Payroll Specialist

Are you are a detail-oriented individual who is discreet in handling and distributing confidential information? Are you good at calculating numbers and maintaining important records? Do you enjoy working in an office environment?  If this sounds like you, perhaps you should consider a career as a Payroll Specialist.

Payroll Specialists input data from time sheets, production records, or individual time cards to computerized payroll systems. They are also responsible for balancing payroll runs, producing federal, state and local tax payments, and answering employee questions and troubleshooting issues.

This course is 190 hours of instruction. Online Instruction: 100% online, Instructor-led class using a learning management system (LMS) for content delivery.  Students registered for the online class will receive an e-mail with login instructions one day before the first day of class.    

This course has two instructional delivery methods, both have 190 hours of instruction.

  1. The hybrid class is a combination of 48 hours face-to-face and 142 hours online instruction.
  2. The online class is 100% online using the learning management system (LMS) Moodle for content delivery. 

This 190-hour instruction includes:

  • The Need for Payroll and Personnel Records
  • Knowledge of Payroll Policies and Procedures
  • Knowledge of Employment Laws and Regulations
  • Computing and Paying Wages and Salaries
  • Computing and Paying Social Security Taxes
  • Computing and Paying Federal Tax Withholding
  • Computing and Paying Unemployment Taxes
  • Analyzing and Journalizing Payroll Transactions
  • Understanding Percentage and Wage Bracket
  • Withholding Tables
  • Understanding the Federal Payroll Tax Calendar
  • Federal Filing of W-2, 941, W-3, 940, and 940-EZ forms
  • Manual and Computerized Payroll Simulation
  • Account Balancing Skills
  • Simple Accounting Procedures
  • Preparing Financial Reports
  • Problem Solving Skills
  • Records Maintenance Skills
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Basic Word Processing Skills
  • Data Entry/10-Key Skills
    And More…

Students have the opportunity to take the MOS Certification for Microsoft® Excel 2019 at the end of the course. The exam is administered by GTCC. The schedule will be announced during class. For more information: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mos-certification.aspx.

Contact Amy Bray at albray@gtcc.edu for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Course registration fee is $188
Book cost is approximately $335

Total cost is $523

Payment for class is due at the time of registration.



 

 

 

Good Computer Skills
E-mail and access to a computer with Internet

Yes.  In order to be successful in the Quick Careers program, students need to have good computer skills. If you are a beginner on the computer, you should take a course FIRST, to strengthen your computer skills before registering for a Quick Careers course. (Contact the Quick Careers Office @ 336-334-4822 extension 53108 with questions).

Individuals should also know that as a Quick Careers student, you will need to have access to a computer outside of class in order to complete required coursework. Computers used outside of class would need to be Internet connected and also have compatible software to what is used in class (e.g. Microsoft® Word, Excel, and, Power Point 2010, etc.) If you do not have a home computer, you should plan to visit a GTCC “Open Lab” to complete required course work.

The below checklist provides information regarding the minimum computer skills needed in order to register for a Quick Careers course. Potential students should thoroughly evaluate their computer skills using this checklist.

Good Computer Skills Self-Assessment

  1. You should be able to turn a computer on and off
    • Do you know the difference in an operating system versus an application software?
      (i.e. Windows® 10 versus Microsoft® Office 2019)
  2. Do you know how to use the computer desktop?
    • Do you know how to make a folder on the desktop?
    • Do you know how to save information on the desktop?
    • Do you know how to retrieve information from the desktop?
  3. Do you know how to use the internet?
    • Can you bookmark a website?
    • Can you Google search/research information on the internet?
  4. Do you have a personal or GTCC/school issued email account?
    • Can you access your personal email from a computer other than your home computer?
    • Can you send internet links via email?
    • Can you send an attachment in an email?
  5. Do you know how to create, save and use a basic Microsoft® Word document?
    • Can you use word processing software
    • Can you type at least 25-30 words per minute?
  6. Are you familiar with Microsoft® Excel?
    • Can you use spreadsheet software
  7. Are you familiar with Microsoft® PowerPoint?
    • Can you use presentation software

You may be eligible for scholarship money. Click on the link below to learn if you might meet the applicant requirements.  Scholarship have time sensitive application deadlines.

WORKFORCE TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS

Additionally, the NCWorks Career Center may be able to assist thru the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program.  For more information call NCWorks Greensboro: (336) 297-9444 or NCWorks High Point: (336) 882-4141.

You may register online:  Register

Students MUST purchase books PRIOR to the first day of class. Required textbooks are:

ISBN:  9781640613607 Payroll Accounting: A practical, real-world approach, 9th edition with eLab,  from Labyrinth Learning. Cost is approximately $166.00 at GTCC bookstore; https://jamestownbookstore.gtcc.edu/college

ISBN:  9781640610644 MS Excel 2019 & 365: Comprehensive with eLab, from Labyrinth Learning. Cost is approximately $169.00 at GTCC bookstore;  https://jamestownbookstore.gtcc.edu/college 

Students who successfully complete the Payroll Specialist class will receive an Award of Completion.  

Requirements for Successful Completion:

  • Attendance: Must be in class 90% of class hours.
  • Coursework: Achieve 80% on coursework.

Students registered in a Hybrid or Online Course MUST attend the first day of class. 

If you enter after the 2nd day of class, you will not receive credit for taking the class.  Additionally, time absent will be counted against you; students can only miss 5 hours of class total and pass the class. 

The college will make a 100% refund of registration fees if you officially withdraw from class before the first meeting.  Also if the class is canceled or full, GTCC will make a full refund. 
The college will refund 75% of the registration fee (of tuition only) if you officially withdraw from the class on the first day of class or before the class reaches the census date.  The census date varies from class to class.  Non-attendance is not a basis for a refund.