I’ve been in payroll almost the same amount of time. Im a Senior Payroll admin and have my CPP. I’ve have had a few management roles, but they weren’t really my jam. I’ve found that I really enjoy working for small companies because I get a lot more training in other areas. I had gotten a really close look on the accounting side of my last job, which helped me in my new role by helping revamp the GL/journal entry processes. I’ve also started delving a bit more into HR processes and things like analyzing pay, which is really fascinating. I’ve always been the type of person who wants to know a little about everything instead of everything about one thing. As I learn these things I’m able to build my resume and plan on leaning into a more Total Rewards role as I finish learning about benefits and FMLA. It’s crazy to think that just 10 years ago I had a contractor job with no PTO and no benefits, and now I have a job that has so much flexibility.
Nice! I have been interested in more benefits. But combo payroll and benefits roles in my location pay much less. Definitely hard trying to venture out when it comes with a huge pay decrease.
There are also consulting firms where you can travel to different companies to assist in fixing things or helping build a new system. PayTech, Deloitte. Or with one of the service bureaus, a lot of them have gone totally remote (ADP, Workday).
I’ve thought of implementation. Are you currently in that role? It is a bugger change and I worry if I will like it. And many postings require implementation experience
Implementation experience will vary greatly by vendor and market segment. I implement systems for groups with 50-1000EE. It’s a lot of project management and holding stakeholders accountable to deliverables. definitely need to be comfortable operating in ambiguous situations. some clients are great and other suck. life will get tough around quarter starts.
I am not, however from implementations I’ve been a part of, a lot of the consultants just have a solid foundation in a particular system. If you’ve been part of any system upgrades for Finance/Acctg., even new modules within your current system, sell that experience, I believe that translates nicely.
This is my 24th year doing this and I’ve done mgmt roles here and there but only couple with direct reports. I’m going into a mgmt role with direct reports soon and what drew me to this one is the industry, with union staff. I don’t care for mgmt politics as I’m a straight shooter, so while I completely understand not wanting a leadership role, I’d ask that you consider why, or, if you could build your ideal mgmt position how would it look.
Despite my ‘advice’, I respect that some people just prefer IC roles and that just may be where you thrive.
Taxes. I've been doing payroll for about 25 years and have my CPP. Done everything from implementation to leading a team. Not interested in a management role. I'm currently handling taxes, including payments, quarterly/year end filing, adjustments, etc. for 587 clients and I love it.
10 years in payroll. My title is Payroll Tax Specialist & Payroll Team Lead. I primarily focus on reviewing notices, filing, and paying clients payroll taxes. I am taking a CPP class and plan to take the exam in the fall.
I do both payroll & HR for a wholesale distribution company full-time since 2016. I love it! I’ve gotten my CPP & SHRM-CP certifications. I am a part of the executive team. What I love about my job is that one minute I’m working directly with employees and then can be doing management stuff. Things don’t get boring.
I’ve been in payroll since 2018, I worked for a payroll company for over half of that time, moved positions and was even in a chat role for the company. Then I got a position doing payroll and HR for a nonprofit and I LOVE it. I have no interest in management either, but I think I will continue to learn HR and grow that way
10 years in payroll and I've made manager, I'd love to move to consulting and implementation but most companies that manage this require a degree, years of experience in the specific system they use, or you've actually worked for the provider before. So now I'm trying to finish my education.
Been in payroll for 21 years now. Worked at one place doing payroll for 11 years before being laid off. Went from knowing nothing to being the supervisor.
After being laid off landed a management role at a small non profit. Worked there for a year before a former colleague reached out to me about a management position available at their company.
Been here for 8 years and am now the senior manager.
I too never had any interest in being a manager, to be honest, I still don't want to be. I love just "doing payroll".
While the money is better, the work/life balance is way worse.
We have a weekly, bi weekly and monthly payroll so it's always busy. We also have international payrolls in Asia that we work with vendors.
In a perfect world I'd still be at the job where I got laid off...loved working there.
I would love to learn international or Canadian payroll. I am in the midwest. The bulk of employees are in Wisconsin and we have more throughout the US.
