Hire and manage payroll clerks and officers, review payroll summary reports, and ensure compliance with government regulations are all responsibilities of a payroll supervisor. A payroll supervisor is usually a Certified Payroll Professional® (CPP®) with a college diploma in payroll accounting. The American Payroll Association® provides this certification (APA). Payroll supervisor jobs can be found in a variety of medium to large companies, institutions, and businesses.
Payroll supervisors who enjoy working with numbers, are detail-oriented, and can work in a deadline-driven environment report the highest levels of satisfaction. Payroll departments work best as a team, with payroll accountants, clerks, and supervisors frequently sharing information and issues. The payroll supervisor’s role is that of a central communicator. He or she is in charge of staying up to date on government policies, procedures, and requirements. This information must be made relevant to the payroll staff and communicated to them in a clear and concise manner.
The supervisor’s primary responsibility is to oversee the payroll department’s personnel. Posting job descriptions, reviewing resumes, interviewing applicants, and hiring new employees are all part of this process. All payroll employees must be trained on company policy, payroll software, and any other payroll-related tools. If necessary, the supervisor is also in charge of disciplining and terminating employees.
Payroll supervisors spend a significant amount of time reviewing payroll summary reports. These reports are typically available every day and contain a summary of all transactions processed the day before. Exception and costing reports, in addition to these, must be reviewed on a regular basis. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to spot any inconsistencies and report them to the appropriate person as soon as possible.
The payroll supervisor is responsible for ensuring that company policy, government rules, employment law, and other laws are followed. He or she must keep up with the latest developments, reviewing both proposed and approved changes. They are then in charge of identifying the necessary changes, modifying the procedure, and putting the change into action. Noncompliance carries hefty penalties, both in terms of money and in terms of employee satisfaction.
People who work in a payroll department should be able to provide you with information about the typical working environment. The payroll department is usually part of the human resources department in most businesses. Payroll departments must be extremely detailed and deadline-oriented, which isn’t always the case in human resources.
A career as a payroll supervisor necessitates a commitment to lifelong learning. The rules and regulations are always changing, so it’s important to put in the time and effort to stay up to date. Further education in management or certification as a payroll manager or human resources specialist are usually required for advancement in this field. As almost every company has moved to computerized payroll systems, this career is becoming more technology-driven.