Payroll Clerk (Entry Level)

Location: Houston, TX [In Office]

Job Type: Full Time, Temp to Hire

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented, organized, and reliable Entry-Level Payroll Clerk to join our team. In this role, you will assist in processing accurate and timely payroll for our employees while maintaining strict confidentiality. This is an excellent opportunity for someone starting their career in finance, accounting, or HR, offering hands-on experience and professional growth within a supportive environment. Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in gathering, reviewing, and entering timesheet data, hourly hours, overtime, and commission records into the payroll system.

• Update employee payroll records by entering changes in exemptions, direct deposit information, tax withholding, insurance deductions, and job/department transfers.

• Maintain organized physical and digital records of payroll documentation, tax forms (W-4, I-9), and related financial reports.

• Review payroll reports for errors and assist in investigating and resolving timesheet or pay discrepancies reported by employees or managers.

• Ensure all payroll activities comply with company policies, federal, state, and local labor and tax laws. Safeguard sensitive employee and financial data.

• Act as a primary point of contact for employee inquiries regarding basic payroll questions, paystubs, and W-2 forms.

• Assist the finance or HR team with routine administrative tasks, audit preparations, and report generation as needed.

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or HR is a plus.

• 0 to 2 years of experience in an office, administrative, accounting, or data entry role (internships or relevant coursework count!).

• Skills:

  • Strong attention to detail and high degree of accuracy with numbers and data entry.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Microsoft Excel).

  • Basic understanding of accounting principles or payroll fundamentals is a strong plus.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Attributes:

  • High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential employee and financial information.

  • Strong time-management skills with the ability to meet strict, recurring deadlines.