Payroll Accountant Interview Questions & Answers

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Payroll Accountants process salary payments to employees. Their responsibilities include calculating salaries, updating payroll systems with employee information, and preparing internal and external tax reports. They may also conduct internal audits.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Payroll Accountant or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Payroll Accountant position, these Payroll Accountant interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Payroll Accountant Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Payroll Accountant interview questions.

1. In your experience, which payroll processing software works the best, and why?
2. Can you share some of your tips to prepare an internal payroll report?
3. Do you have experience computing monthly payroll (including deductions) of the entire staff of a company?
4. Do you have experience managing employee tax payment (PAYE), tax returns and tax relief claims?
5. How would you typically go about keeping track of overtime earnings?
6. Can you describe payroll procedures that junior staff may overlook?
7. What would you do if you noticed an error in an employee’s paycheck?
8. Can you tell me about a time when you handled a challenging payroll query?
9. Are you comfortable working with confidential information?
10. What are some of the most important skills you have that make you a good payroll accountant?
11. How would you describe the relationship between payroll and human resources?
12. What is the difference between gross salary and net salary?
13. Provide an example of a time when you had to negotiate a raise for an employee.
14. If an employee was overpaid, how would you handle the situation as a Payroll Accountant?
15. When is the latest you would ever submit an employee’s payroll?
16. Describe your process for handling tax deductions.
17. Which payroll tax codes are you most familiar with?
18. What do you think is the most important aspect of payroll accounting?
19. How often do you recommend employees get paid?
20. There is a change in the tax code. As a Payroll Accountant, what would you do to update your calculations?
21. During a payroll audit, you discover an error a coworker made. What are your next steps?
22. Do you plan to open up your own accounting or payroll firm in future?
23. What is a fiscal year?
24. What is a general ledger?
25. Have you had responsibility for state and federal tax payments?
26. Have you performed bookkeeping for small businesses? If so, walk me through your experience.
27. As a Payroll Accountant, would you ever pay an employee through accounts payable rather than payroll?

Payroll Accountant Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Payroll Accountant interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

1. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
2. What is Your Greatest Strength?
3. Tell Me About Yourself
4. Why Do You Want This Job?
5. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
6. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
7. What is Your Salary Expectation?
8. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
9. Why Should We Hire You?
10. What is Your Greatest Weakness?

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