Top 5 Careers for Accounting & Payroll Admin Diploma Grads

You know that numbers are your thing; you’ve either enrolled in an accounting and payroll administration program or you’re dreaming of it. Not only do you want to select a leading-edge college and program with a track record for graduate success, but you want to know precisely what’s in practical store for you in the future. From the responsibilities and tasks to the potential for learning and upward mobility, it’s essential to survey your options. The end game is landing that career and here are the top five choices available to you with an accounting & payroll admin diploma.

Your Top 5 Accounting & Payroll Admin Career Options as a Grad

1. Bookkeeper

In this accounting & payroll administrator role you keep records of accounts, verify the recording procedures for financial transactions, and provide the personal bookkeeping services required.

Responsibilities Can Include:

• Maintain and balance various accounts using manual and computerized bookkeeping systems.
• Maintain general ledgers, posting journal entries, reconciling accounts, and prepare financial statements.
• Prepare tax returns.
• Personal bookkeeping.
• Prepare cheques for utilities, payroll and other bills.
• Fill out and submit workers compensation, pension and tax remittance forms.

Potential Workplace Environment / Employers:

• Typical work week, between 35-40 hours.
• Public and private sector, and self employment opportunities.

2. Accounting / Payroll Clerk

In this role you will verify and process payroll information, determine employee pay and benefit entitlements, maintain those records with accuracy, and provide payroll information to pertinent internal departments and companies.

Responsibilities Can Include:

• Maintain and update employee details – attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements, using manual or computerized systems.
• Prepare, verify, process:
• Statements of earnings, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions such as taxes, union dues, garnishments and insurance and pension plans.
• Regular pay, benefit payments, and special payments such as bonuses and vacation pay.
• Forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, leaves, share savings, employment and medical insurance.
• Year-end tax statements, pension, Records of Employment and other statements.
• Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Could be responsible for the developing/implementing payroll policies, procedures or processes.

Potential Workplace Environment / Employers:

• Typically work 35-40 hours per week.
• Payroll administration companies in both the private and public sectors.

3. Accounts Payable or Receivable Clerk

You will prepare and process invoices, bills, accounts payable and receivable, budgets and other financial records in accordance with your organizations’ procedures.

Responsibilities Can Include:

• Enter, verify and reconcile transactions – accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system.
• Calculate, prepare and issue bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems.
• Compile and prepare budgets.
• Prepare period or cost statements or reports.
• Calculate costs of materials, overhead and other expenses based on estimates, quotations, and price lists.
• Engage in customer service, responding to inquiries, solving problems and maintaining positive client relationships.
• Clerical duties may include maintaining filing and record systems, faxing and photocopying.

Potential Workplace Environment / Employers:

• Typically, in this role you’ll work 35-40 hours per week.
• There is potential for work throughout the private and public sectors.

4. Accounting / Payroll Administrator

In this position you will collect, verify and process payroll information, maintain payroll records, determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees and provide payroll information to pertinent internal departments and companies. This is more of a lead (or senior) role than that of a A/P Clerk; in this role, you will oversee the entire payroll process.

Responsibilities Can Include:

• Maintain and update employee details – attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements, using manual or computerized systems.
• Prepare, verify, process:
• Statements of earnings, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions such as taxes, union dues, garnishments and insurance and pension plans.
• Regular pay, benefit payments, and special payments such as bonuses and vacation pay.
• Forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, leaves, share savings, employment and medical insurance.
• Year-end tax statements, pension, Records of Employment and other statements.
• Provide information on payroll matters, benefit plans and collective agreement provisions.
• Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• In this role, you are more likely to be involved in the developing/implementing payroll policies, procedures or processes.

Potential Workplace Environment / Employers:

• In this role, 35-40 hours of work per week is typical.
• Employment opportunities exist within payroll administration companies throughout the private and public sectors.

5. Accounting Assistant

In this role you will calculate, prepare and process invoices, bills, accounts payable and receivable, budgets and other financial records according to the procedures of the organization you work within.

Responsibilities Can Include:

• Enter, verify and reconcile transactions – accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system.
• Calculate, prepare and issue bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems.
• Compile and prepare budgets.
• Prepare period or cost statements or reports.
• Calculate costs of materials, overhead and other expenses based on estimates, quotations, and price lists.
• Engage in customer service, responding to inquiries, solving problems and maintaining positive client relationships.
• Clerical duties may include maintaining filing and record systems, faxing and photocopying.

Potential Workplace Environment / Employers:

• • Typically, in this role you’ll work 35-40 hours per week.
  • There is potential for work throughout the private and public sectors.

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While there is overlap in some of these positions, the potential is vast and varied depending on the company – public or private – that you work within. And as all organizations are responsible for maintaining their books and keeping employees satisfied to remain loyal and productive, they require accounting and payroll wizards to ensure accuracy. As such, accounting and payroll administration salary options are competitive.

With a leading-edge education, hands-on training, and continual professional development, there truly is no limit to your potential in this challenging and evolving field. If you want to make a foundational difference in businesses and create a career and life you can be proud of, Accounting & Payroll Administration may be the perfect fit for you.

If you’re still exploring your options, take our “Accounting & Payroll Administrator Career Discovery Quiz”. But when you’re ready to launch your Accounting & Payroll Administration career, we’re here to help you navigate the steps along the way. Connect with one of our Admissions Advisors today! Book an express appointment here.

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:

• Anderson College- Accounting & Payroll Administration program
• Private or Public Accounting? Your Guide to Choosing a Career Path.
• PCP Designations – Accelerate Your Career – National Payroll Institute
• Top 10 Skills Needed to work in Accounting & Payroll
• How CPA Certification Can Catapult Your Career as an Accountant