Computerized Payroll Accounting Diploma
Anyone planning to enter the payroll field must have good computer skills and be familiar with automated payroll systems. The Computerized Payroll Accounting program provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge required to provide supervision in the payroll department. Students become familiar with basic payroll practices and procedures and are eligible to apply to the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) for Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification upon successful completion of the program and the acquisition of one year of payroll experience. In addition to accounting and payroll expertise, students gain skills and experience in business correspondence, office procedures, management fundamentals, and performing a job search.
Career Opportunities
Payroll accountants are employed by banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, and other establishments throughout the private and public sectors. Careers that correspond with the skills learned in this program include:
- Payroll Supervisor
- Accounting Supervisor
- Bookkeeping Supervisor
Duties & Responsibilities
Payroll accountants coordinate the activities of accounting and payroll clerks and administrators. Their duties may include:
- Implementing efficient working processes
- Coordinating, assigning, and reviewing the work of clerks and administrators
- Examining and verifying the accuracy of work
- Authorizing routine payments, credits, deposits, and withdrawals
- Establishing work schedules and procedures
- Preparing and submitting progress and other reports
- Identifying training needs
- Training clerks in job duties and company policies
- Requisitioning supplies and materials
- Supervising and training staff in payroll processing
- Supervising preparation of year-end accruals for payroll
- Providing payroll information as requested by federal, provincial, and municipal laws
- Assisting with preparation of the annual budget
- Interpreting laws, ordinances, regulation, contract provisions, and procedures related to payroll processing
- Preparing reports and analyses of payroll expenditures
- Notifying Human Resources of employee eligibility for and enrolment in retirement systems
- Evaluating permanent payroll department staff
Program Outline
The Payroll Compliance Legislation course introduces students to payroll compliance responsibilities that affect organizations. This course is designed to provide the payroll student with the theory and knowledge required to describe payroll’s objectives and stakeholders, identify an employer/employee relationship, communicate the payroll compliance requirements to various stakeholders, and apply federal and provincial legislation to payroll including the Canada Pension Plan, the Employment Insurance Act, the Income Tax Act, employment standards legislation, Workers’ Compensation Acts and Québec-specific legislation.
In the Payroll Fundamentals 1 course, students learn how to apply payroll legislation and calculate individual pay. This includes all components of individual pay from remuneration, through deductions, to net pay for both regular and non-regular situations. Students will have the content and skills to effectively communicate all aspects of the individual pay calculation process to external and internal stakeholders. This course is designed to provide the payroll student with the theory and knowledge required to calculate regular individual net pay, calculate non-regular individual pay, calculate termination payments, complete a Record of Employment, and communicate all aspects of individual pay requirements to stakeholders.
In the Payroll Fundamentals 2 course, students learn how to calculate and report government and third-party remittances, year-end requirements and accounting for payroll at the compliance level for the organization. Students will be able to effectively communicate these organizational processes and requirements to internal and external stakeholders. This course is designed to provide the payroll student with the theory and knowledge required to calculate organizational remittances to federal, provincial and third-party stakeholders, prepare accounting documentation for payroll, complete year-end documentation, communicate all aspects of organizational remittances, accounting and year-end requirements to various stakeholders.
In the Personal Computer Fundamentals for End Users course, students learn about the components and basic operation of the personal computer. The content in this course is both conceptual and practical, and is intended to provide students with a working knowledge of computing. Students explore hardware troubleshooting, file management, multimedia options, and browsing the Internet.
The Internet Fundamentals course explores the various components of the Internet using Microsoft Internet Explorer. Students are oriented to common procedures used to maximize successful use of the Internet and all its features. They learn how to customize the Internet Explorer browser, and examine the Web, e-mail, blogs, discussion groups, social media, chatting, multimedia and other web technologies.
This course covers the basic concepts and most commonly used features and functions of Windows 10. The course will walk you through performing basic operations such as opening applications, using Help and shutting down the computer. Additionally, you will learn to set up user accounts, create and use custom keyboard shortcuts, personalize and organize the working space, and use the Action Centre. The course will also provide you with a hands-on experience on how to connect, use and update devices, use File Explorer to manage files and folders, as well as navigate the internet using various browsers, including Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
The Keyboard Skill Building Level 1 course is designed for individuals who have basic keyboard proficiency, and wish to increase speed and dexterity. Each lesson increases key recognition and builds confidence using the keyboard, while improving speed and accuracy. Speed achieved depends on personal dexterity and time spent on practice lessons. Students who are not already familiar with the TypingTrainer software program are introduced to it. Typing Trainer helps students learn and improve skills using a variety of methods: graphical keyboard drills, speed drills, alphabet drills, word, phrase and sentence drills, and keyboarding Self-Tests. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to keyboard at minimum 25 words per minute.
