Payroll Manager

Typical Salary

£22,000 To £50,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Payroll Manager

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly
specialist training with a professional body

College / University

You can do an introductory course in bookkeeping and payroll, which can be studied at a college or by distance learning. Courses include:

Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping
Level 1 Certificate in Payroll
Level 1 or 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

level 3 Payroll administrator
level 5 Payroll assistant manager

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a payroll administrator and get training and experience on the job. You'll usually need several years' experience in payroll before moving into management.

You may be able to join a payroll department if you've worked as a manager elsewhere, although you will need experience in accounts.

Other Routes

You could take qualifications in payroll like those offered by The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals or the International Association of Bookkeepers.

Courses are available from introductory basics through to foundation degree level and higher. It's recommended that you're working in a payroll department to do the higher level qualifications.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

customer service skills
leadership skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
administration skills
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
sensitivity and understanding
business management skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

You may:

supervise and train the payroll team
create payroll policies and procedures
advise on tax and pay laws
manage computer software and systems
analyse and report on financial data
check and audit payroll to make sure regulations are met
calculate and issue pay by cash, cheque or electronic transfer
deduct tax and national insurance payments
process holiday, sick and maternity pay and expenses
calculate overtime, shift payments and pay increases

Working Environment

You could work in an office.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

You'll need a good understanding of payroll legislation.

Further information

You'll find more advice about careers in payroll from The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.