How to start a career in payroll

Welcome to our blog on how to start a career in payroll. Written by Claire, an assistant payroll manager, it gives valuable tips on navigating the payroll career path.

Payroll: A career choice

When people ask how to start a career in payroll, I reflect on the fact that in my personal experience, few people set out with the intention of starting a payroll career, most often it wasn’t their chosen career path. They just tend to ‘fall into the job’ and then discover that there is so much more to payroll than just data entry.

Our payroll team page gives an idea of what a payroll career is like and includes our latest payroll jobs. You don’t have to fall in, you can actively pursue this exciting career path!

What our team say about payroll careers

Speaking with a few colleagues, I asked how they started their payroll career path…

“‘I was a cashier, they asked me to help out in the accounts office and that progressed on to doing a bit of payroll. Payroll got busier and more involved with lots of new legislation and bringing in pensions. I changed jobs to payroll and I’ve been doing in for 29 years now.”

Julie, assistant payroll manager

“I started in payroll temporarily whilst waiting for my accountancy apprenticeship to start. During this time, I realised that a payroll career was a better fit with me personally, so I made the decision to move to payroll permanently”.

Daryl, senior payroll administrator

“I was working as an accounts assistant at a company. I went into work one day and the payroll administrator had gone off sick, so I was told that I’d be doing the weekly and monthly payrolls. I carried on doing this for a couple of years. I wanted to progress so I moved to PKF Francis Clark where I now manage the payroll for multiple companies”.

Lynne, payroll administrator

Is payroll a good career?

It seems that payroll is overshadowed by this historical assumption of being ‘just the press of a button’, and a role that can be tagged onto another job. And yet, if payroll is not processed accurately, in a timely manner and compliant, the fines, penalties, and other consequences can be severe. Not just financially but for employee morale, turnover and trust in the company. A payroll career is not just one of immense value but also of the utmost importance.

A payroll professional knows that what they are processing not only impacts the business but also each individual on that payroll who is relying on their pay being correct. They need to input the data accurately, adhering to the relevant and ever-changing legislation. They also need to recognise the links between legislation and how it can influence different aspects of processing, all within the relevant deadlines.

Keeping knowledge up to date is mandatory, and there is always something new to learn.

Is a payroll career path rewarding and interesting?

A career in payroll is never dull, it will keep you on your toes and challenge you constantly. There are a variety of directions a payroll career can take, such as processing, rewards, benefits and compensation, software development, education, forensics, analyst, global payroll and many more.

Payroll knowledge is also transferable not only into other careers but into everyday life. For example, a payroll professional needs to understand income tax, student loans, national insurance, auto enrolment pension and tax relief types, statutory payments and national minimum pay, amongst other things!

Oh, and don’t forget voluntary payrolling of benefits in kind which becomes mandatory in April 2027. Another exciting change in the world of payroll!

So, if you are considering your future and your career options, take a look at payroll, we’ll keep you entertained!

Claire’s story: My payroll career path

“Ten years ago, I attended an interview with PKF Francis Clark. It was my second interview that day, and the first one with another employer had left me feeling like I had nothing to offer.

“Driving to my interview with PKF Francis Clark, I thought I was fooling myself that an established company would want to take a chance on me. But I walked out of that interview knowing that this was the firm I wanted to work with. A firm that invests in their employees and wants to develop people.

“I started as a member of the Payroll Solutions team. I thought I knew what payroll was, but soon discovered a whole other world of challenges and job satisfaction. I’ve progressed from being a trainee payroll administrator and to assistant payroll manager. I am proud to be a payroll professional and very much enjoy what I do.

“I work with a fantastic team and have the privilege of being able to collaborate with other dedicated specialists within the firm to offer a comprehensive service to our clients. For example working with colleagues across tax, global mobility, employer solutions, accountancy, bookkeeping and more.

“Furthermore, you’re not pigeonholed into one role. Want to be a part of the social committee? Great! Got ideas for business development, or supporting the firm’s environmental initiatives? Let’s hear them! With PKF Francis Clark you have a voice, and you can take control of your payroll career, or for that matter any of the careers offered here!”