A good payroll specialist resume focuses on your relevant skills like payroll processing, regulatory compliance, or reporting and documentation. Give examples of your past success as a payroll specialist or in similar roles, and show your knowledge base by citing any training or certificate programs you’ve done. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a results-driven resume showing your best payroll specialist experience.
Payroll Specialist Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Payroll Specialist Resume Example
Why this payroll specialist resume example is strong:
This resume has a prominent skills section showing the different ways the job seeker can add value to an organization.
ADP Payroll Specialist Resume Example
Why this payroll specialist resume example is strong:
This resume has impressive performance results and data in the experience section, showing how the candidate positively impacted their current role.
Payroll and Benefits Specialist Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
This resume has a good profile summary of Sarah's top qualifications. In a brief paragraph, the profile describes her overall experience and skill set, training the reader’s attention first and foremost on what makes her a great candidate. When writing your profile, include any relevant soft skills you possess and would like to apply to your target job.
Senior Payroll Specialist Resume Example
Why this payroll specialist resume example is strong:
This resume follows a consistent structure and format to ensure hiring managers can read it easily. The job seeker arranges basic details in a consistent order (title, organization, location, and dates where applicable), letting the reader quickly scan their career progress so far.
Accounts Payable Specialist Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
The applicant has created an eye-catching document by using bullet points to highlight important duties and achievements in each recent job.
Human Resources Coordinator Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
Kyle has created a unique resume by focusing on specific improvements he made at each employer. To achieve similar detail in your job descriptions, consider the following: What new systems or solutions did you introduce? And what benefit did those new things have in the broader organization? Your answers to these questions will make some of the most compelling points on your resume.
Human Resources Resume Example
Why this resume example is strong:
This resume uses dynamic verbs like "created" and "helped reduce" to express how the applicant has generated powerful results at each organization.
Payroll Specialist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Payroll Specialist Resume
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your payroll specialist qualifications
In a brief paragraph at the top of your resume, catch hiring managers’ attention by giving the three to five main reasons you’ll excel in your next payroll specialist job. (Note: Most job seekers find it easier to write their profile last.)
Example
Certified payroll professional (CPP) with a strong background in accounting and finance, holding a Master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. Demonstrated success managing payroll processing for large corporations such as Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), ensuring utmost accuracy and regulatory compliance. Proficient in payroll systems and software, with strong numerical and analytical skills and a deep understanding of payroll tax laws and regulations.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section for your payroll specialist role
Use your resume’s experience section to give examples of your background and success in roles similar to the one you’re now after. For each job in your recent work history, brainstorm your duties and achievements on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, choose the most relevant ones to include as bullet points on your resume. With this approach, you can write a detailed and payroll-focused experience section.
Example
Senior Payroll Specialist, Deloitte, San Francisco, CA | June 2018 to present
- Manage and process payroll for over 500 employees using ADP software, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in all transactions
- Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax laws, passing all audits with no discrepancies
- Resolved payroll issues promptly, reducing employee complaints by 30%
3. Include relevant education and certifications for your payroll specialist role
Give the basics on any bachelor’s degree(s) you’ve completed or worked toward. Then, flesh out this section with any certifications or other details that help show your relevant payroll or human resources (HR) knowledge.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template
- [Candidate:] Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, City, ST or online | [Year]
- [Relevant honors, activities, or coursework]
Example
- Master of Science — Human Resources Management, New York University, New York, NY
Certifications
Template
- Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
- [Description]
Example
- Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023
4. List pertinent key skills for your payroll specialist role
Add a key skills section to show how you can contribute to your target job. Below are some common skills and keywords for payroll specialist resumes:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Benefits administration | Cross-functional collaboration |
| Data gathering and analysis | Efficiency improvement |
| Payroll processing | Process streamlining |
| Regulatory compliance | Reporting and documentation |
| Task prioritization | Technical troubleshooting |
How To Pick The Best Payroll Specialist Resume Template
As with most vocations, payroll specialists should use a straightforward resume template. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to screen resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions: Payroll Specialist Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for payroll specialist resumes?-
It's easy to get stuck when writing the experience section of a resume. You might run out of action verbs to describe your work. To help you with this challenge, we compiled the list of common action verbs below that describe payroll specialist roles.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Assembled | Clarified |
| Created | Decreased |
| Enhanced | Established |
| Fostered | Generated |
| Grew | Improved |
| Increased | Introduced |
| Organized | Processed |
| Ranked | Reduced |
| Streamlined | Won |
How do you align your resume with a payroll specialist job posting?-
One great way to customize your resume is by adding brief descriptions of the places you’ve worked in [brackets] right next to or below the company name. Company descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the one who posted the job.
For example, maybe you've worked for companies of a similar size or industry. Or perhaps you've worked at organizations with a similar mission or leadership philosophy. By adding these kinds of details, you can make your resume more relevant to the job opening.
What is the best payroll specialist resume format?-
Most job seekers should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format's experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these two features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section enables you to display your career highlights at the top, regardless of whether they're from that work history or another part of your background.
As a result, you can present yourself both clearly and strategically. With this format, you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can decide to call you for an interview.
Write and submit a strong cover letter to increase your chances of an interview. The key to a good cover letter is tailoring it to each job opening. Read our cover letter guide to learn how. For more tips and examples, see our HR cover letter guide.
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