The Keyboard Skill Building Level 2 course is designed for individuals proficient in keyboarding who wish to increase speed and dexterity. Students are introduced to Special Keys on the keyboard. Each lesson increases key recognition and builds confidence using the keyboard, while increasing speed and accuracy. Speed achieved depends on personal dexterity and time spent on practice lessons.
Basic Bookkeeping Level 1 course provides students with an understanding of the double entry system of bookkeeping and provides the essential accounting tools for the workplace. The course is especially beneficial for students planning to take a computer accounting program or use computer accounting in the workplace.
Basic Bookkeeping Level 2 course provides students with a greater understanding of accounting and the procedures used to produce financial reports. It begins with a review of the bookkeeping procedures learned in the Basic Bookkeeping – Level 1 course and the process of balancing each of the subsidiary ledgers to its respective control account. Next, students learn about the different forms of business ownership (sole proprietorship, partnership and corporation), and then about the different types of organizations (service, merchandising, and manufacturing).
In the QuickBooks Premier course students are introduced to QuickBooks and its features. As students progress through the course, they become familiar with the QuickBooks interface and learn how to perform common tasks using QuickBooks. Students learn how to use the EasyStep Interview to create a company file, how to customize the Chart of Accounts for the company, manage lists (customer, vendor, item, employee and payroll), create business forms (invoices, cheques, cash sales receipts, credit
memos and refunds), use registers, pay bills (using cheques, credit cards and petty cash), create reports (balance sheet, profit and loss, customer and vendor balance detail), and manage a payroll (add/edit employees, process pay cheques, run payroll reports, and manage the payroll liabilities). Students also perform several account reconciliations (chequing, credit card, and petty cash).
memos and refunds), use registers, pay bills (using cheques, credit cards and petty cash), create reports (balance sheet, profit and loss, customer and vendor balance detail), and manage a payroll (add/edit employees, process pay cheques, run payroll reports, and manage the payroll liabilities). Students also perform several account reconciliations (chequing, credit card, and petty cash).
In the Sage 50 Premium Accounting course (formerly Simply Accounting), the students will be introduced to the Sage 50 Premium Accounting software, using a hands-on approach with simulated source documents. Students will work step-by-step through the procedures for setting up each module, followed by transaction by transaction processing covering the concepts and techniques needed to use the software.
The Microsoft Access Level 1 course teaches students the fundamentals of the Microsoft Access application. In this course, students examine database objects and learn to manage data in a database. They learn to sort and filter data, display and format data, and use simple queries to retrieve data. Students learn to create and modify databases and tables, and work with simple forms and reports.
In the Microsoft Excel Level 1 course, students learn to create and manage worksheets and workbook files; enter data and create basic formulas to perform calculations. They learn to edit and manipulate cell content, modify worksheet structure, view and format worksheets, and use Excel’s predefined functions. Students use the Find and Replace feature, use themes to format workbooks and practice preparing, previewing, and printing worksheets.
The Microsoft Excel Level 2 course teaches students intermediate to advanced-level concepts and features of the Microsoft Excel application. In this course, students learn to customize Microsoft Excel and streamline workflow by building upon the basic skills learned in the Microsoft Excel – Level 1 course. They learn to use named references, validate and consolidate data, use links and hyperlinks, and reference external data. Students learn to use cell comments, custom and conditional formatting, styles, and templates. They also practice working with graphics, charts, diagrams, and databases (lists).
In the Microsoft Outlook Level 1 course, students will learn how to use both the e-mail program and the personal information manager components of Microsoft Outlook. The skills learned in this course will help students use Microsoft Outlook effectively both at work and in your personal life.
In Microsoft Word Level 1 course, students learn to create, navigate, and organize documents and use the help functions. They learn to edit and manipulate text, view and format documents, and use Word’s predefined functions. Students use the Find and Replace feature, use proofing and language tools, create, format and modify tables, work with hyperlinks and cross references, and learn how to preview and print a document.
The Microsoft Word Level 2 course teaches students intermediate- to advanced-level concepts and features of the Microsoft Word application. In this course, students learn to customize Word and build upon the basic skills learned in the Word – Level 1 course. They learn how to increase their productivity and enhance their documents using some of Microsoft Word’s intermediate to advanced level features. They will be given ample opportunity to explore and practice these techniques throughout the course.
The Business Math course at Academy of Learning Career College is designed to introduce the basic mathematical skills needed to understand, analyse, and solve mathematical problems encountered in business and finance, and in investment decision making. This course introduce students to helpful tools that will enable them to perform quick, easy, and accurate basic math functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They will also learn to round numbers, calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals, as well as calculate interest, payments on loans, net present values, and returns on investments. Finally, students will compare leasing and purchasing options, look at break-even points, explore statistical terminology, and calculate and display various statistics.
