HR & Admin

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Resume Example

Professional resume template and tips for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk positions

TimekeeperPayroll AssistantPayroll CoordinatorAttendance ClerkBonus ClerkCheckmanCommissions ClerkFinance Specialist

Looking to build a career as a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk? This guide provides a clear overview of this essential administrative role, where accuracy and discretion are paramount. You’ll learn about the daily tasks, from processing paychecks to verifying hours worked, and the specific technical skills needed, including proficiency with tools like ADP Workforce Now and Microsoft Excel. We also detail the critical soft skills, like active listening and judgment, that employers value. Finally, get practical advice on the knowledge areas to develop and how to craft a strong resume for this position. Use this resource to confidently prepare your application and showcase your qualifications as a payroll professional.

BETTY GRIFFIN

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
betty.griffin@email.com | +1 (555) 123-4567 | San Francisco, CA

Professional Summary

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk with 5+ years of experience in multi-site retail payroll administration. Processed payroll for over 500 employees weekly with 99.9% accuracy, using Kronos and Workday to verify timecards and manage deductions. Proficient in Microsoft Excel for complex wage calculations.

Skills

Technical Skills: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Workday software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office software
Soft Skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Mathematics, Writing, Speaking

Experience

Lead Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
2022 - Present
Harmony HR Solutions Group
  • Orchestrated the migration from Kronos to Workday, leveraging critical thinking to streamline timekeeping processes and reduce payroll processing time by 20%
  • Mentored a team of 3 junior clerks, enhancing their proficiency in SAP software and improving department-wide accuracy by 15% through active listening and tailored coaching
  • Developed and implemented a new reconciliation protocol using advanced Excel functions, ensuring 100% accuracy for period-end reports across 5 business units
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
2019 - 2022
Apex Administrative Partners
  • Led the bi-weekly payroll processing for a division of 500+ employees using Oracle PeopleSoft, resolving complex discrepancies through meticulous monitoring and analysis
  • Collaborated with HR to redesign the new hire onboarding paperwork, utilizing strong writing skills to create clearer forms that reduced data entry errors by 25%
  • Owned the year-end reporting project, reconciling W-2s and preparing statements of earnings for 1200 employees with zero discrepancies, ensuring full compliance
Junior Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
2016 - 2019
Metropolitan Office Management Inc.
  • Accurately verified attendance and hours worked for 200+ employees using Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, demonstrating strong reading comprehension to catch and correct 10+ weekly input errors
  • Processed and issued 300+ employee paychecks per cycle via SAP software, applying mathematical precision to compute wages and post adjustments to designated records
  • Supported senior clerks by preparing preliminary period-end reports in Excel and entering new employee information into the payroll system with a high degree of accuracy

Education

Associate Degree
2013 - 2015
State University

Certificates

  • Kronos Workforce Timekeeper Certification
  • Workday Payroll Certification
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

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What does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk do?

A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:

  • Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
  • Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
  • Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
  • Process paperwork for new employees and enter employee information into the payroll system.
  • Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.

What skills do you need as a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk?

Employers hiring for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:

Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
Workday software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Office software
Oracle PeopleSoft
SAP software
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access

What knowledge areas are important for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk?

Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:

AdministrativeMathematicsEnglish LanguageEconomics and AccountingPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaEducation and Training

How do I write a great Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk resume?

Creating an effective Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk resume requires focusing on what employers in the HR & Admin sector value most.

Use relevant keywords

ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:

WritingMathematicsMicrosoft ExcelActive ListeningWorkday softwareMicrosoft OutlookReading ComprehensionKronos Workforce Timekeeper

Quantify your impact

When describing how you "verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.

Showcase technical proficiency

Highlight hands-on experience with Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Workday software, Microsoft Outlook and any administrative certifications that validate your expertise.

Match the experience level

For Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk roles, employers typically expect usually requires trade school, apprenticeship, or 2-year degree. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.

Example bullet points

Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk resume:

  • Orchestrated the migration from Kronos to Workday, leveraging critical thinking to streamline timekeeping processes and reduce payroll processing time by 20%
  • Mentored a team of 3 junior clerks, enhancing their proficiency in SAP software and improving department-wide accuracy by 15% through active listening and tailored coaching
  • Developed and implemented a new reconciliation protocol using advanced Excel functions, ensuring 100% accuracy for period-end reports across 5 business units

How to use AI to improve your Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk resume

AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.

However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.

AI Resume Prompt

Prompt

You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.

Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.

Job description:
[paste the job description here]

Provide feedback on the following:

  1. Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
  2. Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
  3. Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Workday software, Microsoft Outlook, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
  4. Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
  5. ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
  6. Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.

Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.

Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.

Timekeeper Resume Example

Looking for a Timekeeper resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:

TYLER HALL

Timekeeper
tyler.hall@email.com • +1 (555) 123-4567 • San Francisco, CA

Summary

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk with 5+ years of experience in multi-site retail payroll administration. Processed payroll for over 500 employees weekly with 99.9% accuracy, using Kronos and Workday to verify timecards and manage deductions. Proficient in Microsoft Excel for complex wage calculations.

Skills

Technical: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Workday software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office software
Professional: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Mathematics, Writing, Speaking

Experience

Harmony HR Solutions Group
2022 - Present
Lead Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
  • Orchestrated the migration from Kronos to Workday, leveraging critical thinking to streamline timekeeping processes and reduce payroll processing time by 20%
  • Mentored a team of 3 junior clerks, enhancing their proficiency in SAP software and improving department-wide accuracy by 15% through active listening and tailored coaching
  • Developed and implemented a new reconciliation protocol using advanced Excel functions, ensuring 100% accuracy for period-end reports across 5 business units
Apex Administrative Partners
2019 - 2022
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
  • Led the bi-weekly payroll processing for a division of 500+ employees using Oracle PeopleSoft, resolving complex discrepancies through meticulous monitoring and analysis
  • Collaborated with HR to redesign the new hire onboarding paperwork, utilizing strong writing skills to create clearer forms that reduced data entry errors by 25%
  • Owned the year-end reporting project, reconciling W-2s and preparing statements of earnings for 1200 employees with zero discrepancies, ensuring full compliance
Metropolitan Office Management Inc.
2016 - 2019
Junior Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk
  • Accurately verified attendance and hours worked for 200+ employees using Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, demonstrating strong reading comprehension to catch and correct 10+ weekly input errors
  • Processed and issued 300+ employee paychecks per cycle via SAP software, applying mathematical precision to compute wages and post adjustments to designated records
  • Supported senior clerks by preparing preliminary period-end reports in Excel and entering new employee information into the payroll system with a high degree of accuracy

Education

State University
2013 - 2015
Associate Degree

Certifications

  • Kronos Workforce Timekeeper Certification
  • Workday Payroll Certification
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

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