Payroll Manager

Payroll is one of the fastest changing career fields in the business world today. This course will prepare you for a career as a payroll manager and equip you with MBA-level business management skills. By course completion, you will understand key areas of payroll and be prepared to sit for the PayrollOrg's Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam.

Payroll laws are complex, so businesses rely on skilled payroll teams and competent leaders to navigate these laws. The Management Training aspect of this course will help you gain key managerial skills to lead and manage other employees. You will build a foundation in common managerial techniques, understand employment laws and define your management style.

What you will learn

• Develop basic practical and managerial skills
• Learn about how taxes affect a business, whether it's a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation
• Understand the process of negotiating, evaluate negotiation styles, and consider successful negotiation strategies for most environments
• Know the seven management disciplines essential to business success
• Identify various laws and regulations that affect employers in their payroll operations
• Explain the use of the forms required to withhold, deposit, and report federal income taxes
• Understand the payroll process and supporting systems and administration
• Correctly apply payroll policies and procedures of a payroll department
• Be able to process a payroll from start to finish (payroll project)

How you will benefit

• Be prepared to pass the FPC exam, and become certified in the fundamentals of payroll
• Having a certification in payroll is a desirable attribute that many employers seek in payroll candidates
• With certification comes additional knowledge and skill that is not often taught in the workplace
• Be able to search and apply for payroll jobs, with the additional resume skills learned in the course
• Develop communication skills that will allow you to thrive in a professional environment
• Set yourself apart from competitors by receiving management training

1. Payroll Practice and Management
   1. Introduction to Payroll
   2. Determining Worker Status
   3. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
   4. Federal Employment Taxes
   5. Payroll Forms
   6. Fringe Benefits – Tax-Preferred and Other Related Health Benefits
   7. Fringe Benefits – Deferred Comp, Retirement Plans, and Stock Options
   8. Other Employee Benefits
   9. Calculating Gross Wages
   10. Calculating Gross Pay – Additional Topics
   11. Paycheck Calculation – Taxes
   12. Paycheck Calculation – Voluntary and Involuntary Deductions
   13. Gross to Net Paycheck Calculation
   14. Compliance – Laws and Reporting
   15. Global Payroll
   16. Payroll Process and Systems, and Audits
   17. Paying the Employee
   18. Payroll Administration and Management
   19. Basic Accounting
   20. Exploring Payroll Careers
   21. Exam Preparation
   22. Payroll Project
2. Management Training
   1. Financial and Accounting Management
   2. Marketing Management
   3. Strategic Management in Operations
   4. Legal Issues in Operations
   5. Legal Aspects of Contracts
   6. Tax Issues
   7. Organizational Development and Change
   8. Negotiating Strategies
   9. Business Best Practices
   10. Organization Leadership and Decision Making
   11. Project Management for Executives
   12. Seven Management Disciplines

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Acrobat Reader .
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbook will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Management Training course section:

• Managing by the Numbers: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and using your Company's Financials
• Strategic Planning - A Pragmatic Guide

Digital access to the following book will be available via links in the Payroll Practice and Management course:

• Payroll Accounting 2025, by Bernard J. Bieg and Judith A. Toland (eBook)

Please note: You may receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

Prerequisites:

You should have basic keyboarding and computer skills, be able to use a basic 4 function calculator, be comfortable navigating the Internet and using email and have an understanding of a word-processing program (such as Word). This course is intended for anyone interested in developing their management skills.

Helene K. Liatsos

Helene K. Liatsos is a business advisor and QuickBooks Certified Advisor with more than 25 years of experience. She consults for a range of companies, from travel agencies to startups. Her company Home Office Management Experts was awarded the 2004 Home-Based Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Helene holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Katrina McBride

Katrina McBride's career reflects extensive experience in organizational leadership, marketing strategies, and market development in multinational corporate environments. Her leadership abilities have been utilized to develop new programs and functional areas. In director-level positions for Nortel Networks, she led strategy for competitive intelligence, emerging markets, and lead generation. McBride holds an M.A. in organizational management and a B.S. in psychology.

Katherine Squires Pang

Katherine Squires Pang, J.D., LL.M., M.Ed has practiced law with since 1983. She has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Management at the University of Texas, Dallas, and has been an adjunct faculty member of many universities, including New York University and the University of California, Irvine. She received her B.A. in 1980 from Clark University, her J.D. from the University of Dayton Law School in 1982, her LL.M in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School in 1983, and her M.Ed from the University of Texas in 2001.

Jerry L. Partridge

Jerry L. Partridge is a Certified Project Management Professional with experience as a project and program manager for a major retail organization. He is a certified instructor for IBM project management courses and hosts university seminars for project managers seeking certification. He has worked extensively with the Project Management Institute, previously leading a team that developed a practice standard for Earned Value Management Systems and volunteering as a subject matter expert for an update to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Partridge holds a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University.

What kind of salary can I expect as a  payroll manager?

According to Indeed.com, the national median Payroll Manager salary is $92,083 as of March 10, 2026.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

Yes, you will be prepared to pass the FPC exam, and become certified in the fundamentals of payroll.

When can I start this course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?

If you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee will be charged. If you are funded through a third-party organization, approval may also be required.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

Am I guaranteed a job?

Hope Training Academy courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

Can I get financial assistance?

Hope Training Academy courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available by phone. You can also call us at 1-855-532-7642 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."