Payroll Specialist Resume Examples + Expert Tips

5 essentials of a payroll specialist resume

1. Contact details

   Include your full name, city, state and ZIP code. In a different line, add your phone number, email address and link to your LinkedIn profile. Include any other professional website or networking website profile in this section.

2. Personal statement

   This section is your introduction to the hiring manager. Also called a professionalsummary, this is where you present your best skills and your related work experience. In no more than five sentences, you will let the recruiter know how long you have been in the industry, one or two professional accomplishments and your job-relevant skills.

   Here’s an example summary for a payroll specialist resume:

   “As a highly organized and detail-oriented payroll specialist, I am committed to ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing. With five years of experience in the field, I have developed a strong understanding of payroll laws and regulations, as well as the ability to effectively communicate with employees and management. I am skilled in using a variety of payroll software systems and have a proven track record of identifying and resolving payroll discrepancies.” 

   You can take a look at our resume samples for more resume summary examples for payroll specialist resumes. 

3. Skills

   The skills you include on your payroll specialist resume will indicate to recruiters that you are the best fit for the job. Use bullet points to add a balanced list of hard skills and soft skills. 

   Hard skills are all about the job, like compliance, legal knowledge and administrative skills. Soft skills refer to your work habits and how you work with others, like the ability to multitask, your customer service mindset and teamwork. 

   If you have no experience, include transferable skills from other employment opportunities, particularly skills that show your leadership and management skills.

4. Work history

   Your work history tells recruiters how much experience you have in the field. List it in reverse-chronological order and add the company names, locations and dates of employment. 

   For every job, include a bulleted list of three measurable accomplishments, like how many reports you completed, any audit you participated in, how many requests were fulfilled and so on. 

   You’ll want to demonstrate your knowledge of payroll regulations, experience with payroll software (such as ADP, Paychex or QuickBooks), and your high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.  

   If this is your first job, you can include other relevant work experience, like volunteer experiences, community services, professional projects and more.

   Experience in a related field, such as accounting or bookkeeping, can be helpful in preparing for a career as a payroll specialist. This experience provides a foundation of knowledge and skills that can be applied to the payroll specialist role.

5. Education

   Use bullet points to present your education. Include the school name, degree and graduation years but skip the graduation year if it has been more than 10 years. Include academic accomplishments, like projects, research, scholarships or other important memberships. 

   To become a payroll specialist, a formal education is not always required, though some employers may prefer candidates with a degree in accounting, finance or a related field. A certification in payroll processing, such as the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation, can also be beneficial.

   Payroll regulations and laws are constantly changing, so it’s important for payroll specialists to stay up to date on the latest developments. Continuing education courses and seminars can help professionals stay current and maintain their skills.