Crafting the Perfect Payroll CV

As a specialist recruiter in the payroll world, one thing I’ve noticed time and again is that payroll professionals often undersell themselves on their CVs. You’re reliable, accurate, and essential to every business, but when it comes to putting that on paper, many of you are too modest!

Your CV is more than a list of jobs. It’s your personal pitch, and this article is packed with real-world advice from the recruitment front line, all designed to help your CV open doors and get you that interview.

Keep It Simple – But Make It Count

The best payroll CVs are simple, easy to read, and focused. Avoid over-designed templates or fancy fonts. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often reject CVs that aren’t formatted properly, so use a standard font, and stick to reverse chronological order – most recent job first.

Limit your CV to two to three pages. Keep older roles (over five years ago) short and sharp. Focus on what’s relevant now, and make sure your layout allows for quick scanning.

Open with a Strong Personal Summary

Your opening paragraph should tell me who you are, your level of experience, the sectors you’ve worked in, and the kind of environment you thrive in. This is where you highlight your strengths and personality.

Mention how many years you’ve worked in payroll, the industries you’ve supported, and the kind of teams or environments you thrive in. Highlight any standout achievements or current projects you’re proud of and let your personality come through. Are you solutions-focused? Do you love streamlining systems? Are you known for staying calm under pressure? This is your moment to set the tone and show what makes you, you.

Let Keywords Do the Heavy Lifting

Today’s CVs often pass through digital filters before reaching human eyes, so keywords are essential. Payroll software should be listed, along with how long you’ve used them. Include payroll volumes and frequencies (e.g. “monthly payroll for 1,000+ staff”), and any sector-specific experience; education, retail, NHS, etc.

Create a short “Skills & Systems” section beneath your summary. This helps your CV perform better with ATS and shows hiring managers what you bring to the table at a glance.

Work History That Tells a Story

When you list your previous roles, you want to paint a picture of what you did, how you did it, and why it mattered. Include your job title, the company name, and your dates of employment. Describe your day-to-day responsibilities in a few lines – but don’t stop there…

Follow up with a couple of specific outcomes and achievements. It’s these real-world contributions that separate a good CV from a great one.

Achievements Matter – Shout About Them

This is where most payroll CVs fall short. Payroll people are often quietly brilliant; fixing problems, improving processes, and making things work better behind the scenes, but rarely highlighting these wins on paper. So what can be listed as an achievement?

Think about the impact you’ve made. Have you maintained 100% accuracy for six months straight? Perhaps you implemented a new payroll system that reduced errors by 25%. Have you helped move your team to paperless processing? Improved reporting times? Trained new starters or built a small team from scratch? These are the moments that show you’re not just doing the job – you’re adding value.

Standout CVs include stats like reducing employee payroll queries by 40%, or improving payroll run times by automating manual steps. One candidate recently even included a note about being recognised as “Team Player of the Month” for stepping up during a year-end crunch. These details are gold – they bring your CV to life and show hiring managers exactly what you can deliver.

Qualifications and Training Matter

Your education and training show your commitment to the profession. If you’ve completed CIPP qualifications, list those first. Then include relevant degrees, diplomas, or any training – especially software courses or webinars that relate to payroll systems or compliance.

And watch this space – CIPP’s digital badges are coming soon and will be a great addition to your CV!

Final Thought: Be Proud of What You Do

Payroll is critical to every business, and the people who do it well are in high demand. Your CV should reflect the accuracy, dedication, and real impact you bring every day. So don’t hold back – this is your space to shine.

If you need help tailoring your CV for a specific role or just want a second pair of eyes, Portfolio are here to support you. You do amazing work – now let’s make sure your CV shows it.

Find a basic template for a CV here.

Ready to get that interview? Let’s go!

Mark Davis, Director | Connect with Mark

Mark is Director of the Temporary Division at The Portfolio Group with over 15-years in the temporary recruitment sector. He manages the UK temporary & interim recruitment division across Payroll, HR & Reward and Credit Control while actively recruiting for our larger global Payroll clients and FTSE 100 businesses across the UK & ROI.