What does a Payroll Specialist do?
Payroll Specialists work within the payroll department under a Payroll Manager. They make sure that the employees throughout an organisation receive accurate wages on time. They perform administrative payroll duties to keep the payroll department operating smoothly. Payroll Specialists are the critical point of contact for employees with any questions about their payments and timesheets. They complete clerical tasks so that Payroll Managers can focus on more complex duties, such as auditing the payroll and developing new payroll policies.
Payroll Specialist skills and qualifications
Experienced Payroll Specialists possess acute financial acumen. They use a combination of administrative skills and a keen eye for detail to keep salary calculations and database entries error-free. A successful Payroll Specialist candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- A clear understanding of payroll laws, taxes and PAYE procedures
- Strong verbal communication, including active listening, for accurately answering employee questions
- Mathematical skills for calculating taxes and employee wages
- Knowledge of economics, accounting and other financial concepts
- Computer literacy, especially confidence using office and payroll software such as Excel with VLOOKUP and Oracle Payroll
- Self-motivation and organisational skills to meet deadlines
- Initiative and ambition to develop professionally
Payroll Specialist experience requirements
Experience working in payroll is not essential for a Payroll Specialist. Many Payroll Specialists secure their roles straight after graduating from secondary school, university or an apprenticeship. However, experienced Payroll Specialists usually need less training than less experienced hires. Experience working in end-to-end payroll is preferred, but experience working in a related area such as human resources, accounts or bookkeeping is also valuable.
Payroll Specialist education and training requirements
There are no educational requirements for Payroll Specialists. Some businesses employ recent secondary school graduates, while others prefer graduates with GSCEs at grades 9 to 4 or equivalent. A GSCE in mathematics is a standard prerequisite, as working in payroll requires maths skills. Employers usually prefer applicants with foundation, Level 1 or Level 2 certificates in bookkeeping or payroll or advanced apprenticeships as a Payroll Specialist. In some cases, candidates working in the UK need a Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) qualification to apply.
Payroll Specialist salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Payroll Specialist in the UK is £33,269 per year. Salaries vary according to experience, education, location and industry.
Job description samples for similar positions
If you are not searching for a Payroll Specialist, a description for a related role may benefit you. Here are some job description samples for similar positions: