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ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION

START YOUR NEW CAREER IN BUSINESS IN ONLY 55 WEEKS

BECOMING AN ACCOUNTANT OR PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR​

Improve your prospects in the business world with Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration diploma. This comprehensive one-year program equips you with the practical skills necessary to thrive as an accountant, payroll administrator, or tax specialist.

Throughout the program’s duration, you will gain the knowledge and expertise to handle the daily challenges faced by accounting professionals. From managing payroll and expenses to drafting fiscal year documentation, you will learn crucial skills to effectively communicate with stakeholders and navigate provincial and federal payroll laws. Additionally, the program covers essential topics such as accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping, cash analysis, financial statements, and accounting for partnerships and corporations.

To ensure you are well-prepared for the job market, our program provides hands-on experience with leading accounting and payroll software, including QuickBooks Online, ProFile Professional Tax, and Sage 50cloud. This technical training empowers you with real-world knowledge that can be applied from day one on the job.

Furthermore, Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration program includes a valuable three-week work experience opportunity in a local business or financial institution. This hands-on experience allows you to apply your skills in a professional setting and gain practical insights into the industry. As a graduate of our program, you will receive ongoing support from Heritage College’s Career Services department, offering assistance with job searches, resume and LinkedIn profile reviews, and interview preparation.

Launch your successful business career today with Heritage College’s one-year Accounting and Payroll Administration program.

Heritage College’s Accounting & Payroll Administration diploma goes beyond equipping students with essential skills. It also prepares them for professional recognition as National Payroll Institute-designated Payroll Compliance Professionals.

By successfully completing this program, students fulfill part of the educational requirements necessary to obtain their Payroll Compliance Professional designation from the NPI, and will have the opportunity to challenge the 3 PCP payroll exams. It’s important to note that graduates will need to pass the 3 PCP payroll exams, and will also need to obtain one year of work experience in the payroll field to qualify for their designation.

To learn more about this program and the pathway to becoming a Payroll Compliance Professional, please contact us at 403-800-8221. Our team will be happy to provide you with further information and answer any questions you may have.

Course Overview

Upon completion of Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration program, graduates acquire the necessary bookkeeping and financial knowledge to tackle the daily challenges encountered by accounting professionals. Throughout this comprehensive one-year program, you will:

  • Gain expertise in industry-standard accounting software, including QuickBooks, Sage 50cloud, and ProFile Professional Tax.
  • Fulfill the educational requirements essential to obtaining your Payroll Compliance Professional designation from the National Payroll Institute (NPI).
  • Study key aspects such as human resources, payroll regulations, taxation, and accounting, preparing you for diverse roles within today’s dynamic business environment.
  • Explore the wide range of business roles that accounting professionals can fulfill, including bookkeeping, financial analysis, personal accounting, and tax preparation.
  • Acquire a thorough understanding of the regulations and laws governing accounting and payroll practices across Canada.

By enrolling in Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration program, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field of accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping and human resources.

How You'll Learn

Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration diploma has two delivery methods:

  • In-Class: Three days a week at Heritage College’s Northeast Calgary campus.
  • Online: Lectures and theory delivered online, including online assessment.

This program combines lectures, visual aides, hands-on learning via practical exercises, projects, exams and group discussions into an accessible learning experience. Validation of knowledge is done through through exams, practical tests, projects, and practicum evaluation. 

YOUR FUTURE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES​

The demand for skilled accounting professionals is high across various industries. Upon graduating from Heritage College’s Accounting and Payroll Administration program, you will have access to a wide range of employment opportunities. Companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, consistently seek junior accountants, bookkeepers, accounts payable and accounts receivable clerks, and office managers to support their financial operations.

The accounting field offers substantial potential for growth, and graduates of this program can seize numerous opportunities for further training and career advancement. Additional certifications can be pursued, enabling graduates to progress from entry-level positions to managerial roles within the public, private, or non-profit sectors.

To learn more about the rewarding career of a payroll administrator, please visit the payroll administrator career information page on the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website.

Accounting and Payroll Banner

Upcoming Start Dates

March 19, 2024 - Morning Online
April 19, 2024 - Weekend Online
April 30, 2024 - Morning Online
May 17, 2024 - Weekend Online
June 18, 2024 - Morning Online
June 21, 2024 - Weekend Online

Course Length

55 Weeks

1155 Total Hours
1035 Theory | 120 Practicum

Course Offered

In-Class
100% Online

Earn an average wage of

$29.00 an hour

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Fill out the form below for your FREE information package.

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COURSE OUTLINE

Heritage College Accounting and Payroll

Why Heritage?

MAKING YOUR EDUCATION AFFORDABLE

Your education is one of the most important decisions you make in your life. It’s an investment in your future, and it can pay you back in dividends. 

At Heritage College, we work with you to ensure you can afford the education you need to transform your life. We have helped many students get financial aid, and our team is ready to help you make the right decisions for your future as well.

Our admissions team will work with you to determine the options that best fit your own personal financial needs and situation. This program is eligible for Canada Student Loans, other forms of government funding, and scholarships. We can advise you on Provincial Student Aid, personal lines of credit, RESPs, and our own in-house student financing. We work with you to ensure you are securely funded before you start your program, so you start your program confident you will be able to see it through to the end.

