Chapter 1 - Payroll and Its Compliance Environment Flashcards
What is the primary objective of the payroll function?
To pay employees accurately and on time, in compliance with legislative requirements, for a full annual payroll cycle
What is payroll?
the process of paying employees in exchange for the services they perform
This refers to laws enacted by a legislative body
Legislation
In Canada, there are many legislative sources that payroll professionals must comply with at two separate levels, what are these two levels?
The federal and the provincial/territorial governments
The observance of official requirements. This means performing payroll functions according to federal and provincial/territorial legislative and non-governmental stakeholder requirements for payroll professionals.
Compliance
Other term for legislative requirements
Statutory
What is the responsibility of payroll professionals?
Ensuring their organization is compliant with all payroll related legislation, thus eliminating the potential for any fines or penalties
Example of compliance requirements from other non-government stakeholders?
union collective agreements or group insurance policies
Information needed by payroll professionals to process payroll
Payroll Compliance, Payroll Processes and Payroll Reporting
Skills needed by payroll professional to process payroll
Technical skills, Personal skills and Professional skills
who are responsible for entering payroll data into the system and making required payroll remittances
Payroll administrators
who are responsible for preparing the payroll journal entries and reconciling the payroll related accounts
Payroll coordinators
who manage the payroll function the payroll staff and represent payroll at the management level
Payroll managers
What are the different payroll compliance legislations?
the Income Tax Act, the Employment Insurance Act, the Canada Pension Plan Act, Employment/Labour Standards, privacy legislation, Workers’ Compensation and provincial/territorial payroll-specific legislation
What are the different payroll processes?
the remuneration and deduction components of payroll and how to use these components to calculate a net pay in both regular and non-regular circumstances
What are the different payroll reporting?
calculating and remitting amounts due to government agencies, insurance companies, unions and other third parties, accounting for payroll expenses and accruals to internal financial systems and federal and provincial/territorial year-end reporting
What are the technical skills required?
proficiency in computer programs such as payroll software and financial systems, spreadsheets, databases and word processing
What are the personal and professional skills required?
- written communication skills, such as preparing employee emails and memos, management reports, policies and procedures and correspondence with various levels of government
- verbal communication skills, to be able to respond to internal and external stakeholder inquiries
- the ability to read, understand and interpret legal terminology found in documents such as collective agreements, benefit contracts and government regulations
- excellent mathematical skills to perform various calculations
- problem solving, decision-making, time management and organizational skills
What are the behavioural and ethical standards required?
- trustworthy, as the potential for fraud is ever present
- conscientious, with keen attention to detail
- discreet due to the confidential nature of the information being handled
- tactful in dealing with employees who can be very sensitive when discussing their financial issues
- perceptive, able to understand all sides of an issue
- able to work under the pressures of absolute deadlines
- able to use common sense to recognize problems quickly and apply sound solutions
- able to remain objective and maintain a factual perspective when dealing with questions and inquiries
Provides the minimum standards of professional behaviour that apply to all members and students and addresses personal accountability and integrity issues
The Code of Professional Conduct (by National payroll institute)
Are the individuals, groups and agencies, both internal and external to the organization, who share an interest in the function and output of the payroll department.
Stakeholders
Can be considered customers of the payroll department, and payroll professionals can take a proactive customer service approach to serve these individuals and groups
Stakeholders
Who are the internal stakeholders?
employees, employers and other departments within the organization
Who are the external stakeholders?
include benefit carriers, courts, unions, pension providers, charities, third party administrators, and outsource/software vendors
Who are the government stakeholders
federal and provincial/territorial governments