Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Career

Job Description: Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.


Is Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk the right career path for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it fits one of your top recommended majors!

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Career

What skills are required for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks?

Importance Skills
  Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
  Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

What knowledge is needed to be a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk?

Importance Knowledge
  Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Work Styles

Importance Styles
  Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
  Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.