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Payroll analyst skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
David Feldman Ph.D.
Payroll analyst example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical payroll analyst skills. We ranked the top skills for payroll analysts based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.5% of payroll analyst resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a payroll analyst needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 payroll analyst skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how payroll analysts use customer service:
  • Provide customer service to associates by offering individuals information on payments, researching payroll discrepancies and providing manual payments as needed.
  • Ensured exceptional customer service experience by responding accurately and timely to leave related requests.

2. Payroll System

Here's how payroll analysts use payroll system:
  • Prepared Workers' Compensation payments for entry into Integral payroll system and prepared and entered statistical reports for bi-weekly payroll.
  • Monitored integrity of input into ADP ProBusiness Payroll System Monitored compliance with generally accepted accounting procedures (GAAP).

3. Payroll Data

Here's how payroll analysts use payroll data:
  • Maintain payroll information by collecting, calculating and entering payroll data for assigned corporate payroll.
  • Supply payroll data to Labor Relations for union grievances, investigations and disciplinary actions.

4. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how payroll analysts use human resources:
  • Maintained internal relationship with Human Resources department, including mutual process dependencies, information sharing and internal controls.
  • Worked with upper level management on the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley governmental controls for payroll and human resources.

5. Reconciliations

Here's how payroll analysts use reconciliations:
  • Performed monthly accounting functions including journal entries, general ledger account reconciliations, benefit and salary accruals, and headcount reconciliations.
  • Worked closely with management on projects including professional employer licensing, notices, accrual account reconciliations and amending previous returns.

6. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how payroll analysts use data entry:
  • Performed data entry for voluntary and mandatory payroll deductions.
  • Performed data entry of payroll information.

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7. Calculation

Here's how payroll analysts use calculation:
  • Improved department productivity by successfully transitioning the retroactive calculation process from a manual to automated process
  • Review wages computed and other paycheck calculations correcting errors to ensure accuracy of payroll.

8. HRIS

Here's how payroll analysts use hris:
  • Assist in the testing of all system tax updates, version upgrades and enhancements to the PeopleSoft HRIS System as needed.
  • Provided support for training of the HRIS system for HR staff, Management and Employees that included support of Employee Self-Service Applications

9. Kronos

Kronos is an employee time tracking software popular in the US.

Here's how payroll analysts use kronos:
  • Supported the third-party web applications like KRONOS and custom-built time entry systems to input the time data
  • Process hourly and exempt payroll for 1000+ employees through KRONOS & STAR systems.

10. Process Improvement

Here's how payroll analysts use process improvement:
  • Analyzed processing trends and develop process improvement solutions, working toward standardization across client teams and/or cost reductions.
  • Balanced data validation and clean up by recognizing, creating and implementing process improvements to increase system accuracy.

11. Multi-State Payroll

Here's how payroll analysts use multi-state payroll:
  • Process timely and accurate International/Multi-State payrolls for assigned divisions, processing up to 6,600 employees.
  • Ensured accurate and timely payroll completion for large multi-state payroll department.

12. W-2

A W-2 form is also known as the Wage and Tax Statement. An employer is required to send this document to each employee and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) yearly. A W-2 details the employee's annual wages and the taxes deducted from their paychecks. This does not include self-employed or contracted workers, who file taxes with separate forms.

Here's how payroll analysts use w-2:
  • Process payroll/ledger adjustments for relocation, executive comp and year end reporting for generating accurate W-2 statements.
  • Ensured the accuracy and timely distribution of W-2's by demonstrating a working knowledge of relevant payroll tax rules and regulations.

13. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how payroll analysts use journal entries:
  • Completed payroll related journal entries and accurately respond to general ledger postings.
  • Generated financial statements and journal entries related to payroll.

14. Payroll Operations

Here's how payroll analysts use payroll operations:
  • Supported Payroll Operations Manager in planning and executing all year-end related tasks, including preparation of year-end schedule.
  • Assured accuracy and quality control; retained meticulous records of payroll operations for large company.

15. Timekeeping

Here's how payroll analysts use timekeeping:
  • Created and managed Pay Shift differentials and established timekeeping approval processes for manufacturing personnel.
  • Analyzed terminations in GEAC Human Resource System and the TCS Timekeeping System to ensure accurate paychecks and tax deductions.
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What skills help Payroll Analysts find jobs?

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What skills stand out on payroll analyst resumes?

David Feldman Ph.D.

Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy and Political Science, Director, Water UCI, Director, MPP Program, University of California, Irvine

Succinct writing, critical thinking, strong quantitative analytical skills.

List of payroll analyst skills to add to your resume

Payroll analyst skills

The most important skills for a payroll analyst resume and required skills for a payroll analyst to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Payroll System
  • Payroll Data
  • Human Resources
  • Reconciliations
  • Data Entry
  • Calculation
  • HRIS
  • Kronos
  • Process Improvement
  • Multi-State Payroll
  • W-2
  • Journal Entries
  • Payroll Operations
  • Timekeeping
  • Process Payroll
  • Shared Services
  • Strong Analytical
  • SOX
  • Tax Filings
  • Payroll Procedures
  • Excellent Organizational
  • Payroll Transactions
  • Payroll Issues
  • Payroll Functions
  • Manual Checks
  • PeopleSoft
  • PTO
  • Reconcile Payroll
  • Strong Customer Service
  • Accruals
  • Data Integrity
  • UI
  • Review Payroll
  • Payroll Reports
  • Direct Deposits
  • ADP Workforce
  • External Auditors
  • Payroll Taxes
  • Wage Garnishments
  • General Ledger Accounts
  • Taxation
  • UltiPro
  • Payroll Accounts
  • W2
  • ACH
  • Child Support Orders
  • Tax Levies
  • Payroll Deductions

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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