The NZPPA eLearning in Payroll Practice is our most comprehensive online payroll course, designed to help payroll practitioners enhance their payroll knowledge, strengthen their technical capability, and better understand how payroll law, process, systems, and best practice work together.

This course covers a wide range of key payroll topics, giving participants a deeper understanding of payroll systems, legislative compliance, payroll risk, and the practical application of payroll rules in the workplace.

With over 300+ skill checks throughout the course, learners have regular opportunities to test their understanding, apply what they have learned, and build confidence before progressing to the next topic. Whether you are looking to improve current payroll practice, support payroll compliance, or advance your payroll career, this course provides valuable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.

FOR

This course is for intermediate to senior-level payroll practitioners who have practical payroll experience and want to consolidate that knowledge through a comprehensive course covering payroll law, payroll practice, payroll process, and payroll compliance.

It is also suitable for payroll professionals who want to check their current knowledge against NZPPA best practice, identify areas for further development, and prepare for higher-level payroll certification.

PURPOSE

Payroll practice requires more than simply processing a pay run. Payroll practitioners must understand employment legislation, tax obligations, leave rules, deductions, record-keeping, system configuration, reporting, and the agreed terms contained in employment agreements.

This course has been developed to provide a structured pathway through those areas, helping participants understand not only what needs to be done in payroll, but why it needs to be done and where the common compliance risks sit.

The course is aligned with the NZPPA Certification framework, covering levels 1 to 6, and will help prepare participants to undertake the certification’s online assessment requirements. To find out more about NZPPA Certification, click here.

COURSE ACCESS

All learning activities are available through the eLearning environment. Upon starting the course, the NZPPA Payroll Practice Guide in a study folder will be couriered to the student.

Students can also access downloadable information and a wide range of external links to websites and other payroll-related resources.

The eLearning environment provides access to over 80 video clips, skill checks, activities, and module assessments. These activities are designed to reinforce learning and help participants apply payroll concepts to practical workplace situations.

There is also an end-of-course assessment, which must be completed to be awarded the course certificate.

If you wish to start before the physical course material arrives, you will also have access to the course material in the form of an online flipping book.

DURATION

As an online course, once the start date is booked, the course will be available for ten weeks only. Additional extensions can be requested based on work or personal circumstances if needed.

Learners can work through the course at their own pace within the access period, making it suitable for payroll practitioners balancing study alongside their day-to-day payroll responsibilities.

ENTRY PREREQUISITE

Participants should have at least two years in a full-time payroll position.

Participants should also have completed Payroll Foundation Skills, Payroll Law, and Payroll Calculations, or be able to demonstrate extensive practical payroll experience.

This course is not designed as an entry-level payroll course. It assumes the learner already has a working knowledge of payroll processing and wants to develop a broader and deeper understanding of payroll practice.

COURSE GUIDE

Attendees will receive a physical copy of the NZPPA Payroll Practice Guide, a 700+ page reference resource designed to support payroll practitioners in the workplace.

The NZPPA Certificate in Payroll Practice is based on the first 10 chapters of the guide, covering core payroll practice areas including payroll operations, employment agreements, payroll legislation, employee payments, leave, deductions, taxation, compliance, payroll records, and payroll best practice.

The guide is intended to be used not only during the course, but also as an ongoing workplace reference after the course has been completed.

COURSE CONTENT

• Payroll practice and payroll process: understanding the payroll function, payroll workflow, payroll controls, payroll deadlines, and payroll responsibilities.
• Employment agreements and agreed terms: understanding the payroll impact of employment agreement clauses, hours of work, allowances, deductions, leave provisions, and termination terms.
• Payroll legislation: applying key New Zealand payroll legislation, including the Holidays Act, Employment Relations Act, Wages Protection Act, Minimum Wage Act, Income Tax Act, KiwiSaver Act, and related payroll obligations.
• Gross earnings and payments: understanding what is included in gross earnings, employee payments, allowances, bonuses, commissions, extra pay, reimbursements, and taxable and non-taxable payments.
• Leave and holidays: annual holidays, public holidays, alternative holidays, sick leave, bereavement leave, family violence leave, parental leave, and other leave types that impact payroll.
• Tax, PAYE and deductions: tax codes, PAYE, ACC earner levy, student loans, child support, court fines, MSD deductions, KiwiSaver, ESCT, and other payroll deductions.
• Payroll records and compliance: wage and time records, leave records, payroll reporting, filing requirements, audit trails, and payroll risk management.
• Payroll system and best practice: understanding how payroll systems are configured, how calculations are processed, and how payroll practitioners can identify and manage payroll compliance risks.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the key payroll practice requirements that apply to New Zealand payroll.
• Identify payroll compliance risks across payroll processing, leave, taxation, deductions, and record-keeping.
• Apply payroll knowledge to a range of common workplace payroll situations.
• Understand how employment agreements, legislation, and payroll systems interact.
• Use the NZPPA Payroll Practice Guide as an ongoing workplace reference.
• Prepare for the relevant NZPPA Certification assessment requirements.

COURSE CERTIFICATE

On successful completion of the course and the required assessment, attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

NZPPA CERTIFICATION

This course, in part, will help with completing the online assessment requirements for NZPPA Certification to become a recognised payroll professional.