INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payroll Manager positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is As fast as average. With that said, there are currently 1,392,200 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 96,000 to 1,488,200 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Payroll Manager jobs was $73,560 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,220, and the highest 10% more than $128,680.
Our conclusion? The Payroll Manager job market is wide open for candidates.
Top payroll manager sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to Craft the Perfect Payroll Manager Resume Experience Section
Perfecting the experience section: payroll manager resume checklist.
- Be careful with bullet points: use no more than 4-6 per position;
- Mention only positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- List your experience in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
- Highlight your results by using numbers – e.g. percentage increase/decrease in an important metric that’s followed by - your hard work;
- Use action words whenever possible… but more on that below.
Need examples? We looked through thousands of Payroll Manager resumes and gathered some examples of what the ideal experience section looks like. Check them out below!
- Implimenting a new staff scheduling system to deliver £36,400 payroll saving over a twelve week period.
- Controlling expenses cost lines such as equipment, uniform, maintainance, retail consumables,
- Recruiting a new Payroll and Admin team, training amd validiating in line with their corrrct my role pack.
- HR (recruting, on boarding, employee documentation updating, admin..)
- Administration (bookkeeping, invoicing)
- Payroll (the payroll processing and off-cycle payments, interact with Finance function on the tax payments and reconciliation, Produce all necessary HR documentation...)
- Maintains payroll information by designing systems; directing the collection, calculation, and entering of data.
- Updates payroll records by reviewing and approving changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, and job titles, and department/ division transfers.
- Pays employees by directing the production and issuance of paychecks or electronic transfers to bank accounts.
- Maintains employee confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential.
- Maintains payroll staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees.
- Maintains payroll guidelines by writing and updating policies and procedures.
- Provides payroll information by answering questions and requests
- Ensure all services in scope or contractual obligations are delivered to clients in a timely manner with requisite quality levels.
- Handled a team of 60 Payroll Executive and on-sites across PAN India.
- Running both weekly and monthly payrolls using Pegasus Opera II software for 3 manufacturing companies totalling approximately 250 staff. Following company restructure for approximately 90 staff.
- Daily management of electronic time-keeping system to keep up to date with staff attendance and inputting of all holiday and absences in order to run accurate payrolls.
- Ensuring accurate and timely BACS submissions .
- Production of all RTI, P45’s, Year-End and P11D reports.
- Implement AEO’s, tax code changes, Student Loan directives etc.
- Collate information and liaise with relevant bureaus for French, Italian and Chinese payrolls.
- Ensure Auto Enrolment procedures are followed and accurate deductions of employee contributions are made and transferred to pension accounts.
- Pro-actively support the Group HR Manager and also provide holiday cover when required.
- Oversee bi-weekly & semi-monthly payroll processing schedules for almost 300 employees in 20 states while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness of processing to include any garnishments, relocations, bonuses, and any other miscellaneous payments or deductions.
- Process any off-cycle payrolls as requested.
- Ensure all payroll information and records are maintained in accordance with statutory requirements.
- Review and ensure compliance for any employees working under a prevailing wage requirement.
- Manage time and attendance system. Investigate any discrepancies, & troubleshoot issues.
- Maintain and audit policies and procedures to reflect changes in Federal, State, and Local laws as they relate to payroll processing.
- Reconcile insurance billing by comparing payroll deductions and invoices.
- Work closely with HR to resolve any payroll/HR issues in a timely manner.
- Review Federal, State, and Local tax payments & returns prepared by payroll provider. Apply for new state tax account numbers and close state tax accounts when applicable. Ensure that the employees' W2s are accurate.
- Resolve payroll tax related issues and handle notices from various tax jurisdictions.
- Payroll subject matter expert for the conversion to Paycom for payroll & timekeeping for almost 2,000 employees in 6 different states. Converted the GL account numbers and formatting from PeopleSoft to the NetSuite requirements in Paycom. Update Paycom GL coding whenever new deductions and earnings are created.
- Processed payroll and oversaw the calculation of wages, overtime, and deductions including child support orders & garnishments to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Supervised 1 direct report.
- Created the payroll Journal Entry every pay period ensuring that all accounts are balanced before Accounting uploads the file in to the General Ledger. Point of contact for the Finance Dept. for any GL questions and/or concerns during month-end close, account reconciliations, and for forecasting assistance.
- Monitored the integrity of data input into Paycom by the HR Managers. Audited the time clock for any missing punches and items not yet approved by facility supervisors prior to payroll deadline. Processed vacation accrual corrections when nece
- Responsible for trouble shooting, analysis, and research related to payroll data, processing, & reporting.
- Created various Pivot Tables weekly & bi-weekly for payroll analysis & pay data comparisons for the CEO, CFO & COO.
