Payroll Clerk

National Occupation Classification Code: 1432

NEED TO KNOW:

NEED TO KNOW:

What are the main duties of a Payroll Clerk in Alberta?

Payroll clerks collect verify and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees within a department, company or other establishment. They are employed by payroll administration companies and by establishments throughout the private and public sectors.

Payroll clerks perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Maintain records of employee attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements, in Canadian and other currencies, using manual or computerized systems
  • Prepare and verify statements of earnings for employees, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions such as taxes, union dues, garnishments and insurance and pension plans
  • Prepare employee payments and benefit payments by cheque or electronic transfer
  • Complete, verify and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, leaves, share savings, employment and medical insurance
  • Prepare T4 statements and other statements
  • Provide information to employees on payroll matters, benefit plans and collective agreement provisions
  • Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts
  • Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile
 

What are the requirements to work a Payroll Clerk in Alberta?

Most employers prefer to hire job candidates who have taken related courses and programs from colleges, technical institutes or private vocational schools. Experience as a financial clerk is usually required. In Alberta, a number of institutions offer accounting courses and programs:

Some training is conducted on the job. Ongoing training, in the form of courses and seminars, is offered by the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA). The CPA offers three levels of certification: payroll administrator, payroll supervisor, and payroll manager. These certifications are quickly becoming the norm. Most employers will hire you as a payroll clerk on the condition that you enroll in the certification process as soon as possible.

What kind of personal characteristics do employers expect in a Payroll Clerk?

Personal Characteristics of Payroll Clerks include the following:

  • meticulous about detail, careful and accurate
  • learn the rules governing payroll calculations and apply them in different
  • be able to meet regular deadlines
  • communication and interpersonal skills to handle employees' questions, concerns
  • accurate keyboarding skills (and neat handwriting in some cases) are important
    when it comes to entering numbers in order to avoid misinterpretation

What kind of salary information can I utilize to help me with my job search?

According to the 2007 Robert Half Salary Guide Payroll Clerks working full time earned from $31,500 to $37,500 a year.