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Become a Successful Entry-Level Payroll Specialist. Gain the knowledge and develop job-ready skills for an exciting career in the diverse field of payroll. No degree or experience required.
Instructor: ADP Learning Academy
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Beginner level
Learners are interested in preparing for a possible career in payroll. They have a passion for working with people, and an attention to detail.
(369 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
Learners are interested in preparing for a possible career in payroll. They have a passion for working with people, and an attention to detail.
Identify the value payroll provides as a strategic business partner.
Build a foundation of basic payroll terms, regulations, and concepts needed to execute and administer the Payroll function.
Perform the steps needed to process payroll including calculating earnings, deductions, and taxes.
Develop essential competencies like customer service, data gathering and analysis, problem-solving.
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Prepare for a career in the diverse field of Payroll with an Entry-Level Payroll Specialist Professional Certificate from ADP! Learn about the value Payroll brings to an organization, what makes a successful Payroll Specialist, the foundational concepts needed by all those in the field, and the essential competencies you’ll need to be successful.
Learn the process to execute a typical payroll cycle accurately and on time, the skills needed to manage payroll outside of the everyday tasks, and the fundamentals needed to understand payroll at a basic level.
This program is designed to equip entry-level payroll specialists with the essential knowledge and skills necessary to carry out their responsibilities accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable requirements.
Applied Learning Project
The ADP Entry-Level Payroll Specialist Professional Certificate features 8 Career Portfolio Projects. These projects allow participants to craft a collection of work examples and important tools to use in their pursuit of a successful career in payroll. Additionally, these projects ask participants to apply critical thinking skills to the learning content they are presented with and better retain the information critical to achieving their individual career goals.
Describe the purpose of and requirements to attain the Payroll Specialist Professional Certificate.
Explain the value Payroll plays in an organization’s company culture and identify the factors needed to design a successful payroll strategy.
Illustrate how Payroll typically fits within Human Resources and an organization and describe the common responsibilities within the Payroll field.
Develop a personal plan targeting strengths and areas of opportunity for your Payroll Specialist Certificate program.
Describe the step-by-step payroll processing cycle, including data collection, input, verification, calculation, and finalization.
Identify essential requirements for time tracking systems to accurately record/manage employee work minutes for payroll processing and compliance.
Explain the payroll-related tasks involved in employee on-boarding, such as tax withholding preferences, direct deposit, etc.
Describe the key components of year-end payroll processes, such as W-2 preparation, 1099 form distribution, and other required tax reporting.
Examine payroll-related dates, pay frequencies, and their impact on employee compensation.
Analyze gross wages, pay statement details, common earnings, benefits, and retirement deductions.
Examine the workweek, overtime calculations, white-collar exemptions, and methods for computing overtime pay according to the FSLA.
Integrate the various components to accurately determine gross pay for employees.
The learner will explore fundamental aspects of payroll, including earnings, taxes, deductions and the significance of accurate personal information.
The learner will be equipped with essential knowledge, covering topics such as tax compliance, worker classifications, and payroll procedures.
A comprehensive understanding of payroll management and taxation, benefiting individuals in effectively navigating financial responsibilities.
Analyze how different business structures, such as restaurants and non-profits, influence payroll processes and complexities.
Explore the role of accounting principles, terminology, and recordkeeping requirements in payroll operations.
Develop a systematic approach to identify and resolve payroll-related issues and errors, ensuring compliance and preventing future occurrences.
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Beginner learners, Career Reskillers/Switchers. This program is for anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of payroll. Those pursing an entry-level Payroll Specialist role. More experienced professionals looking to shift their career to purposefully focus on the area of a Payroll Specialist.
None! Whether you’re completely new to the job field or have had some exposure, a Payroll Specialist Professional Certificate is the right program for you.
A Payroll Specialist (also known as Payroll Administrator / Payroll Coordinator / Payroll Officer / Payroll Professional) is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of employee salaries and wages within an organization.
Payroll Specialists handle tasks such as calculating hours worked, deductions, and tax withholdings, and ensuring compliance with federal-level payroll regulations. They also address employee inquiries regarding pay and resolve any payroll-related issues that may arise.
We highly recommend taking the courses in the order presented, as the content builds on information from earlier lessons.
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Financial aid available,
¹ Median salary and job opening data are sourced from Lightcast™ Job Postings Report. Content Creator, Machine Learning Engineer and Salesforce Development Representative (1/1/2024 - 12/31/2024) All other job roles (4/1/2024 - 4/1/2025)