What does a payroll clerk do?
A payroll clerk is responsible for managing the payroll process by collecting the necessary information needed to release payments. Payroll clerks' duties include verifying timesheets, calculating necessary deductions, issuing paychecks timely, managing payment discrepancies and disputes, updating employee's payment information in the database, and creating payroll reports. A payroll clerk must have strong analytical and organization skills, as well as a clear understanding of the organization's payroll policies, ensuring that the process follows regulatory procedures.
Payroll clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real payroll clerk resumes:
- Manage all worker compensation and cobra benefit issues and filings.
- Manage employee drug and background screenings, train new hires and verify I9 information.
- Process payroll; assist in establishing new time and attendance (KRONOS) computer system; balance insurance billings.
- View, key, post and monitor time and labor, absences and leave balances in PeopleSoft HRIS system.
- Compile data and enter information into ADP payroll processing system.
- Process payroll and transmit electronically to outside computer service for preparation of payroll checks and reports.
- Prepare monthly payroll and accounting journal entries, including reconciliations of payroll relate general ledger accrual accounts.
- Complete all e-Verify processes for new employees.
- Enter data along with researching using the Lawson system.
- Prepare reports, materials and PowerPoint presentations for monthly meeting.
- Process weekly payrolls for corporate and center employees using Lawson software.
- Process new hires, terminations, benefits, compensation, and census information using HRIS.
- Train new and current supervisors on the KRONOS timekeeping system as well as new policies and procedures.
- Set up new hires including name, address, deductions, tax status, vacation and sick time accruals.
- Process are implemented and function successfully assisting the company to pass SOX audit successfully, and for future audits.
Payroll clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Payroll Clerks are proficient in Data Entry, Payroll System, and Photocopying. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Math skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Payroll Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 19%
Processed all employee personnel and payroll information either manually or with computerized data entry systems.
- Payroll System, 10%
Processed semi-monthly payroll, entered employee information into payroll system, performed benefits reconciliation., and performed filing.
- Photocopying, 7%
Assist with other clerical duties such as filing, faxing, scanning and photocopying.
- Excellent Organizational, 6%
Interacted with companies and utilized excellent organizational skills in handling daily phone calls regarding tenant accounts.
- Customer Service, 6%
Provided assistance to military members and dependents regarding permanent change-of-station orders, and a myriad of other customer service issues.
- ADP, 5%
Process semi-monthly salaried and bi-weekly hourly payrolls for approximately 265 employees using ADP payroll processor.
"data entry," "payroll system," and "photocopying" are among the most common skills that payroll clerks use at work. You can find even more payroll clerk responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a payroll clerk to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "financial clerks should be able to explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers." Additionally, a payroll clerk resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "provided high levels of customer service and effective communication. "
Math skills. Many payroll clerk duties rely on math skills. "the job duties of financial clerks includes calculating charges and updating financial records.," so a payroll clerk will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways payroll clerk responsibilities rely on math skills: "amassed, assembled, and maintained payroll reports and statistics. "
Organizational skills. payroll clerks are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to payroll clerk responsibilities, because "financial clerks must be able to arrange files so they can find them quickly and efficiently." A payroll clerk resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "interacted with companies and utilized excellent organizational skills in handling daily phone calls regarding tenant accounts. "
The three companies that hire the most payroll clerks are:
- Robert Half95 payroll clerks jobs
- Manson Construction Co.11 payroll clerks jobs
- HCR ManorCare8 payroll clerks jobs
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Compare different payroll clerks
Payroll clerk vs. Payroll & human resources assistant
The main duty of a Payroll & Human Resources Assistant is to provide payroll information through collecting time and attendance records. They also answer questions regarding examinations, eligibility, salaries, benefits, and other important information.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, payroll clerk responsibilities require skills like "photocopying," "excellent organizational," "customer service," and "adp." Meanwhile a typical payroll & human resources assistant has skills in areas such as "assist human resources," "background checks," "adp payroll," and "hris." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Payroll & human resources assistants tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $45,905. In contrast, payroll clerks make the biggest average salary, $49,623, in the government industry.payroll & human resources assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than payroll clerks. In fact, payroll & human resources assistants are 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Payroll clerk vs. Accounts receivable clerk
An Accounts Receivable Clerk specializes in processing payment records and bill statements of a company or organization. Among the duties include calculating total revenues and unpaid invoices, maintaining financial records and keeping a detailed and organized database, and verifying financial transactions and payment delinquencies. Furthermore, an Accounts Receivable Clerk must resolve and examine deductions, prepare invoices and necessary documentation, and review customer payment plans and history records and coordinate with the collections department should there be any issues.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that payroll clerk responsibilities requires skills like "payroll system," "photocopying," "excellent organizational," and "payroll processing." But an accounts receivable clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "collection calls," "financial data," "credit card payments," and "process payments."
On average, accounts receivable clerks earn a lower salary than payroll clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, accounts receivable clerks earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $37,882. Whereas payroll clerks have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $49,623.accounts receivable clerks earn similar levels of education than payroll clerks in general. They're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Payroll clerk vs. Human resources clerk
A human resources clerk's role focuses on assisting in the hiring process within a company or organization. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around posting hiring notices on various platforms, handling job applications, arranging schedules and appointments for interviews, verifying requirements, and responding to calls and inquiries. Besides participating in the hiring process, a human resources clerk also has administrative duties such as maintaining employee information and records, producing progress reports, processing paperwork, and assisting newly hired employees. This is all done in adherence to a company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a payroll clerk is likely to be skilled in "photocopying," "excellent organizational," "payroll processing," and "payroll data," while a typical human resources clerk is skilled in "background checks," "hris," "front desk," and "powerpoint."
Human resources clerks earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $39,622. Payroll clerks earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $49,623.Most human resources clerks achieve a similar degree level compared to payroll clerks. For example, they're 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Payroll clerk vs. Senior payroll specialist
Senior payroll specialists are professionals who are responsible for calculating the wages of employees of an organization accurately. These specialists are required to analyze and verify payroll reports and documents for accuracy while making the necessary corrections through journal entries or other established procedures. They must authorize and review payroll transactions as well as complete appropriate forms to adjust salary account funds. Senior payroll specialists must also conduct training sessions for other payroll professionals to explain information regarding payroll policies and procedures.
Types of payroll clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
