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 write a Payroll Manager resume experience section
Payroll Manager Resume’s Job Experience Checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Payroll Manager resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- 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.
- Från juli 2015 ensamt ansvarig för lönehanteringen i Sverige.
- Hantering av ca 500 löner varje månad.
- Support till HR, chefer och anställda vad gäller lönefrågor och personalfrågor.
- Avstämning av konton gällande pensioner och försäkringar.
- Sammanställning av statistik till SCB.
- Kontakt med myndigheter och andra sedvanliga uppgifter.
- 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:
Payroll Manager Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
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.
Payroll Manager Resume Summary Best Practices
Checklist: What to include in your Payroll Manager resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs 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:
Listing Your Education, Certifications and Courses
Resume Education Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Payroll Manager resume
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Payroll Manager Resume: Additional Writing & Formatting Tips
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Payroll Manager Resume Summary best practices
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
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.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Payroll Manager resume:
Payroll Manager Resume: How to Make Yours More Creative & Stand Out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Payroll Manager resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
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.
