The payroll administration team is responsible for the maintenance of salary payments including overtime calculations and checking of hours worked, tax and insurance deductions and special circumstance payments, such as maternity or sickness pay. The specific tasks of individual payroll administrators will depend on the size of the company and their positions within the team, and may include extra duties, such as advising on new procedures and policies, monitoring computer systems, training new employees and updating staff on new legal requirements.
Efficiency in payroll accounting software use and number-crunching in general is needed, although at entry level software skills may be taught. Other skills required include attention to detail and accuracy, good interpersonal and team skills, logical thought processes, an ability to work within a set time-scale and a commitment to confidentiality. Good management skills and experience are required for supervisory posts.
Salaries vary with the seniority of the position offered, with many payroll administrators joining after leaving school with basic qualifications and working their way up to a supervisory position. Training programmes are widely available and encouraged by most companies. The salary scale runs between C
$30,000 and C
$55,000.