For employees of a business, the company’s payroll department is considered one of the most important. Workers throughout the UK trust such departments to ensure that they are paid for all hours worked and that appropriate deductions for tax, National Insurance and other items are made
Employees in the field come under the finance umbrella of a company. Clerks’ responsibilities include creating records for new starters, checking employees’ hours, processing holiday and maternity entitlements, ensuring shift and overtime payments are correct, and issuing P45s. Filing and administration is also usually dealt with by incumbents
Prospective employers prefer entry level applicants to have a GCSE pass in mathematics, prior office experience and familiarity with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and databases. Applicants for more senior posts should have an AAT or IPP certificate in payroll administration.
Applicants will find vacancies at major companies and councils across the UK. Salaries start at around £12,500 a year for junior administrators and go up to around £40,000 per annum for managers of large teams.

• Being attentive to detail and understand complex information.
• Respecting confidential information
• Having competent IT and mathematical knowledge.
• Having good team work and motivating other team members.
• Honesty and respect.
• Problem solving abilities and logical thinking.
• Good time management skills.
• Having ability to work to deadlines.
• Competent writing and speaking skills.
• Being proactive and having good communication skills.
• Leadership and management.
• Managing stressful situations.

Applicants for Payroll jobs are required to have five GCSE’s (A-C), including Maths, English, and Business. Employers also expect that their managers, administrators or supervisors have a Diploma in business, finance and administration, with A levels in business studies and accounting. Other good requirements are BTEC certificates of Level 4 Higher National Certificate and Level 5 Higher National Diploma in business.

It is also recommended to have AAT Level 2 and 3 Certificated in Payroll Administration, IAB Level 1 and 2 Certificate in Payroll, IAB Level 3 Certificate in Booking, and a Diploma of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Level 3 in Payroll management. Other competent ability is to have knowledge of computer payroll systems, especially SAP/Rebus.

Relevant experience related to accounts, book-keeping, and other office works is also helpful. A great advantage in this business is to have competent math background and apprenticeship schemes.