A payroll coordinator or administrator manages payroll clerks and ensures that company employees are paid the correct amounts for each pay period. As a payroll coordinator, you are a liaison between the human resources department and the accounting department since both have a stake in payroll operations. You must train new payroll clerks and handle performance evaluations for your team, verify employees’ time sheets, correct any mistakes in pay rate or hours worked, and process all payroll checks. Experience in payroll or accounting is crucial for this career.
How to Become a Payroll Coordinator
To become a payroll coordinator, you need a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, some employers give preference to job candidates who have an associate degree in accounting or human resources. You must be familiar with payroll software like PeopleSoft or Kronos and have knowledge of state and federal tax and workers compensation laws. You need strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to lead a team of employees. To demonstrate your professional skill set, you can earn optional certification from the American Payroll Association.
Payroll Coordinator Duties:
- Process payroll according to company policies
- Maintain employee records and files
- Process payroll in a timely manner
- Maintain records of employee payroll history
- Develop policies regarding payroll and compensation
Payroll Coordinator Responsibilities:
- Open and sort payroll checks and mail them out
- Process employees’ time cards, including hourly, salaried, commission, bonus, and overtime
- Process or verify vacation and sick time
- Process or verify payroll deductions, including taxes
- Create and file W-2s and 1099s
- Maintain employee records, including personal data, contact information, compensation history, benefits, and payroll deductions
- Payroll reports
- Conduct audits and reconciles employee payroll records
- Perform other duties as needed, including data entry, filing, and special projects
