job candidate.

The BLS estimated a higher pay rate, reporting that payroll clerks earned a median salary of ​$47,020​ per year in May 2020. Some employers prefer prior work experience in general office and clerical duties, but rarely is that a requirement. Other than a diploma, payroll clerks typically need only a sound work ethic and a positive approach to the job. Payroll clerks work in practically every industry and perform a wide range of duties. On top of managing time cards, they might answer phones, scan documents, greet visitors or handle light bookkeeping responsibilities. When it comes to payroll, they might help ensure that the proper amount of tax is withheld from checks and answer payment questions from employees.

Performed fixed asset accounting, prepared financial statements, completed account reconciliations and maintained department budgets. Prepared, paid and distributed all quarterly and yearly payroll taxes.

They can work for private corporations, school districts, accounting firms, government agencies, employment services, manufacturing companies, healthcare providers, banks, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that payroll clerks earn an average yearly salary of $40,910, or $19.67 per hour. Below is a suggested step-to-step guide for successfully becoming a payroll clerk. Almost all payroll clerks are required to possess a high school diploma or, at the very least, the GED equivalent. Some colleges for instance, offer certificates in payroll practice and administration. Courses may cover topics like time reporting, employee benefits database management, payroll accounting, and income taxation.