Career Center • Interview

Payroll Interview Preparation

Technical questions on payroll processing, taxes, and compliance.

6 min read

Technical questions

  • Walk me through a full payroll cycle.
  • What is a 941 and when is it filed?
  • How do you handle an off-cycle bonus?
  • How do you correct an overpayment discovered after the check has cleared?
  • Which states have you filed payroll taxes in?

Sample answers

  • 'Full payroll cycle.' — 'Timesheet import, edits and approvals, tax and deduction preview, gross-to-net review, funding, direct deposit approval, then tax deposits and journal entry to the GL.'
  • '941?' — 'Quarterly federal payroll tax return reconciling federal income tax withheld and FICA. Filed by the last day of the month following the quarter.'

Situational questions

  • Tell me about a time you caught a payroll error before payday.
  • How do you handle an employee who insists their check is wrong?
  • How do you keep payroll data confidential in an open office?

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