Payroll Clerk

A job can provide a sense of worth, a circle of friends, and a degree of social respect. Unfortunately, none of these benefits are edible. Employees also need paychecks so they can keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. A Payroll Clerk provides those paychecks.

The Human Resources Director gives you — the Payroll Clerk — a list of active company employees, their pay rates, and any other pertinent information. If any information changes, the Director tells you immediately. Each employee, from the Chief Executive Officer to the Receptionist, provides you with a list of hours worked per pay period. Armed with this information, you determine how much each employee must be paid.

Before you issue checks, though, you first deduct taxes and fees. You then tally up the deductions and determine the proper amount of the final check. Keeping close records of all of these deductions, as well as the amounts paid in each period, makes the Accountant ’s job easier at tax time.

Once you’ve double-checked all of your information, you print checks for your employees. Some employees prefer to have their checks deposited right into their bank accounts, and you handle those arrangements, too.

On payday, you’re extremely popular, and employees smile and wave as you pass by. Some employees may spot errors on their checks, however, and they may come to visit you with complaints. Handling those complaints quickly and efficiently helps you succeed as Payroll Clerk, but preventing errors from occurring in the first place is a more efficient way to do business.