1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Payroll And Timekeeping Clerks
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Occupation Detailed Description

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

The main tasks and work activities of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks are to execute sales or other financial transactions, enter information into databases or software programs, calculate financial data, compile data or documentation. In general, for the Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks, active Listening, reading Comprehension, speaking, critical Thinking and other 5 skills are required.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks jobs. 38.90% of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 13.07% of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
38.90%
Post-Secondary Certificate
13.07%
Some College Courses
20.67%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
16.66%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
10.70%

Tasks and Work Activities of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

  • Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
  • Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
  • Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from time sheets and other records.
  • Review time sheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
  • Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
  • Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records.
  • Issue and record adjustments to pay related to previous errors or retroactive increases.
  • Keep informed about changes in tax and deduction laws that apply to the payroll process.
  • Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax issues, benefit plans, and collective agreement provisions.
  • Complete time sheets showing employees' arrival and departure times.
  • Post relevant work hours to client files to bill clients properly.
  • Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.
  • Complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits, such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance.
  • Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
  • Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, and submit them to appropriate departments.
  • Coordinate special programs, such as United Way campaigns, that involve payroll deductions.
  • Process paperwork for new employees and enter employee information into the payroll system.
  • Keep track of leave time, such as vacation, personal, and sick leave, for employees.
  • Conduct verifications of employment.
  • Balance cash and payroll accounts.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Performing Administrative ActivitiesPerforming day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Execute sales or other financial transactions.
  • Enter information into databases or software programs.
  • Calculate financial data.
  • Compile data or documentation.
  • Verify employee information.
  • Record personnel information.
  • Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
  • Provide information to coworkers.
  • Distribute materials to employees or customers.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
  • Check data for recording errors.
  • Prepare research or technical reports.
  • Reconcile records of sales or other financial transactions.
  • Coordinate operational activities.
  • Train others in operational procedures.

Skills and Abilities for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Desktop calculatore.g. 10-key calculators
  • Mainframe console or dumb terminalse.g. Computer terminals
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.