Payroll Specialist

Tasks

• Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.

• Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.

• Review time sheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.

• Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from time sheets and other records.

• Process paperwork for new employees and enter employee information into the payroll system.

• 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 track of leave time, such as vacation, personal, and sick leave, for employees.

• Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax issues, benefit plans, and collective agreement provisions.

• Conduct verifications of employment.

• Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.

• Keep informed about changes in tax and deduction laws that apply to the payroll process.

• Balance cash and payroll accounts.

• Complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits, such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance.

• Complete time sheets showing employees' arrival and departure times.

• Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.

• Post relevant work hours to client files to bill clients properly.

• Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, and submit them to appropriate departments.

• Train employees on organizations' timekeeping systems.

• Coordinate special programs, such as United Way campaigns, that involve payroll deductions.

Skills

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

• Active Listening - Giving 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.

• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Knowledge

• Clerical - Knowledge 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.

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge 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 Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.