The Business Correspondence Level 1 course places emphasis on the acquisition of skills and style mechanics needed to produce personal and office correspondence. The parts of a business letter are examined in detail, as are the guidelines for organizing and writing a letter. Students will learn how to write neutral and inquiry letters, as well as positive and negative letters. Proper punctuation and word usage skills are also addressed. The latter part of the course deals with creating envelopes and labels using Microsoft Word, as well as writing and managing e-mail using Microsoft Outlook. Writing and creating memos, fax cover sheets, and forms using Microsoft Word templates are also covered.
The Business Correspondence Level 2 course places emphasis on editing and proofreading business letters covered in Level 1, as well as additional documents required in business. This course is designed specifically for the correspondence required in a corporate environment. Students will learn how to create form letters using Microsoft Word’s Mail Merge Wizard, how to prepare, organize and write a report using various report styles and supplementary parts, how to prepare proposals and quotations using boilerplates, how to plan meetings and prepare agendas for various types of meetings, and how to take and prepare minutes at a meeting.
The Business Supervisory Skills course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to function as an effective supervisor/manager. It provides students with strategies for motivating staff, building effective teams, managing stress and change in the workplace, resolving conflict, and dealing with diversity. Students prepare for leadership roles by assessing their own personal leadership style, and improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in order to effectively work with and motivate employees.
The Grammar Essentials for Business Writing course provides students with a comprehensive review of grammar. This knowledge is necessary for an effective and professional image in the workplace. Poor grammar skills create a poor impression, and can result in lost opportunities in employment and in business. The course focuses on grammar, word usage, and punctuation, with an emphasis on common grammatical errors. This course is based on a Canadian perspective.[/fusion_toggl
e]This course will teach students the fundamentals of customer service, and help them to develop core competencies for providing excellent customer service. Students learn the definition of customer service, who their customers are, and how to be customer service oriented through description and examples. They learn tips for managing time and stress, communicating effectively with customers, and managing customer relationships. The course highlights being prepared, and dealing professionally with customer conflicts and complaints. It identifies common pitfalls and explains how to avoid making them. It also emphasizes the importance of gathering and responding to customer feedback, and maintaining a professional image.
e]This course will teach students the fundamentals of customer service, and help them to develop core competencies for providing excellent customer service. Students learn the definition of customer service, who their customers are, and how to be customer service oriented through description and examples. They learn tips for managing time and stress, communicating effectively with customers, and managing customer relationships. The course highlights being prepared, and dealing professionally with customer conflicts and complaints. It identifies common pitfalls and explains how to avoid making them. It also emphasizes the importance of gathering and responding to customer feedback, and maintaining a professional image.
The Telephone Communication Skills course at Academy of Learning Career College is designed to help people who are currently working or are planning to work in a call centre, increase their telephone communication skills. It covers many of the communication skills common to all communication mediums, including person-to-person and written communications, but focuses mainly on the skills and techniques unique to telephone communications.
The Employment Success Strategies course provides practical tools that aid learners to improve their generic employability skills. Students learn how to identify, document, improve, and market their employability skills. By completing the activities in this course, students gain the self-awareness necessary to succeed at their career goals. Learning objectives for each lesson are accomplished through a combination of theory and conceptual application within exercises.
The Office Procedures Level 1 course at Academy of Learning Career College will assist students in learning and practicing important office procedures, such as basic banking, records management, postal and courier services, telephone and fax services, dealing with the public, and using the Internet to research information.
The Office Procedures Level 2 course covers a variety of topics as it simulates an office environment and challenges students with tasks that they would typically perform. Students develop an understanding of the various levels of management and associated responsibilities. They also learn about the various forms used in an office and how to complete these forms. A section on organizing workspace, planning work activities, and using a scheduling system to plan events is included. Students also learn about reprographics, preparing for a meeting, procedures to follow in a meeting, and requirements when making travel arrangements.
Job Search and Résumé Writing provides students with both traditional and innovative job-search techniques and résumé writing skills required to gain employment in today’s competitive marketplace. The course combines theoretical, how-to information with hands-on practical applications. Students are required to draw on their own experiences to identify work preferences, accomplishments, technical and transferable skills, and to research, organize, and analyze information; and to apply their knowledge in a series of job search preparation and implementation tasks.
The course is designed to improve the student’s learning experience and prepare him or her for personal and professional growth and success. The focus is on increasing the student’s self-discipline and self-esteem. The positive concepts taught in this course are intended to unleash the student’s potential for growth and creativity, resulting in personal and professional development. Humor and practical examples are used to target the primary concerns of adult students. In addition, written exercises, activities, and audiotapes provide understanding, acceptance, and reinforcement of the program material.