Lesson 1Attendance and overtime capture: rules, rounding, approvals, and integration with HRIS/time systemsThis part details capturing attendance and overtime precisely, including time rules, rounding policies, approval processes, and linking with HRIS and time systems, guaranteeing compliant, uniform inputs for payroll calculations every time.
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'll learn to plan payroll reporting and tax filing processes, specify tasks for employer or provider, and ensure prompt remittance of taxes and required payments while keeping solid records and audit paths intact.
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'll learn to plan payroll recordkeeping, covering pay stubs, registers, journals, and tax forms, set retention times by document and area, and establish safe storage and retrieval for audits and questions.
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 payrollHere we plan the full pay calculation, validation, and approval process, defining roles, controls, and schedules for semi-monthly payroll so gross-to-net outcomes are checked, approved, and issued correctly and promptly.
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 part covers managing off-cycle runs, fixes, and backdated changes, including when to use extra payrolls, how to recalculate taxes and benefits, and recording approvals to minimise risk and mix-ups.
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 part addresses funding payroll, scheduling ACH and other payments, working with providers and banks, and doing reconciliations so cash flows, fees, and liabilities are precise, on time, and fully 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, APIsHere we look at how payroll links with HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and banking tools, and using provider portals, spreadsheets, and APIs to standardise data flows, cut manual tasks, and boost accuracy and oversight.
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 part explains calculating regular and overtime pay for salaried and hourly workers, managing bonuses and commissions, and using right rates, adjustments, and limits so earnings are spot-on, checkable, and follow policy each time.
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 treatmentsHere we outline setting up tax, benefit, and garnishment deductions, separating pre-tax from post-tax items, and applying limits, orders, and local rules so net pay is right and legally sound for every 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 part concentrates on defining and checking payroll input data, like time and attendance, hires, endings, job shifts, and benefit updates, and setting controls so only full, approved data goes into each payroll run.
Standardising 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