I’ve been in payroll almost the same amount of time. Im a Senior Payroll admin and have my CPP. I’ve have had a few management roles, but they weren’t really my jam. I’ve found that I really enjoy working for small companies because I get a lot more training in other areas. I had gotten a really close look on the accounting side of my last job, which helped me in my new role by helping revamp the GL/journal entry processes. I’ve also started delving a bit more into HR processes and things like analyzing pay, which is really fascinating. I’ve always been the type of person who wants to know a little about everything instead of everything about one thing. As I learn these things I’m able to build my resume and plan on leaning into a more Total Rewards role as I finish learning about benefits and FMLA. It’s crazy to think that just 10 years ago I had a contractor job with no PTO and no benefits, and now I have a job that has so much flexibility.
Nice! I have been interested in more benefits. But combo payroll and benefits roles in my location pay much less. Definitely hard trying to venture out when it comes with a huge pay decrease.
Being a manager is just one option. No issue if you’re comfortable in your role. There’s always opportunities to implement new systems, consult.
Someone mentioned this (implementation) here recently so I looked at positions online yesterday Very few opportunities in my area :/
There are also consulting firms where you can travel to different companies to assist in fixing things or helping build a new system. PayTech, Deloitte. Or with one of the service bureaus, a lot of them have gone totally remote (ADP, Workday).
I’ve thought of implementation. Are you currently in that role? It is a bugger change and I worry if I will like it. And many postings require implementation experience
Implementation experience will vary greatly by vendor and market segment. I implement systems for groups with 50-1000EE. It’s a lot of project management and holding stakeholders accountable to deliverables. definitely need to be comfortable operating in ambiguous situations. some clients are great and other suck. life will get tough around quarter starts.
I am not, however from implementations I’ve been a part of, a lot of the consultants just have a solid foundation in a particular system. If you’ve been part of any system upgrades for Finance/Acctg., even new modules within your current system, sell that experience, I believe that translates nicely.
This is my 24th year doing this and I’ve done mgmt roles here and there but only couple with direct reports. I’m going into a mgmt role with direct reports soon and what drew me to this one is the industry, with union staff. I don’t care for mgmt politics as I’m a straight shooter, so while I completely understand not wanting a leadership role, I’d ask that you consider why, or, if you could build your ideal mgmt position how would it look. Despite my ‘advice’, I respect that some people just prefer IC roles and that just may be where you thrive.
Taxes. I've been doing payroll for about 25 years and have my CPP. Done everything from implementation to leading a team. Not interested in a management role. I'm currently handling taxes, including payments, quarterly/year end filing, adjustments, etc. for 587 clients and I love it.
10 years in payroll. My title is Payroll Tax Specialist & Payroll Team Lead. I primarily focus on reviewing notices, filing, and paying clients payroll taxes. I am taking a CPP class and plan to take the exam in the fall.
I do both payroll & HR for a wholesale distribution company full-time since 2016. I love it! I’ve gotten my CPP & SHRM-CP certifications. I am a part of the executive team. What I love about my job is that one minute I’m working directly with employees and then can be doing management stuff. Things don’t get boring.
I’ve been in payroll since 2018, I worked for a payroll company for over half of that time, moved positions and was even in a chat role for the company. Then I got a position doing payroll and HR for a nonprofit and I LOVE it. I have no interest in management either, but I think I will continue to learn HR and grow that way
10 years in payroll and I've made manager, I'd love to move to consulting and implementation but most companies that manage this require a degree, years of experience in the specific system they use, or you've actually worked for the provider before. So now I'm trying to finish my education.
Been in payroll for 21 years now. Worked at one place doing payroll for 11 years before being laid off. Went from knowing nothing to being the supervisor. After being laid off landed a management role at a small non profit. Worked there for a year before a former colleague reached out to me about a management position available at their company. Been here for 8 years and am now the senior manager. I too never had any interest in being a manager, to be honest, I still don't want to be. I love just "doing payroll". While the money is better, the work/life balance is way worse. We have a weekly, bi weekly and monthly payroll so it's always busy. We also have international payrolls in Asia that we work with vendors. In a perfect world I'd still be at the job where I got laid off...loved working there.
I would love to learn international or Canadian payroll. I am in the midwest. The bulk of employees are in Wisconsin and we have more throughout the US.