What skills should a payroll person have?

The title of payroll manager within an organization describes the individual preparing the payroll and they should have a good balance of various skills. The position is extremely attractive to individuals that enjoy working with people and figures on a daily basis. The position is one of the vital functions of any company ensuring compliance with laws and accurate payment to fellow employees.

The way most of these employees start their career is by joining a company as a payroll administrator and work their way up to the position of payroll manager. Mathematics is important but no further educational qualification is needed as the person will receive this in completing their tasks.

The staff member involved may also come from a previous managerial or accounting position. Few graduates get into this field directly after graduation.

Although no formal and specific qualification is required for payroll management there are Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) and the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) in payroll Administration qualifications offered to enter this field. These programs prepare payroll practitioners to manage the compliance requirements of an organization’s annual payroll cycle, deliver clear and reliable payroll information, and contribute a payroll perspective to organizational policy and strategy discussions.

To be successful in payroll management the employee should have good mathematical skills but is not required to have a particularly high mathematical knowledge. No degree in mathematics is required, what is more important in this position is the ability and aptitude to work with numbers and figures on a daily basis.

The payroll manager must be able to focus strongly on the needs and requirements of the customers involved. This skill is needed in most careers but vital in the position as payroll manager.

Being a payroll manager means managing people and to be effective with a good rapport with staff members in the department is crucial. Payroll managers should adopt and use the technique to get involved when needed and to distance themselves on other occasions. Motivating staff and able to delegate is other vital components required for a good payroll manager.

The payroll manager must understand that understanding a good basic knowledge of IT is part of the package. The specialized payroll software is the starting point of payroll preparation. The payroll manager must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the systems used by the company. These skills are either already part of the manager’s portfolio or should be learned.

Attention to even the smallest detail is something very important in the position of payroll manager as this can prevent it from escalating into big mistakes. Small details are mostly the most important factors that determine a payroll that is perfect and complies with all the relevant tax laws and regulation in the state. Small errors can cause large errors consuming a lot of time and effort to correct.

The position of payroll manager is interesting and can to a large extend determine the future success of the company in which they are employed.

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Until next time.