Accounting and Payroll Administrator Programs and Courses 

In-class Diploma Program

• 38 weeks total time to complete
• Monday to Friday, 4 hours per day

Online Distance Education Diploma Program

• 38 weeks total time to complete based on 20 hours per week of dedicated learning plus homework
• Majority of the course content is completed online within pre-scheduled milestones
• Instructor time is scheduled each week via video lectures

Do you have an interest in business, a logical mind and the ability to learn computer applications? The Accounting and Payroll course may be the program for you! Payroll clerks collect, verify and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees. Accounting and related clerks calculate, prepare and process bills, invoices, accounts payable and receivable, budgets and other financial records.  

Approved as a vocational program under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.

Accounting and Payroll Program Objective  

The objective of the Accounting and Payroll Administrator Diploma program is to train students in the practices of financial accounting and payroll in Canada.  This program focuses on three key elements: the theoretical principles of accounting and payroll, the practical “hands on” skills required to do the job, and the communication skills needed to work within an office environment.  Each successful student will have the necessary skills to enter into the workforce and maintain a complete set of books, both manually and with computerized systems.  

In accounting, students will learn to calculate, prepare and issue accounting reports related to financial transactions such as bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems; code, total, batch, enter, verify and reconcile transactions such as accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system; compile budget data and documents based on estimated revenues and expenses and previous budgets; and prepare period or cost statements or reports.

In payroll, students will learn to maintain records of employee attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements, using manual and computerized systems; prepare and verify statements of earnings for employees, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions such as taxes, union dues, garnishments and insurance and pension plans; prepare employee payments and benefit payments by cheque or electronic transfer; prepare T4 statements and other statements; and prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.

The principles and practical skills learned in the Accounting and Payroll courses ensure our graduates will be effective and efficient in an entry-level accounting or payroll position.

Accounting and Payroll Program Relevant Certification  

This program provides our students the opportunity to begin preparation for the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification, issued by the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA).  The certification is nationally recognized as a Standard of Excellence for payroll training.  CPA exams are not included as part of the program but students will be well prepared to consider this certification path after graduation.  

Is a Career as an Accounting Professional Right for You?

Take the "Algonquin Academy Accounting Career Training Readiness Quiz"

 The fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get your Accounting Career Training Readiness score now!

Accounting and Payroll Career Opportunities  

Graduates of this program will have the opportunity to enter the workplace with the skills to perform the variety of tasks to be carried out within accounting departments such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Billing, Payroll and Collections. Employers are looking for competent accounting and payroll professionals who are trained to effectively collect, record, organize and prepare financial records. An accounting background is one of the first steps into Business Management. Accounting and Payroll graduates are employed throughout the private and public sectors. Possible job titles include:

• Accounting clerk
• Accounts payable clerk
• Accounts receivable clerk
• Accounting assistant
• Audit clerk
• Billing clerk
• Budget clerk
• Costing clerk
• Deposit clerk
• Finance clerk
• Financial Analyst
• Invoice clerk
• Ledger clerk
• Tax clerk
• Payroll Clerk
• Benefits officer
• Pay advisor
• Pay and benefits administrator
• Pay and benefits clerk
• Pay clerk
• Payroll officer
• Salary administration officer

Accounting and Payroll Wage Information

Accounting Clerks (NOC 14200)
$/hr rate:

Source: Accounting Clerk (NOC 14200) Ontario www.jobbank.gc.ca, April 2024
 

Payroll Clerk (NOC 13102)
$/hr rate:

Source: Payroll Clerk (NOC 13102) Ontario www.jobbank.gc.ca, Apr 2024

Accounting and Payroll Program Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the equivalent, or if 18 years of age or over, you may apply as a mature student and write an entrance exam
• Ontario grade 12 English or equivalent
• Language proficiency is an essential skill required for all Accounting and Payroll employees
• Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Immigration approval  
• Assessment Interview to determine suitability for the Accounting and Payroll program
• Applicants must have a logical mind, excellent organizational skills and a comfort level working with numbers

Accounting and Payroll Fee Information

Tuition: $9,100    Textbooks and other fees: $1,858    International Student Fee: $2,000