A payroll officer gets detailed contact information from employees so payroll checks can be accurately calculated, distributed and deposited. This information usually includes a legal name, address, phone number and Social Security number for all employees, as well as bank account routing and checking numbers for employees who receive direct payroll deposits. You must get a signed W-4 form from each employee, showing the number of exemptions the employee wants to use for payroll tax withholdings. Most hourly employees sign time sheets or punch into a timekeeping clock, so you must collect the time sheets and punch cards to calculate the total number hours worked in a given pay period. Pay periods range from daily to monthly, but most employers have a weekly or bi-monthly pay period.