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Payroll bookkeeper skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Zev Fried Ph.D.,
Dr. Nicholas Robinson
Payroll bookkeeper example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical payroll bookkeeper skills. We ranked the top skills for payroll bookkeepers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.9% of payroll bookkeeper resumes contained reconciliations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a payroll bookkeeper needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 payroll bookkeeper skills for your resume and career

1. Reconciliations

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use reconciliations:
  • Prepared monthly and quarterly tax deposits & audited monthly bank reconciliations.
  • General Ledger account reconciliations and monthly journal entries.

2. General Ledger

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use general ledger:
  • Processed and sorted payroll for distribution and balanced general ledger.
  • Reconciled various general ledger accounts for trial balance preparation.

3. 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 bookkeepers use journal entries:
  • Process month end close including reconciliation of accounts and appropriate journal entries, bank reconciliation, adjusting and accrual journal entries.
  • Maintain accrual benefits and 401(k) worksheet; bank reconciliation and accounting reports; and prepare journal entries worksheets.

4. Tax Returns

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use tax returns:
  • Prepared monthly payroll, estimated taxes, prepared quarterly federal and state tax returns, accounts payable using Quick Books.
  • Processed and sent payment for Worker's Compensation, 941 quarterly taxes, and quarterly unemployment tax returns.

5. Bank Reconciliations

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use bank reconciliations:
  • Prepared daily deposit, monthly bank reconciliation, monthly cash balance board report, and cash flow management.
  • Bank reconciliation for three corporations and maintained daily cash balance.

6. Payroll Processing

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use payroll processing:
  • Reported out completion of payroll processing to originators.
  • File payroll documents after every payroll processing.

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7. ADP

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) is a US provider of human resource management software and services. A personnel management system with which daily human resources processes are manageable and easily accessible. It fusion human resources as a discipline and its basic HR activities, and processes with the mastery of information technologies.

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use adp:
  • Submitted payroll each week through ADP website and reconciled on company's excel spreadsheet once checks were received.
  • Used Excel and ADP to process payroll balances, deductions, and unused deductions reports.

8. Accounts Payables

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use accounts payables:
  • Process Bi Weekly Payroll for direct deposit, Accounts Receivables, and Accounts Payables.
  • Remitted checks weekly against aged accounts payables for all due invoices on vendor accounts.

9. Sales Tax

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use sales tax:
  • Recorded daily sales receipt/deposits, performed bi-weekly payroll and filing state/federal sales tax.
  • Designed and administered a system to retrieve over $20,000 unconstitutional sales tax charged by the state in 1992- 1993.

10. Payroll System

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use payroll system:
  • Receive operational data for verification correction and/or entry into the payroll system Monitor transmission of data from the offices.
  • Monitored effectiveness of payroll systems and processes.

11. Computer System

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use computer system:
  • Record approved invoices into the computer system and post to proper accounting period.
  • Reconciled individual time cards, payroll records with computer system.

12. Accounts Receivables

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use accounts receivables:
  • Drafted and finalized invoicing on Peach Tree and Time Slips on a monthly basis for accounts receivables.
  • Work in accounts receivables, account payables and Payroll Department Maintain government garnishment documentation for employees.

13. Credit Card Accounts

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use credit card accounts:
  • Reconciled all bank and credit card accounts from 2015 to 2016.
  • Maintain monthly audits of credit card accounts.

14. Financial Reports

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use financial reports:
  • Apply principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to help owner to understand the company daily operation.
  • Analyzed accounting records, financial statements, and other financial reports for internal and external users.

15. Payroll Data

Here's how payroll bookkeepers use payroll data:
  • Transferred confirmed electronic payroll data to Accounts Payable department for payments release
  • Upload encrypted payroll data file and transfer information via banking website for bi-weekly payroll ACH and manual check cashing.
top-skills

What skills help Payroll Bookkeepers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What technical skills for a payroll bookkeeper stand out to employers?

Zev Fried Ph.D.Zev Fried Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University

For accountants, the same skills that were always needed such as proficiency with numbers, use of different types of computer software, and problem identification and solving are still needed. Emerging from the pandemic, there are also added skills such as the ability to work remotely and collaborate and share your work that will be important to employers.

What soft skills should all payroll bookkeepers possess?

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Director of Accountancy, Eastern Illinois University

Thinking of the less than the obvious answer would be the ability to ask questions the right way. If something is unclear or you just cannot figure it out, ask a question. The key part to this is TRYING to figure it out first and understanding when you are wasting your own time not getting anywhere. People will respect that you tried before coming to them for help. Another aspect of asking questions is listening to the answer. Make sure the answer is clear, and you know where or what you are supposed to do from there. Carry a notebook or something like that to both write down the questions you have on your project and their answers. I always find it impressive when people take notes and pay attention to the answer because it happens far too often that people ask questions but never listen to the response.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about payroll bookkeeper

List of payroll bookkeeper skills to add to your resume

Payroll bookkeeper skills

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

  • Reconciliations
  • General Ledger
  • Journal Entries
  • Tax Returns
  • Bank Reconciliations
  • Payroll Processing
  • ADP
  • Accounts Payables
  • Sales Tax
  • Payroll System
  • Computer System
  • Accounts Receivables
  • Credit Card Accounts
  • Financial Reports
  • Payroll Data
  • Bank Deposits
  • Payroll Taxes
  • Payroll Checks
  • CPA
  • W-2
  • Bank Accounts
  • Medicaid
  • Balance Sheet
  • Quickbooks Pro
  • Human Resources
  • Payroll Reports
  • Child Support
  • ACH
  • Health Insurance
  • W2
  • Tax Reports
  • AP
  • Ar
  • Kronos
  • Financial Transactions
  • Time Card
  • Life Insurance
  • Financial Data
  • IRS
  • I-9
  • Direct Deposits
  • Payroll Functions
  • Tax Forms
  • PTO
  • Mathematical Accuracy
  • Computer Spreadsheets
  • Electronic Deposits
  • Taxation
  • Sick Pay
  • Billing Disputes

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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