Lesson 1Attendance and overtime capture: rules, rounding, approvals, and integration with HRIS/time systemsThis part details accurate capture of attendance and overtime, including time rules, rounding policies, approval processes, and links with HRIS and time systems, ensuring compliant and uniform inputs for payroll calculations.
Defining workday and workweek rulesTime entry methods and checksRounding rules and compliance risksOvertime capture and approval processesSyncing time data to payroll systemsMonitoring exceptions and missing entriesLesson 2Reporting, tax filings, and statutory remittances: payroll provider vs employer dutiesYou will learn to create payroll reporting and tax filing processes, specify tasks for employer or provider, and ensure prompt remittance of taxes and statutory payments while keeping clear records and audit trails.
Core payroll and management reportsQuarterly and annual tax filing cyclesEmployer vs provider compliance tasksReconciling wages, taxes, and filingsStatutory remittance timing and methodsMaintaining audit-ready recordsLesson 3Recordkeeping and archival: pay stubs, tax forms, payroll journals, retention periodsYou will learn to set up payroll recordkeeping, including pay stubs, registers, journals, and tax forms, define retention times by document and area, and establish secure storage and retrieval for audits and queries.
Key payroll records and purposesDesigning pay stubs and earning statementsPayroll journals and register setupsRetention 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 create the full pay calculation, validation, and approval process, defining roles, controls, and timelines for semi-monthly payroll so gross-to-net outcomes are checked, approved, and released accurately and on time.
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 explains managing off-cycle runs, corrections, and retroactive changes, including when to use extra payrolls, how to recalculate taxes and benefits, and documenting approvals to minimise risk and confusion.
When to run off-cycle payrollsCorrecting prior payroll errorsRetroactive pay and rate changesRecalculating taxes and deductionsDocumenting approvals and reasonsCommunicating adjustments to employeesLesson 6Funding and payment execution: ACH, payroll provider responsibilities, bank reconciliationsThis part covers funding payroll, scheduling ACH and other payment methods, working with providers and banks, and doing reconciliations so cash flows, fees, and liabilities are accurate, prompt, and fully traceable.
Determining payroll funding timelinesGross-to-net and cash requirement reportsACH, wires, and check payment processesProvider and bank roles and SLAsReconciling payroll bank accountsHandling returned or rejected paymentsLesson 7Integration points and tools: HRIS, timekeeping, payroll provider portals, spreadsheets, APIsHere we examine how payroll links with HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and banking tools, and how to use provider portals, spreadsheets, and APIs to standardise data flows, cut manual work, and boost accuracy and visibility.
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 staff, managing bonuses and commissions, and applying correct rates, proration, and limits so earnings are accurate, checkable, and policy-compliant each cycle.
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 detail setting up tax, benefit, and garnishment deductions, differentiating pre-tax from post-tax items, and applying limits, priorities, and area rules so net pay is correct and legally compliant for every employee and pay 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 focuses on defining and checking payroll input data, including time and attendance, hires, terminations, job changes, and benefit updates, and setting controls so only complete, approved data enters 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
