What to Know About the Latest in Payroll Technology

What to Know About the Latest in Payroll TechnologyWhat to Know About the Latest in Payroll TechnologyDigital transformation is a term that can make some payroll professionals ill at ease. At the very least, it means learning a new platform. But advances in payroll technology can also mean some job responsibilities will be automated - a cause for worry about job security.The current wave of digital transformation is especially disruptive, and payroll departments across the country are affected - but its really nothing a savvy payroll specialist should find suspicious.Technology has and will continue to change the way you work, but it will also create new opportunities. Motivated professionals can ride this wave and land themselves a more rewarding - and possibly higher-paying - job than before.Robert Halfs Benchmarking the Accounting and Finance Function report offers a definitive overview of the current state of IT within the world of finance. To get ahead in your field, here ar e four trends in payroll technology you should know about1. annahme an kindes statt of cloud-based ERPThe latest Benchmarking data shows more and more companies are moving to cloud systems. Seventy-five percent of the U.S. finance professionals surveyed say their company has already made the transition or plans to do so in the near future, compared with 72 percent in 2017 and 62 percent the year before that. For payroll teams, this may mean leaving their existing software platform and adopting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the cloud.Cloud-based systems make it easier to share data, work remotely and stay up to date on the latest tax codes. Companies also like this shift because theres less equipment to buy and maintain. Going forward, having hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Oracle, SAP and other ERPs will be a major asset on any payroll resume.Excel is still the top planning and budgeting tool, beating out the likes of Cognos and Hyperion, but o ur annual benchmarking study shows reliance on Excel is declining slightly - it is used by 63 percent of respondents this year, compared with 69 percent in 2017.2. A move toward data analyticsPowerful new systems like cloud-based ERP software generate vast amounts of data, which, in turn, can offer an unprecedented level of insight into a companys operations. This means a shift in many back-office teams - away from purely functional work and toward a more strategic role. Payroll is a treasure trove of financial and HR data, and management will expect staff to make sense of big data by using payroll analytics tools.3. Increased process automationAutomation has removed much of the rote work from finance and HR teams. A prime example is the self-service benefits portal, which has made it possible for employees to track their own time, update personal information and manage their benefits without ever having to contact another person. Automation has streamlined payroll processing and reconciliation, freeing up staff time for higher-value tasks. It also improves accuracy.The down sides, according to some of the executives surveyed, are the high cost and learning curve of the automation software. But theres no doubt that financial automation is the present and future.Looking for a job in payroll? See the job descriptions and duties for different positions in the payroll department.4. The rise of artificial intelligence Yes, artificial intelligence is related to automation, but its a lot more than that. As part of digital transformation, AI algorithms detect patterns and shifts in big data and analyze them so humans can make sense of it all. Thanks to self-learning, also called deep learning, AI systems can evaluate their past performance to improve future predictions. If you have a weather app on your phone (and who doesnt?), youre benefitting from the powers of AI.In terms of payroll, AI excels at analyzing all sorts of variables - employee classification, age, withholding amounts, and so forth - and can improve accuracy by detecting nonobvious errors in paystubs. Then there are chatbots, which can handle routine employee queries.With automation and AI, the payroll department of the future will undoubtedly have fewer clerks and data enterers. At the same time, staff will still be needed to perform more cognitively demanding and creative tasks. Humans excel at handling nonroutine situations. And dont forget about the human experience thats at the heart of talent management and payroll. No matter how fancy a companys AI program is, people will always crave human interaction in the workplace.The bottom lineThe entire finance industry, including payroll, is undergoing a digital transformation. Its not a matter of if, but when. No one knows exactly what this field will look like in 50 years, but one things for sure today The answer is to not be suspicious of payroll technology. Instead, use it to your advantage so you can become a smarter, bet ter informed and more valuable payroll professional.

Customize this Outstanding External Auditor Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding External Auditor Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding External Auditor Resume SampleCreate Resume Bradley Sutton100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234bradsuttonexample.comProfessional SummaryDedicated External Auditor who is always able to balance customer requirements with the needs of the firm. Adept at emergency auditing projects, creating comprehensive audit reports and establishing a good working relationship with clients. Specializes in quarterly and year-end audits.Core QualificationsComprehensive understanding of state and federal compliance regulationsExcellent customer service skillsVery strong computer skillsAble to work efficiently as part of a groupExceptional corporate presentation abilitiesAlways willing to put in long hoursExperienceExternal Auditor, October 2010 February 2015Balley and Associates New Cityland, CADesignated to head teams assigned to larger clients.Often asked to do emergency audit projects for spec ial clients.Responsible for generating project summary reports for firm management.External Auditor, June 1991 February 2004Potter, Williams and Skreet New Cityland, CAMaintained files for smaller, active projects.Assisted in doing the initial audits for larger projects.Education1991 Bachelor of Science, AccountingGlisten College New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

Do This When Your Job Search Starts to Stress You Out

Do This When Your Job Search Starts to Stress You OutDo This When Your Job Search Starts to Stress You OutLooking for a job is no picnic. It can easily stress you out. Between the uncertainties you face when considering big career decisions, the preparation involved in figuring out job search strategies, and the performance anxiety of wanting to do well in your interviews, seeking work can quickly add up to crushing stress.In fact, the staffing firm LaSalle Network found after surveying nearly 600 people that 71 percent felt nervous and stressed in relation to the job interview process. Assuming youre among them, its important to know how to manage stress early on in the job search process.Heres what to do when your job search starts to stress you outGet prepared.You can combat stress and anxiety with proactive planning. Part of what makes you feel anxious is not knowing how youll approach your interviews. But when you slow down, step back, and prepare your answers to common intervie w questions, youll gain a sense of mastery and control that you do indeed know your stuff.In addition to strengthening your interview answers, prepare questions in advance to ask the hiring team at the end of the interview. You should also thoroughly familiarize yourself with any company where youll be interviewing by doing ample online research and talking to others in your network who may work there.Revamp your resume.Even in this age of digital job search, your resume is still your calling card to prospective employers. When you have a rock-solid resume, you can relax into your job search knowing that much of the legwork has been completed and is successfully integrated into your portfolio as solid written proof of your talents, abilities, and experience.As you give your resume a once-over for improvement and revision, think about ways to draw data into your statements, since you can refer to these quantitative points during interviews and discussions with hiring managers. Also, be koranvers to integrate the changes you make to your resume into your LinkedIn profile, so that your job search materials are consistent.Pause to take care of yourself.Getting stressed out during your job search can create a vicious circle where you let things slide in your self-care, which makes you feel even more stressed. If youre spending too much time focusing on your job search and not giving yourself enough downtime from its inherent stressors, then its time to take a step back and regroup. Your goal is to go into each step of your job search feeling relaxed and confident.With that in mind, treat your job search as the full job that it is, and take care of yourself as you would with any other type of job. Be sure that youre getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously, taking breaks, and getting enough fresh air and exercise. When you pause to make time for healthy habits, youll decrease stressful feelings. The calm that you create will make you a stronger and more appealing c andidate for any job.Job search stress requires a quick response. By recognizing that youre starting to feel stressed out and taking immediate action to get calmer, you can help ratchet down your anxiety before it escalates and sabotages your job hunt.