Anybody worked in Payroll before?

JDC14

Currently unemployed - left a telemarketing role last week (basically by mutual consent) - as it was awful. Wasn't how the job was sold to me at all. But either way, onwards and upwards.


Applying for jobs left, right and centre, but a lot of them (especially the top ones that I really want) - have been in Payroll, but I have no experience of it, so I was wondering what it was like.

In a previous job, I have seen one of the girls in the office, using the Sage software, so I have a rough idea of how it looks, and I imagine left to my own devices I'd work the majority of it out in half hour as I'm quite good with stuff like that - but what is the job itself like?!

Horseunderwater

Having done that job manually as a wages clerk it is not that simple a job to actually do. There is quite a bit more to it than just inputting figures into sage. You need to know SSP/Holiday pay rules how to pro rata stuff, how to operate tax codes and add in things like benefits in kind and often you actually do need some experience to do this role. I find it very simple to do as I worked in the Inland revenue many years ago, so I have that experience as well. The most likely job in this area would be as an input data clerk to learn to do this role I would have thought. I am not saying that you cannot learn it, just that you need to find an employer who is willing to train you up to do the role. Somewhere like a payrole company that actually does the wages for other companies?

Sambucus_Nigra

JDC14 wrote: »

Currently unemployed - left a telemarketing role last week (basically by mutual consent) - as it was awful. Wasn't how the job was sold to me at all. But either way, onwards and upwards.


Applying for jobs left, right and centre, but a lot of them (especially the top ones that I really want) - have been in Payroll, but I have no experience of it, so I was wondering what it was like.

In a previous job, I have seen one of the girls in the office, using the Sage software, so I have a rough idea of how it looks, and I imagine left to my own devices I'd work the majority of it out in half hour as I'm quite good with stuff like that - but what is the job itself like?!

Half an hour?

Doesn't saying things like that kind of insult those who have been in training for SAGE? So perhaps avoid saying things like this in interviews!

Firefox1975

Yes, ive run both manual and SAGE payroll side by side for a small company.

You will not learn it in half and hour.

you will not learn it within a day, week or month.

within a year you will probably be able to field most payroll queries in respect of hours worked, tax and NI payable, deductions, P60's, P45's,holidays and lieu.

within 1 - 2 years you will have a good understanding of Tax codes, P11D's, taxable benefits, benefits in kind etc.

probably after 5 years you will be considered for a Payroll managers position within a payroll company.

I think what im saying is, it isn;t just the computer software you need to operate, it is the Understanding behind what the computer is processing, you can't really teach understanding! (you can learn parrot fashion - but that isn't really the same)

I find Payroll to be a rather mundane area of accountancy, it does link in very nicely with forecasting, planning, budgeting and day to day operations, but it does also depend on what kind of payroll job it is. i.e within an organisation, or directly for a payroll agency (Which would not be very desireable!) (to me!)

MissSarah1972

JDC14 wrote: »

Currently unemployed - left a telemarketing role last week (basically by mutual consent) - as it was awful. Wasn't how the job was sold to me at all. But either way, onwards and upwards.


Applying for jobs left, right and centre, but a lot of them (especially the top ones that I really want) - have been in Payroll, but I have no experience of it, so I was wondering what it was like.

In a previous job, I have seen one of the girls in the office, using the Sage software, so I have a rough idea of how it looks, and I imagine left to my own devices I'd work the majority of it out in half hour as I'm quite good with stuff like that - but what is the job itself like?!

I have done payroll and if you think you will work it out in 30 mins, good luck with that. Also not everyone uses Sage Payroll.

You need about 3-4 years experience to really fully understand payroll. Will take a least one year to get to grips with the basics.

heretolearn_2

So, now everyone's given you a dose of reality hopefully you realise now there is more to payroll than bunging a few figures into the software. An understanding and application of legislation regarding employment and tax law is also essential. Getting it wrong has serious consequences, both for the employee and the employer.

If you want to work in payroll, you may be lucky and find an entry level position where they will train you up. Just be a bit more realistic (and less arrogant) if you get an interview.

You could also look at doing some courses in advance - that will make it more likely that you will get an interview. People don't spend the money and time on this training for the fun of it, there is a lot to learn, and having a qualification behind you will help you find that first job.

The HMRC site is a good place to start as well, you can start familiarising yourself with all the tax and legal requirements, and they have webinars on there. They also run a couple of short free workshops for small businesses on various aspects of payroll, they don't really train you how to do it, but it's a good intro to understanding what is involved. You could probably find a way to go to these. The Business Link website is a good source for information on employment law.

denla

I spent a whole week on a intensive training course in Sage Payroll, 9-5 for 5 days. I roughly know how it works but still incompetent to use it in the work place. It's impossible to learn within a week, let alone 30 minutes. Payroll is also boring and it's a lot of work. Don't expect to casually sit there inputting data while surfing facebook. I didn't even have time to use my 30 minutes lunch break each day because there was too much to learn. I've seen courses claiming you can learn Payroll in under a day's time, or maybe two days. No employer in the right mind would hire someone who's trained for several days only in Payroll which takes several months at least to properly learn.

Not all employers use Sage Payroll and even if they do, most Payroll jobs ask you to know how to manually do Payroll. If you can't manually do it, you can't use any other system aside from Sage and that makes you inflexible.

denla

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

I have done payroll and if you think you will work it out in 30 mins, good luck with that. Also not everyone uses Sage Payroll.

You need about 3-4 years experience to really fully understand payroll. Will take a least one year to get to grips with the basics.

Yeah I'm currently doing voluntary work where a small amount of Payroll is done, and after 2 months (2 days a week) I'm still having trouble delivering and often need help from others. And I'm suppose to have done a 5 day Sage Payroll course dammit.

Acc72

JDC14 wrote: »

Applying for jobs left, right and centre, but a lot of them (especially the top ones that I really want) - have been in Payroll, but I have no experience of it, so I was wondering what it was like.

Sorry to state the obvious, but if you have no knowledge or experience of working within payroll, why do you "really want" a job in payroll ?

denla

Acc72 wrote: »

Sorry to state the obvious, but if you have no knowledge or experience of working within payroll, why do you "really want" a job in payroll ?

He's seen what appears to be a dumb girl sitting in a chair comfortably typing in some data and thinks it's easy.

JDC14

Didn't even bother reading half of those replies as you've all completely mis-read it.

I said I reckon I could work out the software in half an hour, never said I'd understand all the legislation/regulations/rules/actions required in the role.

You all seem a tad touchy about the subject, so I won't even bother looking on here for any more advice about it.