what is a payroll administrator?
As a payroll administrator, you work either in the HR department or the finance department. You make sure that all employees receive the salary they are entitled to at the scheduled time. You are also responsible for ensuring that all elements related to salaries in a company are correct. For example, you will collect personal data and other personal information from employees, as well as make sure that the recorded hours are accurate. You then use this data to organize, tabulate, record, and calculate the salaries. Salary payments are often made once a month, but this can vary depending on the employees' employment contracts.
Most people who work in a payroll department need to have some kind of degree in economics or accounting, or extensive work experience in a similar field. You need computer skills and an understanding of the different systems used in payroll management. Having an eye for detail can also be helpful to avoid mistakes in calculations.
payroll administrator jobswhat does a payroll administrator do?
As a payroll administrator, you will work alongside HR colleagues and at companies in many different industries, including IT, sales, retail, marketing, or contracting and construction. If you work for a smaller company, your tasks may be more HR-focused, involving, for example, recruitment processes or onboarding of new employees. Someone working as a payroll administrator at a larger company will have more HR-focused colleagues and may also work with payroll specialists. In such cases, the payroll administrator mainly handles calculations and payroll payments. If you work for an HR consulting firm, you will work with several different companies that choose to outsource their payroll administration so they can focus more on their core business. In that case, as a payroll administrator, you will manage payroll for several different companies at the same time.
Read more about what qualifications and skills are required to succeed in a payroll administrator role.
average salary as payroll administrator.
A payroll administrator manages employee salaries, but when it comes to the average salary, it varies depending on different factors. Some payroll administrators work at accounting firms and have other duties besides payroll administration. Other payroll administrators work at larger companies and therefore have greater responsibility. For more information about the salary level for payroll administrator, the union's market wages.
different roles of payroll administrator.
As a payroll administrator, the tasks can vary depending on the employer and the role may also look different. As a payroll administrator, you can advance in your career and become a payroll specialist, depending on the company you work for and which roles and tasks need to be filled.
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junior payroll administrator
As a junior payroll administrator, you will be responsible for the administrative aspects of the entire payroll department's work. For example, you will be responsible for checking employees' information and hours worked before you enter their pay slips into the system. You will also calculate salaries in the form of various deductions and taxes, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. When you work as a payroll administrator at this level, you often work alongside payroll specialists and report to the payroll administrator who has overall responsibility.
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senior and responsible payroll administrator
If you work in a more senior role as a payroll administrator with greater responsibility, your job is more about having an overview and making sure that other payroll administrators are doing their work. In that case, the role may include more scheduling and planning, as well as checking payroll reports. Some payroll administrators who are responsible for all payroll aspects in a company are also in charge of creating policies related to payroll, which then apply to the entire company.
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external payroll administrator
If you work for a consulting company in HR, you handle payroll administration for several different companies, which may operate in various industries. The job involves calculating salaries, preparing payslips, and ensuring that labor market laws are followed correctly.
working as a payroll administrator.
Working as a payroll administrator means you will handle employees' salaries and carry out important administrative tasks related to this. Below you can read more about typical duties of a payroll administrator and what a normal workday might look like.
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job description payroll administrator
Some of the more common tasks for a payroll administrator can be the following:
- Collect employee data: As a payroll administrator, you collect and organize personal data and other personal information from all employees. You also need to make sure the information is up to date, so you check or update it regularly to ensure all necessary information is registered. You also keep track of employees who have left the company to make sure their information is stored in a way that complies with the laws and regulations for personal data.
- Register worked hours: As a payroll administrator, you must ensure that employees record their hours in the system used. Since this information is required to calculate salaries, you also need to pay attention to any mistakes or missing information. An important task is to make sure the system works smoothly to avoid delays in payroll administration. You should also ensure that employees register their unsocial hours so they can receive the correct overtime compensation on time.
- Calculate and manage employees' salaries: After the working hours have been registered in the system, it is your job as the payroll administrator to calculate the salaries. Payslips must be prepared and sent out to all employees, where you are responsible for ensuring they receive the correct payment on the right day. This means ongoing work throughout the month, to be able to pay the salary on time.
- Make deductions for things like tax: When salaries are paid to employees, deductions for income tax will also be made, which the employer pays to the Tax Agency. There are also costs for employer contributions, and as a payroll administrator, you are responsible for staying updated on current laws and regulations related to these various deductions and tax payments. This is an important part of the job as a payroll administrator, since mistakes can lead to fines and sanctions for the company. There may also be other deductions to make when paying salaries, such as wellness benefits or occupational pension payments that need to be made at the same time as the salary payment. Since the terms can vary for different employees, it is your job to keep track of the employment contract and its conditions.
- Preparing payroll reports: As a payroll administrator, part of the job is purely administrative, such as taking minutes and recording all aspects of the payroll work you do. For example, you need to write payroll reports every month, which then form the basis for the company's accounting. In addition, as a payroll administrator, you are responsible for handling any issues that arise, such as payment delays or incorrect payments. This also includes keeping track of regulations to ensure they are followed and do not cause any problems in the future.
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work environment
As a payroll administrator, you can work in various industries and companies that need help with administrative payroll tasks every month. This can be anything from the retail sector to manufacturing or construction companies. Whether you work as a consulting payroll administrator or in the payroll department of a larger or smaller company, you will be working in an office environment. Most of the work is done on computers and in the different payroll systems set up by the companies. Some parts of the work can be done from home, if you have access to the right equipment and systems.
