A payroll clerk is responsible for paying employees, as well as the operation of the timekeeping system. In this role, the clerk is accountable for collecting timekeeping information, incorporating a variety of deductions into a periodic payroll, and issuing pay and pay-related information to employees.

Principal Accountabilities

Collect and summarize timekeeping information
Obtain supervisory approval of time card discrepancies
Obtain overtime approvals
Calculate commissions
Process garnishment requests
Process employee advances and paybacks
Update employee payroll records as needed
Process and close periodic payrolls
Print and issue paychecks
Process direct deposit payments
Process paycard payments
Calculate and deposit payroll taxes
Process employment verifications
Process and issue annual W-2 forms to employees
Process and distribute reports for compensation, taxes paid, garnishments, and deductions
Ensure that the timekeeping system is operating properly
Answer questions from employees related to payroll topics

Payroll Clerk Experience Requirements

A payroll clerk is usually expected to have minimal experience when first starting in this position. Conversely, a mid-level payroll clerk would be expected to have at least three years of payroll processing experience. You should set the required experience level to match the processing requirements and software knowledge needed to operate your payroll system.