Course Objectives

Employee costs from payroll and other benefits are among the largest costs in any company other than the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), rent and depreciation. If you are in a goods producing organization and this cost is part of your COGS or part of your operating costs, it means the effect on you will be doubled. Having these costs processed and reported properly is key for analysis and decision making. This course starts with introductions about the departments of HR and ‘accounting and finance’ then focuses on the payroll function. The course goes through the process of preparing and calculating payroll and includes the controls needed and the pre-checks necessary to make sure correct data is used. The course enforces the knowledge of controls and proper processes in the work flow to achieve better efficiency in the department.  Employee benefits and their effect on the corporation are discussed and we explains how to conduct analysis on payroll and benefits using Excel. In addition, the course highlights the topics of accounting, internal and external audit relations with HR and payroll, and what data could be required by them. The course then stresses the need for confidentiality in the payroll department and the importance of sharing data with others on a need to know basis or as per corporate policies. The course ends with how to prepare budgets for the department and for payroll and benefit costs of the corporation.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the HR and Accounting & Finance functions and how to contribute to their success
• Prepare the monthly payroll and review it for accuracy
• Calculate employee benefits, loans vacations and end of service benefits (EOSB)
• Reconcile payroll with accounting and audit the supporting documents for payments
• Develop monthly and annual payroll budgets
• Design periodic payroll management reports and analysis

Content

• Payroll: the important link between human resources and accounting

1. Contract professionals
2. Full time employees
3. Temporary help
4. Outsourcing
5. Introduction to the HR function
6. Introduction to accounting function
7. Introduction to finance function
8. Payroll as a link between HR and accounting and finance
9. Understanding the hiring process documentation
10. Managing payroll process for:

• Preparing and calculating payroll

1. Looking for the right controls before starting
2. Determining the right calculation basis for payroll
3. Elements of risk leading to payroll mistakes
4. Managing increments and deductions
5. Payroll approvals
6. Preparing payroll schedules

• Employee loans and benefits

1. Access to employee benefits
2. Controlling access to loans
3. Reporting on loans status
4. Calculating end of service benefits for company and employees
5. Reporting on benefit plans

• Accounting and auditors roles in payroll process

1. Recording payroll expense and liabilities
2. Recording payroll and benefits costs to assets or inventory
3. Recording payroll related contributions and liabilities
4. Reconciling receivables from and payables to employees with payroll department
5. Reconciling liabilities with social security and other governmental agencies
6. Reconciling payments with bank accounts transactions
7. Introduction to internal audit and external audit
8. Auditing the payroll

• Payroll budgeting

1. Budgeting for payroll department expenses
2. Preparing the yearly budget for payroll and contributions for the company
3. Budgeting for employee loans and other benefits

• Reporting payroll and contributions

Course Target

Payroll staff, payroll accountants, account assistants, payroll supervisors and managers, HR professionals and team members who handle payroll and any employees interested in understanding and applying payroll best practices.