Payroll Officer
On this page
- What's it like to be a Payroll Officer?
- How to become a Payroll Officer
- Latest Payroll Officer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Payroll Officers
- Payroll Officer role reviews
What's it like to be a Payroll Officer?
A Payroll Officer (Āpiha Utu Kaimahi) combines administrative, accounting and data-entry skills to ensure that employees are paid correctly and on time. They manage company permissions to ensure funds are released at the right times, and keep the correct bank, tax, superannuation/Kiwisaver, annual leave and sick leave details on file. Payroll Officers typically work regular business hours within an organisation, but they may be required to work longer hours at busier times, including around pay days or public holidays that alter usual payment cycles.
Tasks and duties
- Processing staff payments, superannuation and annual leave.
- Assisting with month-end and payroll reporting.
- Being a key point of contact for all payroll queries.
- Updating and maintaining payroll records.
- Setting up payroll accounts for new employees.
How to become a Payroll Officer
No specific qualifications are required to become a Payroll Officer, but accounting skills are beneficial.
Consider completing a one-year Diploma in Business (Accounting) (Level 5) or bachelor degree in accounting or business. These qualifications can improve your employability and help you gain important skills for a Payroll Officer job.
Get on-the-job training. Different organisations have different payroll needs, depending on their size and complexity of operations, so Payroll Officers are usually given induction training to prepare for the job.
