The Most Important Person at Work The Payroll Clerk?

Answer 1

Every business needs a good payroll clerk. The operative word is good. Efficiency is imperative. Remember that everything you do will boil down to money.

Most businesses are in business to make money, in the private sector anyway. Employees are there for the same reason and expect their paychecks to be right. But, the term payroll clerk may be a bit misleading.

Small operations often have only one or two people handling payroll. Many major corporations direct their payroll operations from company headquarters, as it is a general standard to be paid the following week. If you have designs on being a payroll clerk be prepared to understand the entire process.

Before any paychecks can be calculated, there are specific values to be recorded. Most businesses have a combination of worker types, as some are actual employees while others may be subcontracted. There is also normally a division between salary and hourly workers. Always be aware when you work for a company that pays different workers on different scales. Confidentiality is a critical component of most payroll positions.

The first operation in the payroll process is usually timekeeping. Depending on the employee structure, you may often be required to record individual hours worked as well as maintaining various other personnel records if payroll is integrated into the personnel departments. If work is divided properly, general duties should be payroll specific.

Calculation of net pay amounts are determined after all deductions have been finalized. Generally, paychecks are not issued until the following week after all preparations have been completed. Issuance of paychecks is the last part of the process.

In terms of pay, do not expect to make more money than the average worker. This is often commensurate with your clerical experience and education. You will probably be considered to be part of the management team, which often means better working conditions than floor workers. Remember that your duties are considered indirect non-revenue activity by the management.

Major companies tend to offer internal advancement, but do not be surprised if professional upgrade is required. A typical degree for payroll directors can include a CPA license, along with human resources training.