How to Begin a Career in Payroll
A career in payroll requires a variety of skills such as excellent organisation and the ability to work with large sums of money. The primary role of a payroll administrator is to be in charge of ensuring that staff within the organisation are paid correctly and on time. There is a variety of payroll jobs and, with some experience, plenty of opportunity to advance into managerial positions.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Work in Payroll
Most entry-level payroll positions will require you to have obtained at least a robust set of qualifications from high school. Recruiters value you to have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as human resources or accountancy as both of these degrees prepare aspiring payroll professionals to work in the field.
To improve your career options within payroll and advance into a managerial position such as that of a payroll manager, it is beneficial to complete a qualification offered by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
As a Beginner, Where Should I Start in Payroll?
When wanting to pursue a career in payroll, it is advisable to ensure that you have thoroughly investigated the particular role that you would like to work in to ensure that you have the necessary credentials and experience. Most payroll positions will require you to have a robust set of qualifications, the skill set needed for the role, expertise in the field and industry knowledge.
Once you are in the field, having both payroll training and payroll experience will allow you to advance into a specialist position. You will need to have up to five years of experience in payroll before progressing into management.
Skill Set Required for a Career in Payroll
The following skill-set is required to have a successful career in payroll:
Excellent problem-solving abilities
Competent using software such as Excel and Microsoft
Confident handling large sums of money
High standard of numeracy skills
The ability to work to tight deadlines
Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills
The ability to lead a payroll team
What Does a Payroll Administrator Do?
The job description will vary based on the different jobs available within payroll. However, all positions will require you to work to strict deadlines and maintain an excellent level of accuracy.
Typical Duties for a Payroll Administrator
The typical duties for a payroll administrator are as follows:
Popular Career Pathways in Payroll
Having a career in payroll brings with it many opportunities to advance in the industry once you have acquired a degree of experience working in an entry-level position. Working in payroll management as a payroll manager or as a payroll specialist is just a few of the managerial payroll specialist positions.
As well as advancing in payroll you can also work in related industries such as accounting and become a management accountant as you have acquired the necessary numerical and transferable skills.
