Lesson 1Attendance and overtime capture: rules, rounding, approvals, and integration with HRIS/time systemsThis section explains capturing attendance and overtime correctly, including time rules, rounding policies, approval steps, and linking with HRIS and time systems for reliable inputs to payroll calculations.
Defining workday and workweek rulesTime entry methods and validationRounding rules and compliance risksOvertime capture and approval flowsSyncing time data to payroll systemsMonitoring exceptions and missing punchesLesson 2Reporting, tax filings, and statutory remittances: payroll provider vs employer dutiesYou will learn to set up payroll reporting and tax filing processes, clarify tasks for employer or provider, and ensure timely payments of taxes and statutory dues with proper records and audit trails.
Core payroll and management reportsQuarterly and annual tax filing cyclesEmployer vs provider compliance dutiesReconciling wages, taxes, and filingsStatutory remittance timing and methodsMaintaining audit-ready documentationLesson 3Recordkeeping and archival: pay stubs, tax forms, payroll journals, retention periodsYou will learn to organise payroll records like pay slips, registers, journals, and tax forms, set retention times by type and area, and establish secure storage for audits and queries.
Key payroll records and their purposesDesigning pay stubs and earning statementsPayroll journals and register structuresRetention rules by record typeSecure storage and access controlsResponding to audits and record requestsLesson 4Pay calculation, validation, and approval workflow: owner roles, sign-offs, and timing for semi-monthly payrollThis section designs the full pay calculation, checking, and approval process, defining roles, controls, and timelines for semi-monthly payroll to ensure gross-to-net results are reviewed and released accurately.
Building the semi-monthly payroll calendarRunning gross-to-net calculation cyclesException and variance review reportsManager and finance approval stepsCutoffs for changes and rerunsFinal release and post-payroll reviewLesson 5Handling exceptions: off-cycle payments, corrections, retroactive pay adjustmentsThis section covers managing extra runs, fixes, and backdated changes, including when to use additional payrolls, recalculating taxes and benefits, and recording approvals to minimise risks.
When to run off-cycle payrollsCorrecting prior payroll errorsRetroactive pay and rate changesRecalculating taxes and deductionsDocumenting approvals and rationaleCommunicating adjustments to employeesLesson 6Funding and payment execution: ACH, payroll provider responsibilities, bank reconciliationsThis section explains funding payroll, scheduling payments like ACH, working with providers and banks, and reconciling to ensure cash flows, fees, and liabilities are correct and trackable.
Determining payroll funding timelinesGross-to-net and cash requirement reportsACH, wires, and check payment workflowsProvider and bank roles and SLAsReconciling payroll bank accountsHandling returned or rejected paymentsLesson 7Integration points and tools: HRIS, timekeeping, payroll provider portals, spreadsheets, APIsThis section explores payroll links with HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and banking tools, using provider portals, spreadsheets, and APIs to standardise data, cut manual work, and boost accuracy.
Mapping payroll-related data flowsHRIS and timekeeping system interfacesUsing payroll provider portals effectivelySpreadsheet controls and templatesAPI-based integrations and automationMonitoring integration errors and fixesLesson 8Earnings calculation: salaried vs hourly, overtime math, bonuses, commission handlingThis section details calculating regular and overtime pay for salaried and hourly workers, handling bonuses and commissions, and applying correct rates and limits for accurate, compliant earnings.
Classifying salaried vs hourly employeesSetting base rates and pay calendarsOvertime eligibility and rate calculationsProrating pay for partial periodsBonus and commission calculation methodsDocumenting earnings rules and approvalsLesson 9Deductions and withholdings: taxes, benefits, garnishments, pre-tax vs post-tax treatmentsThis section shows configuring tax, benefit, and garnishment deductions, separating pre-tax and post-tax items, and applying rules so net pay is right and legal for each worker and period.
Mapping statutory vs voluntary deductionsPre-tax vs post-tax deduction treatmentFederal, state, and local tax setupBenefit premium and contribution rulesGarnishment order priority and limitsTesting net pay and deduction accuracyLesson 10Payroll data inputs: time & attendance, hire/term/change notices, leave and benefits feedsThis section focuses on defining and checking payroll input data like time, attendance, hires, exits, changes, and benefits, with controls to ensure only approved data enters each run.
Standardizing time and attendance inputsProcessing hires, terms, and job changesCapturing leave and benefit data feedsCutoff times for payroll input changesValidating completeness and accuracyOwnership of input review and sign-off
