Payroll Courses

What is a payroll?

Put simply, payroll is the process of paying employees for the work they contribute to a company. A payroll officer is in charge of tracking employee output, calculating pay in bulk, and processing the payments, as well as other employee entitlements. This is to make sure payroll is done correctly and on time. Payroll officers are also responsible for paying payroll tax.

Traditionally, payroll falls under the finance department, however, it can also apply to human resources. Given payroll is an employee-facing function, for some businesses it makes sense to have this as an HR function. However, there’s the risk that they don’t have as much in-depth knowledge about payroll functions as someone with a financial services background does. Payroll can also be spread across both the accounting and HR departments.

Payroll duties

• Superannuation, PAYG and Payroll Tax, and GST calculations
• Maintains payroll records
• Manage terminations compensation packages
• Calculate and pay bonuses and commissions
• Complying with awards and legislation
• Liaising with the finance department
• Point of contact for all payroll enquiries
• Keeping up to date with payroll policies and procedures in Australia
• Payroll accounts administration

What course should I take to become a payroll officer?

There are a few study options when it comes to studying payroll — there are short payroll courses like an Advanced Certificate in Payroll Management or longer payroll qualifications like a Diploma of Payroll Services.

If it’s a small part of your job, then a more specific short course or training course package that teaches a particular skill set, such as how to use particular accounting software like Xero or MYOB may be more suitable. If you’re interested in working as a full-time payroll manager, then a payroll certification (certificate III or certificate IV), or diploma may be more suitable for your needs as the course materials will be more extensive.

Whether you’re a first-time student or you work full-time and want to upskill, there are a variety of online payroll courses to choose from. You can complete most of these part-time and study at your own pace to suit your current lifestyle.

What are the job opportunities for payroll officers?

• Payroll officer
• BAS agents or tax agents
• Bookkeepers and payroll professionals
• Accounts clerks
• Finance advisor

Is payroll right for you?

If you love working with numbers, then a career in finance will suit you perfectly. A payroll officer is highly analytical and detailed. There’s a lot that can go wrong when paying employee salaries if the process isn’t completed properly, especially from a legal standpoint. It’s a big responsibility and a job that can’t be rushed through. If this sounds like you, enrol in a payroll course on training.com.au and start your online learning journey today!