Payroll Accountants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of payroll accountants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for payroll accountants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of payroll accountants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for payroll accountants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Payroll Accountants?
Do payroll accountants need a degree? What kind of experience do payroll accountants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for payroll accountants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Payroll Accountants
Jobs Postings for Payroll Accountants By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 226,885 (63%)
- No Education Listed: 68,872 (19%)
- Master's degree: 42,509 (12%)
- High School or GED: 18,389 (5%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,494 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of payroll accountants. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 63% of positions. In 19% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Payroll Accountants
Jobs Postings for Payroll Accountants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 32,383 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 101,729 (48%)
- 4-6 Years: 60,812 (29%)
- 7-9 Years: 9,991 (5%)
- 10+ Years: 5,961 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for payroll accountants. In 48% of job postings for Payroll Accountants, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for payroll accountants.
What Kind of Degree Do Payroll Accountants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for payroll accountants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 11 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective payroll accountants, and in 2023 a total of 433,358 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective payroll accountants.
Top Degree Programs for Payroll Accountants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Payroll Accountants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 16,810 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 16,810 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Taxation. | 1,256 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation. | 314 |
| Auditing. | 155 |
| Accounting and Computer Science. | 55 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Payroll Accountants
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Learn to identify, resolve, and prevent white-collar crime in a variety of business settings while preparing for the CFE exam.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Stay Sarbanes-Oxley compliant and promote a fraud-prevention culture while preparing for professional certifications like the CFE.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Learn to decipher the numbers and communicate your findings with confidence and clarity in Franklin’s M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Taxation. The 17-month, online program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and features interactive courses led by in-field practitioners.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for Payroll Accountants
Boost your career prospects and productivity with MS Excel certificate courses that show you how to maximize the power of Microsoft's popular data analysis tool.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Take control of your professional life with Intuit bookkeeping certificate courses that train you help businesses record, track and analyze essential financial records.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $35/month
What Skills Do Payroll Accountants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by payroll accountants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for payroll accountants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Payroll Accountants
Based on 316,270 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Payroll Accountants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 278,555 | 88% |
| Auditing | 184,698 | 58% |
| Financial Statements | 142,676 | 45% |
| Finance | 137,280 | 43% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 102,194 | 32% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Payroll Accountants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 118,200 | 37% |
| Communication | 116,143 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 92,922 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 89,293 | 28% |
| Operations | 66,721 | 21% |
Based on 316,270 job postings related to payroll accountants, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 88% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, financial statements, finance, generally accepted accounting principles and general ledger were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for payroll accountants, followed by communication, detail oriented, microsoft excel, operations and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 278,555 | 88% |
| Auditing | 184,698 | 58% |
| Financial Statements | 142,676 | 45% |
| Finance | 137,280 | 43% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 102,194 | 32% |
| General Ledger | 74,405 | 24% |
| Accounts Payable | 63,078 | 20% |
| Internal Controls | 61,078 | 19% |
| Month-End Closing | 60,341 | 19% |
| Accounts Receivable | 55,554 | 18% |
| External Auditing | 52,746 | 17% |
| Account Reconciliation | 51,895 | 16% |
| Balance Sheet | 50,970 | 16% |
| Invoicing | 50,810 | 16% |
| Reconciliation | 49,714 | 16% |
| Public Accounting | 45,794 | 14% |
| Financial Analysis | 40,133 | 13% |
| Internal Auditing | 39,224 | 12% |
| Accounting Software | 34,552 | 11% |
| Fixed Asset | 31,804 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 118,200 | 37% |
| Communication | 116,143 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 92,922 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 89,293 | 28% |
| Operations | 66,721 | 21% |
| Microsoft Office | 59,673 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 58,172 | 18% |
| Research | 55,970 | 18% |
| Writing | 55,034 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 52,993 | 17% |
| Leadership | 42,920 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 38,866 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 38,674 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 37,536 | 12% |
| Analytical Skills | 36,964 | 12% |
| Planning | 36,471 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 34,408 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 34,353 | 11% |
| Time Management | 34,239 | 11% |
| Forecasting | 32,405 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about payroll accountants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for payroll accountants.
What do payroll accountants do?
How much do payroll accountants make?
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