Your CV is your first tool to convince a recruiter that you are the ideal candidate for a payroll management position. In a field where precision and rigour are essential, a simple mistake can harm your chances of being shortlisted.
Many candidates make mistakes that diminish the attractiveness of their application. Confusing layout, poorly highlighted skills, incomplete information... all these points can compromise your job search.
To optimise your application and stand out to finance and human resources recruiters, here are the mistakes to absolutely avoid in your CV for a payroll position.
A CV That's Too Generic and Not Adapted to the Payroll Sector
One of the most common pitfalls is not personalising your CV according to the sector. A CV that's too generic, which could suit any field, won't attract the attention of specialised payroll recruiters.
✅ What you should do:
- Adapt your CV to each job offer by highlighting your specific payroll management skills.
- Mention key elements such as social legislation, declaration management, and payslip processing.
- Include a clear title at the top of your CV, such as "Payroll Manager – 5 years of experience in an accounting firm".
Forgetting to Mention Your Key Skills
Recruiters are looking for candidates who can be immediately operational. Omitting essential skills or burying them in a block of text can cause you to miss opportunities.
✅ Technical skills to highlight:
- Payroll software: Sage, Cegid, SAP, EBP, Meta4...
- Social legislation: Belgian labour law, ONSS declarations, Dimona...
- Declaration management: ONSS, professional withholding tax, group insurance...
💡 Also consider important soft skills in this profession: rigour, organisation, confidentiality, and stress management.
Not Highlighting Your Professional Experience
In payroll management, experience counts tremendously. A recruiter should be able to understand your responsibilities and professional development at a glance.
❌ To avoid:
- Listing previous positions without detailing your responsibilities.
- Not specifying the number of payslips processed each month.
- Not indicating whether you worked in an accounting firm, a company, or an outsourcing firm.
✅ What you should do:
- Describe each experience precisely with figures: "Processing 400 payslips per month for SMEs and major accounts""Managing tax and social declarations for a portfolio of 30 companies"
- "Processing 400 payslips per month for SMEs and major accounts"
- "Managing tax and social declarations for a portfolio of 30 companies"
- Highlight your career progression and newly acquired responsibilities.
Neglecting CV Presentation and Readability
A poorly structured CV, with too much condensed information or an overloaded layout, will quickly be set aside by a recruiter.
❌ To avoid:
- A CV that's too long (maximum 2 pages except for highly experienced profiles).
- Fancy fonts or overly bright colours.
- A disorganised format, with non-hierarchical sections.
✅ Best practice:
- Use a clean and professional layout (Arial or Calibri, 10-12 pt).
- Organise sections clearly: Experience – Skills – Education – Languages.
- Space out your CV with headings and bullet points for easier reading.
Omitting Software and Tools Used
In payroll management, mastery of specialised software is a determining criterion for a recruiter.
✅ Must-mention items in your CV:
- Payroll software mastered: Sage, Cegid, SAP, EBP...
- HR and time management tools: Kelio, Chronogestor, TeamsRH...
- Spreadsheets and reporting: Excel (pivot tables, macros...), Power BI...
A candidate who displays these skills immediately has an advantage over other applicants.
Not Explaining Gaps in Your Professional Career
If you have periods of inactivity in your career, don't leave them unexplained. A recruiter might think you lack commitment or motivation.
✅ How to justify a gap in your CV:
- Additional training: "Training in payroll and social management (2023) – Fed Finance"
- Personal project or freelance work: "Payroll consultant for SMEs for 6 months"
- Justified personal reason: "Parental leave with ongoing updates to payroll knowledge"
Leaving Spelling or Careless Mistakes
A spelling mistake can be enough to discredit an application. A CV with errors gives an impression of negligence, which is unacceptable in a profession that demands precision and rigour.
✅ Best practices:
- Have your CV proofread by a professional or colleague.
- Use an online spell checker like Antidote or Grammarly.
- Verify all information: dates, job titles, contact details.
Not Adapting Your CV to Belgian Recruiters' Expectations
Recruiters in Belgium have their own expectations for CVs. A CV adapted to the French or international market may not be optimal here.
✅ Belgian specifics to respect:
- Add a Languages section (French, Dutch, English).
- Clearly mention your knowledge of Belgian regulations (ONSS, Dimona...).
- Specify whether you have worked in a Belgian company or an international group.
A CV in payroll management should be precise, structured, and adapted to recruiters' expectations. By avoiding these common mistakes and highlighting your specific skills, you will significantly increase your chances of being hired.
💡 Need tailored guidance? Contact Fed Finance Belgium, a specialist in finance and payroll recruitment, to maximise your professional opportunities! 🚀
