What is a payroll administrator's job description?

The payroll administrator is typically the first point of contact for employees in matters of time, attendance, and payroll.

A payroll administrator's job duties generally involve issuing paychecks, benefits withholding, payroll deductions and garnishments, flexible spending accounts, federal and state payroll tax deposits and returns, new hire reports, federal payroll summaries, W-2s, wage and hour law compliance and paid leave, vacation and sick time reporting.

The job description of a payroll administrator outlines the primary responsibilities of the role. This is typically focused on how the role is intended to ensure that employees are properly paid and that the organization is compliant with compensation and tax laws.

Common job duties and responsibilities included on job descriptions for the payroll administrator role include the following:

• Providing information and answering employee questions about payroll-related matters.

• Managing electronic timekeeping systems or manually collecting and reviewing timesheets.

• Calculating payable hours, commissions, bonuses, tax withholdings, and deductions.

• Preparing and issuing earnings statements.

• Issuing paychecks and managing direct deposits.

• Maintaining employee records.

• Coordinating with the HR department to ensure correct employee data.

• Providing administrative assistance to the accounting department.

The most common requirements included in job descriptions for this role include knowledge of payroll software systems, strong math skills paired with an understanding of legal requirements, and attention to detail. This role typically looks for someone who has a bachelor's degree in business or finance or equivalent work experience.