Payroll administrator

As a payroll administrator, you will:

• enter employee data onto a payroll system
•  process wages, overtime, deductions and send out pay slips
•  calculate statutory contributions like pensions and National Insurance
•  audit information to make sure it’s accurate and up-to-date
•  answer staff queries about timesheets or pay slips
•  create payroll reports for management

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• administration skills
• the ability to work well with others
• maths knowledge
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work on your own
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

With experience, you could become a manager of a payroll or finance department in a large organisation, like a local authority or the NHS.

You might also:

• move into pensions management or human resources
•  train to qualify as an accountant
•  work in payroll software development
•  manage an agency that provides payroll services to businesses