- Worked closely with HR to resolve any payroll/HR issues in a timely manner. Worked closely with the Legal Dept to ensure settlements and severances are processed timely & correct
- Create billing for FL DJJ reimbursements of reimbursable payroll expenses incurred at the facility level, as well as gather appropriate back-up documentation.• Review Payroll Policies and procedures and updated documentation to reflect current practices.• Review federal and state tax returns prepared by payroll provider. Apply for new state & local tax account numbers and close state & local tax accounts when applicable. Ensure that the employees’ W2s are accurate.• Responsible for the Workers' Comp audit, payroll audit, & assist with the 401k audit.
- Decreased payroll expenses related to taxes
- Find and solve problems related to payroll processing
- Orchestrate initiatives to minimize overtime while maintaining the desired productivity
- Manage the payroll of approximately 50 clients, totaling 5,000 employees
- Ensure accuracy in the payroll and accounting processes
- Ensure proper negotiation in the administration of benefits by negotiating better prices for clients
- Management of an operational team of approximately 30 people
- Managing Payroll for Asia Pacific (Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore)
- Month end reporting and reconciliation
- Manage all the payroll related projects, e.g. implementing Long Service Leave calculation in HRIS system (Workday)
- Closely work with all other relevant directors and stakeholders as per the business requirement
- Perform internal Audits for continuous process improvement.
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Payroll Manager resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action verbs for your payroll manager resume
Recommended reads.":
Impressing recruiters with a top payroll manager resume skills section
Checklist for an impressive payroll manager resume skills section:
- List both hard and technical skills that are important for the role;
- Check what the job description says and add some keywords based on that;
- Focus only on relevant skills;
- Try not to list things such as “communication”; rather, highlight your soft skills in other sections of your Payroll Manager resume.
Top skills for your payroll manager resume
Microsoft Office
SAP
Excel
Salesforce
Data Entry
Quickbooks
Project Management
Customer Service
CRM
Communication
Negotiation
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Collaboration
Flexibitly
Resilience
Dedication
Empathy
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Recommended reads:
Payroll manager resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your payroll manager resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Payroll Manager resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Crafting a strong summary for your payroll manager resume
Checklist: the perfect payroll manager resume summary section
- Add a couple of keywords from the job description;
- Mention some of your most valuable skills and characteristics;
- Highlight your top achievements (and add numbers!);
- Use no more than 3-5 sentences to guarantee readability and keep - the hiring manager interested.
resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
Recommended reads:
An impressive education section: payroll manager resume
Payroll manager resume: Education section checklist
- Highlight your highest education degree;
- Include the degree subject, year of graduation, and institution name;
- Mention some of the awards you’ve received during your studies;
- List your certifications (incl. the body that’s issued them);
- Entry-level positions: Give preference to courses that are relevant to the position.
Top Certifications for your Payroll Manager resume
Payroll Management
Use free UK payroll software to perform essential payroll management
Payroll Journals
An overview and understanding of the debits and credits of the p32
Understanding Payroll for Beginners
Payroll calculation, processing payroll, taxes, and reporting
Financial Accounting – Payroll
Payroll calculations - federal income tax, social security, Medicare - Payroll journal entries posted to ledger accounts
Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll
Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
The right format for your payroll manager resume
When it comes to formatting your Payroll Manager resume, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. These include your level of expertise, your total years of experience, and the position and company you’re applying for, to name a few.
You can choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The reverse-chronological format is just that – all your experience listed in a reverse-chronological way. It’s great for experienced professionals who have been in the industry for many years and have no career gaps.
The functional skills-based resume, on the other hand, focuses on skills, education, and personality traits, rather than experience. This makes it great for graduates, people with less experience, or bigger career gaps. The idea is to show you’re the perfect match without putting too much emphasis on your lack of relevant experience.
If none of these sound suitable, go for a hybrid (or combination) resume. It’s a mix of experience, skills, and personality traits. It’s also considered modern and innovative because of its non-traditional structure and sections. Here, you can add details about what your typical day looks like or what your life philosophy is. In short, the hybrid resume format shows who you are, both as a professional and as an individual.
More tips on perfecting your resume style and layout:
- Choose a traditional 12p font;
- Make sure your resume margins are no bigger than an inch;
- Go for a one-page template. If you have broad experience and can’t fit your resume on one page, choose a two-page resume template
- Save your resume as PDF to avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
Read this: Ways to make your Payroll Manager resume stand out
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
More sections worth adding to your payroll manager resume
If the industry, company, and position you’re applying for allow for that, you could include other sections in your Payroll Manager resume. By doing this, you’ll show the recruiter that you’re a real human and not a robot.
Here are some ideas:
The right kind of creativity for your payroll manager resume
Several years ago, everyone preferred keeping a safe distance from creative resumes. Today, adding creativity to your CV is considered cool, innovative, and one of the best ways to stand out.
You can add a creative section that describes your typical day or even go for a colorful creative template. No matter what you choose, make sure to keep the position, company, and industry in mind. Otherwise, you risk looking silly.
What makes a great payroll manager resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
