Payroll Administrator

Typical Salary

£15,000 To £28,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Payroll Administrator

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
applying directly
a specialist course run by 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 assistant
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

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You could apply directly for job vacancies. Some employers will expect you to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including maths.

While experience in payroll isn't always essential, a background in bookkeeping and accounts could help improve your job prospects.

Other Routes

You can do qualifications offered by The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals to help get into this job. Qualifications vary from introductory courses to postgraduate level.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
administration skills
the ability to work well with others
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work on your own
maths knowledge
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
knowledge of English language
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

You may:

check how many hours employees have worked
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
answer staff queries about timesheets or pay slips
issue P45s and other tax forms

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

Further information

You can find out more about careers in payroll from The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.