Payroll Manager Jobs

In 2006, U.S. employers had to pay the IRS a whopping $13 billion in penalties and interest. Their crime? Noncompliance with payroll tax laws. We're guessing those payroll departments had a lot of explaining to do....

Duties of a payroll manager
Payroll managers are responsible for keeping a company in compliance with federal and state laws governing minimum wage and overtime, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and state child support withholding requirements. Payroll managers must also leverage efficiencies and reduce costs, thereby contributing to the profitability of the organization.

Not only that, payroll managers often supervise an entire department of payroll professionals. They oversee payroll preparation and processing as well as tax reporting, benefits-records administration, and payroll systems maintenance.

Where to find payroll manager jobs
Payroll manager jobs can be found in every industry -- after all, every company needs a system for paying its employees. Many payroll managers work for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms that do the payroll for other companies.

Payroll manager programs
In order to become a payroll manager, you'll need about five or more years of payroll or closely related experience. One of the best ways to get started is to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or a related field. Many payroll managers also choose to become certified. The American Payroll Association, for instance, awards the Certified Payroll Professional credential to experienced payroll professionals who pass a comprehensive certification exam.

Demand for payroll manager jobs
With companies offering a greater variety of pension, 401(k), and other investment plans to their employees, and employers garnishing wages for child support, the job of the payroll professional has never been more complex, and a payroll manager plays a vital role in ensuring a company's compliance to federal and state regulations. According to Salary.com, the median expected salary for a typical payroll manager in the United States is $71,844.

Depending on your work as a payroll manager, your employer could be indebted to you or in debt because of you. Be sure to make the right choice.

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