What does an administrative assistant/payroll assistant do?
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real administrative assistant/payroll assistant resumes:
- Manage accounts receivable using QuickBooks for several companies.
- Work daily on the KRONOS and ADP timekeeping/payroll management systems.
- Process payroll for employees using KRONOS timekeeping software.
- Facilitate an online HRIS for information, paperwork, correspondences, and events.
- Enter new associate information into HRIS system and keep it update with any changes.
- Used QuickBooks preparing the payroll, inputting bills, and tracking equipment costs for each job
- Assist in the delivery of accurate, efficient weekly and monthly payroll services for LanceSoft to ADP.
- Assume ownership for inquiries make by the client until such time the issue is dispatched to other ADP service entity.
- Designate payroll super user to audit California termination paychecks, reconcile vacation and personal absence accruals.
- Play key role on implementation team converting from JD Edwards E1 to UltiPro.
- Assist in documentation of procedures during conversion from RealWorld to Ultipro payroll software.
- Prepare and distribute replacement checks and issue checks for ACH deposit returns.
- Initiate direct deposit ACH reversals with bank for employees that are overpaid/terminated within a given pay period.
- Order supplies using FAMIS system.
- Analyze and prepare interrogatories and entry of garnishments.
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Administrative Assistants/Payroll Assistants are proficient in Data Entry, Kronos, and Office Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Writing skills, Organizational skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Administrative Assistants/Payroll Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 16%
Processed and audited payroll in a day labor environment, data entry and clerical responsibilities
- Kronos, 5%
Present KRONOS and Paycheck information to new associates at weekly orientation.
- Office Equipment, 4%
Maintained all service contracts on the office equipment and coordinated timely schedules to provide monthly/yearly maintenance.
- Human Resources, 4%
Work directly with human resources, temporary placement managers and recruiting officers as temporary employees become hired.
- ADP, 4%
Maintained and processed bi-weekly payroll utilizing ADP Windows operating system.
- Payroll System, 3%
Key participant on team responsible for company transition from manual to computerized payroll system.
"data entry," "kronos," and "office equipment" are among the most common skills that administrative assistants/payroll assistants use at work. You can find even more administrative assistant/payroll assistant responsibilities below, including:
Writing skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an administrative assistant/payroll assistant to have is writing skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." Administrative assistants/payroll assistants often use writing skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "attended payroll and report writing classes facilitated by adp. "
Organizational skills. Many administrative assistant/payroll assistant duties rely on organizational skills. "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently.," so an administrative assistant/payroll assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways administrative assistant/payroll assistant responsibilities rely on organizational skills: "conduct audits on the hris systems (pto, job titles, icpp, organizational levels, etc. )"
The three companies that hire the most administrative assistant/payroll assistants are:
- AppleOne Employment Services1 administrative assistants/payroll assistants jobs
- Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital Inc1 administrative assistants/payroll assistants jobs
- Irex1 administrative assistants/payroll assistants jobs
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Administrative assistant/payroll assistant vs. Administrative staff
As the administrative staff, they primarily provide administrative and secretarial support for the department. Typically, they do report-writing, filing and scheduling, and payroll. They plan department weekly meetings, schedule conference calls, and work on solving administrative related concerns and issues. They do a complex task that involves multi-tasking from the preparation of department reports, analyzing data, and finding solutions. It is a requirement to be an experienced, collaborator, and trained cross-functional communicator. Moreover, other duties will include scheduling company-initiated activities, meetings, and events.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an administrative assistant/payroll assistant are more likely to require skills like "data entry," "kronos," "payroll system," and "process payroll." On the other hand, a job as an administrative staff requires skills like "payroll," "personnel actions," "front desk," and "resource management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Administrative staff earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $73,642. On the other hand, administrative assistants/payroll assistants are paid more in the construction industry with an average salary of $46,872.The education levels that administrative staff earn slightly differ from administrative assistants/payroll assistants. In particular, administrative staff are 6.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an administrative assistant/payroll assistant. Additionally, they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative assistant/payroll assistant vs. Clerk's assistant/administrative assistant
A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant is responsible for supporting the company's operations and customers' needs by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Clerk's assistants/administrative assistants respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, acknowledging and processing orders, and posting their payments. They also sort company documents, manage office supply inventory, submit business transaction reports, schedule appointments, and operate office equipment. A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant must be very organized. They must also have excellent time-management and multitasking skills to perform office duties with high accuracy and efficiency under minimal supervision.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, administrative assistant/payroll assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "human resources," "payroll system," "hris," and "payroll checks." Meanwhile, a clerk's assistant/administrative assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "purchase orders," "front desk," and "provides administrative support." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Clerks's assistant/administrative assistant may earn a lower salary than administrative assistants/payroll assistants, but clerks's assistant/administrative assistant earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $37,752. On the other hand, administrative assistants/payroll assistants receive higher pay in the construction industry, where they earn an average salary of $46,872.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clerks's assistant/administrative assistant tend to reach similar levels of education than administrative assistants/payroll assistants. In fact, they're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative assistant/payroll assistant vs. Accounts payable/administrative assistant
An accounts payable/administrative assistant works alongside the department head. This position focuses on the administrative side of a budgeting department. They are responsible for organizing a company's financial records, which include all documentation of financial transactions, such as invoices and receipts. They also manage all paperwork needed by their department.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from administrative assistant/payroll assistant resumes include skills like "kronos," "human resources," "payroll system," and "process payroll," whereas an accounts payable/administrative assistant is more likely to list skills in "purchase orders," "vendor invoices," "customer service," and "credit card. "
Accounts payable/administrative assistants earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $45,929. Administrative assistants/payroll assistants earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $46,872.accounts payable/administrative assistants typically earn similar educational levels compared to administrative assistants/payroll assistants. Specifically, they're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative assistant/payroll assistant vs. Customer service administrative assistant
A customer service administrative assistant is responsible for responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, alongside performing administrative tasks as required. Customer service administrative assistants must escalate high-level complaints to the appropriate department, organize client meetings, process business letters, assist with developing promotional offers and marketing materials, and research potential clients. They also manage inventories and request stock supplies, create expense reports, and update customer records in the database. A customer service administrative assistant must have excellent customer service skills, as well as the ability to multitask and work under pressure and strict deadlines.
Types of administrative assistant/payroll assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











