PLEASE NOTE: The Virtual Classroom offering is a NZPPA member-only special and is not available to non-members. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

FOR:

Managers, Human Resources and Finance practitioners, and anyone involved in working with, managing, or leading payroll activities within their organisation who want a better understanding of what payroll actually involves.

PURPOSE

Payroll covers one of the largest costs any business faces — the cost of labour. If payroll is not managed, configured, and monitored correctly, it can become a major risk to the business in terms of legislative requirements, cost, and time.

For this reason, managers and other positions within the business that interact with payroll need to have a greater understanding of what payroll does and how they can support payroll in being successful and effective.

This course provides participants with a practical understanding of the payroll function, the processes that sit behind a pay run and the areas where decisions made elsewhere in the business can directly affect payroll.

Each participant will be provided with a comprehensive course manual full of references.

COURSE ACCESS

All learning activities are available through the eLearning environment. When starting the course, a course manual will be couriered to the student as the guide for the course.

Students can also access downloadable information and a range of external website links and resources.

Activities and assessments can be accessed through the eLearning environment, uploaded, and will be marked and reported online to the student.

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

DURATION

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

COURSE CONTENT

• Understanding what is involved in processing payroll (end-to-end process and related steps).
• Involving payroll in decisions that impact payroll and why this is important.
• What needs to be included in employment agreements to assist payroll.
• Checks, monitoring, and security to keep payroll secure.
• Use of technology to make payroll efficient.
• Using basic payroll measures to assess payroll performance.
• What is an effective structure for payroll in your business?
• Training, support, and developing payroll practitioners.
• An overview of the main legislative requirements and how they are applied in a payroll system, including:
  • Holidays Act 2003
  • Parental Leave & Employment Protection Act
  • Allowances (non-taxable and reimbursing)
  • Bonuses
  • Superannuation & KiwiSaver
  • Payroll record-keeping requirements
• The advantages and disadvantages of having an in-house versus outsourced payroll.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

• Understand how payroll functions effectively in a business.
• Identify the risk areas in payroll and how they can be avoided.
• Recognise what payroll needs to be effectively run within the business.
• Explain the essential legislative requirements in relation to payroll and why they are performed in a particular way.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM SPECIAL

24 September 2026 • 9:00 am to 4:15 pm
Format: Live Virtual Classroom
NZPPA Member Price: $275 + GST

This special Virtual Classroom delivery provides members with the opportunity to complete the course live with a trainer rather than through the usual eLearning format.

MEMBER TWO-COURSE PACKAGE

Attend this course together with NZPPA Certificate in Understanding Incentives, Rewards & Remuneration (Level 4) for only $500 + GST.

The two-course package saves $50 + GST compared with booking both courses individually and may also be shared between two different attendees.

View the full two-course member package

GROUP BOOKINGS

For two or more attendees, a 25% group booking discount will apply from the second attendee onwards.

To arrange a group booking, email training@nzppa.co.nz.