What does a Payroll Assistant do?
A payroll assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks to help payroll managers maintain smooth workflow operations. Their duties entail maintaining databases, entering relevant data into systems, coordinating with different departments, handling tax forms and other paperwork, establishing schedules, processing deductions, and preparing regular reports. They may also manage calls and other forms of correspondence, perform research and assessments, keep records, and run errands as necessary. Additionally, a payroll assistant must maintain an open communication line with fellow staff and managers to solve potential or existing issues.
Payroll assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real payroll assistant resumes:
- Enter and update new employees into the timekeeping system KRONOS.
- Perform payroll functions such as timekeeping and vacation days and submit to payroll.
- Assist with the payroll process, time cards input and personal time off (PTO).
- Prepare and input both weekly and biweekly payroll information using ADP software, ensuring information receive and transmit is accurate.
- Process employee terminations including final pay calculations, PTO payment, deductions, and ensure payment meets state final pay requirements.
- Maintain accurate records in PeopleSoft.
- Process employee recognition awards and termination packages using PeopleSoft.
- Prepare miscellaneous financial and operational reports in ADP upon request.
- Check worksheet for accuracy and enter calculate commissions into Kronos.
- Simplify reports for time efficiency and better accuracy of reconciliations.
- Maintain accurate and timely consultant timekeeping records in order to comply with labor laws and other legal employment requirements.
- Process correct garnishment calculations and compliance.
- Reconcile monthly payroll calculations with accounting information.
- Communicate with employees regarding handling of paycheck and taxation for overseas assignments.
- Calculate sales commissions and personal use percentages for company vehicles and taxation.
Payroll assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Payroll Assistants are proficient in Data Entry, Payroll System, and Payroll Data. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Math skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Payroll Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 16%
Assisted accountants with financial statement preparation: data entry from source documents, preparation of bank reconciliations, administrative support.
- Payroll System, 7%
Collaborated in transitioning from a hand-written payroll system to an electronic (database) payroll system
- Payroll Data, 6%
Performed closely with payroll manager to review payroll data for accuracy.
- Human Resources, 5%
Maintained working relationship with Benefits, Compensation, Regional Human Resources departments and Corporate Accounting.2.
- ADP, 5%
Prepared miscellaneous financial and operational reports in ADP upon request.
- Payroll Checks, 4%
Sorted payroll checks by specific job for distribution to management
Common skills that a payroll assistant uses to do their job include "data entry," "payroll system," and "payroll data." You can find details on the most important payroll assistant responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a payroll assistant to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what payroll assistants do because "financial clerks should be able to explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers." Additionally, a payroll assistant resume shows how payroll assistants use communication skills: "gained experience in communication and data entry through the use of excel. "
Math skills. Many payroll assistant duties rely on math skills. "the job duties of financial clerks includes calculating charges and updating financial records.," so a payroll assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways payroll assistant responsibilities rely on math skills: "compiled, prepared and maintained payroll reports and statistics. "
Organizational skills. This is an important skill for payroll assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how payroll assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "financial clerks must be able to arrange files so they can find them quickly and efficiently." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a payroll assistant: "distributed payroll checks to organizational units. ".
The three companies that hire the most payroll assistants are:
- FFeather Falls Casino5 payroll assistants jobs
- NNorthrop Grumman4 payroll assistants jobs
- RRoss Stores4 payroll assistants jobs
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Compare different payroll assistants
Payroll assistant vs. Benefits clerk
A Timekeeper works in various industries and organizations and is typically hired as the acting liaison between payroll coordinators and employees. This is to make sure the pay distribution process runs smoothly. As a timekeeper, you will be required to maintain an accurate track of the total number of hours worked for payroll purposes. This involves compiling payroll data from timesheets, computing wages, including the removal of taxes and social security withholding, and putting it into the computer system.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between payroll assistants and benefits clerk. For instance, payroll assistant responsibilities require skills such as "payroll data," "payroll checks," "kronos," and "child support orders." Whereas a benefits clerk is skilled in "open enrollment," "cobra," "life insurance," and "health insurance." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Benefits clerks really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $40,253. Comparatively, payroll assistants tend to make the most money in the construction industry with an average salary of $48,755.On average, benefits clerks reach similar levels of education than payroll assistants. Benefits clerks are 2.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Payroll assistant vs. Timekeeper
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that payroll assistant responsibilities requires skills like "process payroll," "hris," "financial reports," and "child support orders." But a timekeeper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "timekeeping," "per diem," "turnaround," and "purchase orders."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Timekeepers tend to reach similar levels of education than payroll assistants. In fact, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Payroll assistant vs. Commission clerk
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from payroll assistant resumes include skills like "payroll system," "payroll data," "human resources," and "adp," whereas a commission clerk is more likely to list skills in "planning commission," "legal notices," "commission payments," and "word processing. "
Commission clerks typically earn similar educational levels compared to payroll assistants. Specifically, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Payroll assistant vs. Paymaster
Types of payroll assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