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your colleagues
Who your colleagues will be depends entirely on which employer you work for, but if you work in a larger HR department, you will have HR managers and other HR staff close to you at work. You may also work closely with auditors and recruiter together with other experts in fields related to HR and payroll. in larger companies, the payroll department can be big, and as a payroll administrator you may therefore work with several others who have a similar title to yours.
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work schedule
As a payroll administrator, it is most common to work regular office hours with a 40-hour work week. Usually, payroll administrator is a full-time job, but there are also part-time positions at some smaller companies. In those cases, it is also common to have other duties beyond payroll tasks.
Sometimes, as a payroll administrator, you may need to work a bit more intensively during the last week before payroll is processed, just to make sure there are no delays. Those who have their own business or work at a consulting firm may have more flexible working hours, depending on what the clients want.
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future prospects
The role of payroll administrator is a job that can be found in many different industries. All companies that have employees of any kind need someone who can manage and process the payroll as well as make the payments.
As a payroll administrator, you have good career opportunities. An experienced payroll administrator can take on more leading roles or work as a manager in the payroll department. With management experience, it is also possible to take on other responsibility roles within HR at the same or other companies. This makes the role of payroll administrator a good entry-level job for those who hope to build a career in the future.
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benefits of finding a job as a payroll administrator through randstad
There are many advantages to finding an open position as a payroll administrator through Randstad:
- various development and career opportunities
- an experienced contact person who can help you when needed
- many open jobs within your area
- full-time or part-time work depending on the job/assignment
Do you want a permanent position as payroll administrator? Taking a temporary job as payroll administrator is a great way to gain the experience and network needed to get a permanent position. Every year, many people get permanent jobs with employers thanks to a temporary job through us at Randstad. In addition, many companies recruit their permanent employees directly through Randstad.
education and qualifications.
There are no specific educational requirements to work as a payroll administrator, but those with qualifications in HR, finance, or other related fields will have good opportunities to get a job as a payroll administrator.
Having a broader educational background also provides better opportunities for those who wish to advance in their career.
- Vocational college education: There are courses for payroll administrator at vocational college level. You get both theoretical and practical knowledge that can be useful in the role.
- Upper secondary education: Many who work as payroll administrators have no more than upper secondary education but may have an aptitude for working with numbers or administration. It is also possible to study an economics track in upper secondary school, which provides a certain foundation for the job as a payroll administrator.
- Post-secondary education: If you wish to work in finance and see payroll administrator as a good entry-level job, there are good programs at university and college level. These can be courses in auditing, finance, and HR.
- Internship: Depending on the employer, a job as a payroll administrator can be largely administrative and therefore does not require a lengthy educational background. In that case, practical skills and personal qualities are significantly more relevant.
- Getting an internship or a part-time job as a payroll administrator is a good way to gain the experience that many companies like you to have.
knowledge and skills.
To succeed in the role of payroll administrator, some of these skills and competencies may be good to have:
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problem solving
Having strong problem-solving skills is an important quality for a payroll administrator, since you will handle many different issues and challenges related to calculations, taxes, laws, and regulations. For the work to go smoothly, it is important to be able to find quick and effective solutions to various problems. You should also have a good ability to anticipate potential problems and risks.
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data och system knowledge
This is something you can learn at the workplace, but having an aptitude and experience working in different computer systems is a big advantage as a payroll administrator. You will use various types of software to record information, calculate salaries, and carry out payments.
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mathematical knowledge
You will become a skilled payroll administrator if you have a knack for numbers. You need to have a sense for mathematics to be able to handle complex data, numbers, and calculations. Being good at mathematics makes it easier to do calculations and put together reports, but also to avoid mistakes and minimize risks.
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organisational ability
As a payroll administrator, you will have many different tasks related to the monthly payroll payments. This makes it important to have good organizational and planning skills, to ensure you stay on track and complete all the important parts. Not least to be able to make the payroll payments on time and ensure the tax authority receives its payments before the deadline. Otherwise, the company risks getting fined.
frequently asked questions about working as a payroll administrator.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about working as a payroll administrator.
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what does a payroll administrator do at work?
A payroll administrator has many different tasks, and the exact design of the role can depend on the employer. But as a payroll administrator, you are responsible for recording employees' working hours, making payroll calculations, ensuring that laws and regulations are followed, and then carrying out salary payments on time.
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what education do you need to become a payroll administrator?
There are no specific educational requirements to work as a payroll administrator. This makes it a good entry-level job for those who want to build a career in payroll administration, finance, or HR. Having a degree in any of these fields makes it easier to get promoted after starting as a payroll administrator.
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are there many jobs as payroll administrator?
Many companies need help with payroll administration. Large companies often have one or more payroll administrators employed in the payroll department, while smaller companies work with consulting firms. Job opportunities are therefore good as a payroll administrator, if you are flexible and can imagine working in different industries.
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is payroll administrator a stressful job?
As a payroll administrator, you are required to collect all necessary information, calculate all salaries, and make payments by a fixed deadline every month. But with good organizational and planning skills, you can handle these tasks well, so that stress does not need to arise.
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how do I apply for a payroll administrator job?
It's easy to apply for a job as a payroll administrator. Search among our open jobs in your area. Then submit your CV and your personal letter or apply via LinkedIn.
If you need help with your job application, you can read all our job tips here!
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further reading about the payroll administrator role
Here you can find more information about the role payroll administrator.
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