You can visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page for more information on how we can help you afford your education. Please also visit our Scholarships and Grants Page for information about current financial aid opportunities exclusive to Heritage College students.

Heritage College’s Accounting & Payroll Administration diploma is eligible for government funding and student loans in:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Northwest Territories

The Accounting and Payroll Administration diploma program at Heritage College is an approved Vocational Program licensed by Alberta Advanced Education.

No high school diploma? No problem!

Heritage College does not require a high school diploma for our mature admissions pathway. 

You can find additional information about our admission requirements on our Admissions Page

Practicum Requirements

Accounting and Payroll Administration diploma program students complete their education with 120 hours of practicum experience at a partner institution. To participate in the practicum, students must satisfy the following prerequisites.

Graduation Requirements

To successfully graduate from the Accounting and Payroll Administration diploma program, students must:

Amazing college! The teachers are incredibly intelligent and caring to the students. The class sizes are small, so it's easy to connect with your teachers and fellow classmates.​

Amazing school, with amazing teachers who put their interest in helping you be successful and ensure you are prepared for the rest of your career.​

I'm glad I made the right choice to join the class. Best teachers, good class size, hands-on experience... very good!

Accounting and Payroll Tools

APPLY ONLINE

Fill out the following form and one of our Admissions Advisers will get in contact with you to answer any questions you have.

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ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL
ADMINISTRATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

This is only an outline of our Accounting and Payroll Administration program. For more information about our curriculum, please contact our admissions advisers.

This course will introduce students to the basic principles of the Microsoft Office Suite.
This course is split into different modules, which students can complete individually. The
modules are as follows:

  • Windows Introduction
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook

This course will cover the various topics needed to strengthen the student’s ability to communicate effectively in a professional workplace environment. Students will learn how to improve the written and verbal communication skills required by various business matters. Students will examine business writing and compose multiple letters and memos in a corporate context. Students will further practice their communication skills by analyzing persuasive and effective business writing, executive summaries, and oral presentations.

This course covers the strategic importance of human resources management, including job analysis and job design, human resource planning, the legal requirements of hiring, diversity in the workplace, recruitment, selection, orientation training, development and career planning, performance appraisal, compensation management, employee benefits, health and safety in the workplace, managing employee relations, and union-management framework.

In this course, students learn basic accounting concepts and procedures. Topics covered include business classifications, ratios, percentages, proportions, marketing math, simple and compound interest, assets and liabilities, equity accounts, trial balance, annuities, loans, and mortgages. Students will also learn essential accounting concepts and procedures, including basic and expanded accounting equations, adjusting and closing entries, and the complete accounting cycle.

Financial Accounting I introduces students to financial accounting from the perspective of someone who makes financial and accounting decisions based on financial information. The course includes an introduction to the accounting framework, generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements.

Students in this course learn financial accounting principles using GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), accounts receivable, sales and inventories, cash flow statements, and analysis of financial statements.

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the accounting cycle and its many facets. This course helps students rationally apply the financial accounting topics covered in Financial Accounting I. The topics of this course include accounting for partnerships and corporations, stocks and dividends, retained earnings, merchandise inventory, and property, plant, equipment and intangible asset evaluation.

This course covers payroll and its compliance environment, federal legislation relating to accounting and payroll, CPP & EI requirements, income tax, labour standards and employment standards, unionized workplaces, and provincial and territorial legislation.

Over the length of this course, students learn new employment information, the calculating of regular income-earnings, the CRA Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC), allowances, benefits, expenses, non-regular payments, non-statutory deductions, termination of employment, return on equity (ROE) and commission payments.

In this course, students cover the calculation of organizational remittances to the Canadian Revenue Agency (online or via the PD7A form), provincial remittances, and Worker Compensation Board (WCB) compensation remittances.

This multifaceted course includes an introduction to Canadian tax systems, tax payers’ responsibilities per CRA guidelines, an introduction to personal and business income and deductions, capital gains, the computation of taxable income and business income, and filing taxes and benefit returns using ProFile Professional Tax.
Over the length of this course, students gain hands-on experience industry-leading QuickBooks Online professional accounting software and its layouts, including setting up a company,the A/P and A/R modules, and the payroll module. This course also prepares students to take their QuickBooks certification exam from Intuit.

This course is a thorough introduction to the Sage 50cloud accounting software and its layouts, including setting up a company, the A/P and A/R modules and the payroll module.

This course teaches job search skills and helps students understand the labour market. It includes coaching in writing effective resumes and cover letters. Students also participate in mock interviews to correct and refine skills, increasing employment readiness.

Topics include:

  • Portfolios
  • Job search strategies
  • Resume and cover letter writing
  • Mock interviews and retrospective reviews
  • The role of social media in job hunting

Embark on a Rewarding Business Career in Just 55 Weeks at Heritage College

Discover Heritage

Ready to take the first step towards a fulfilling career in Accounting and Payroll Administration? Fill out this form, and our dedicated admissions team will promptly reach out to provide you with all the information you need. Whether you have questions about our program, financial aid options, or the application process, we are here to assist you every step of the way.

Start your journey with Heritage College today and unlock endless possibilities in the world of business. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to shape your future. Fill out the form now, and let’s embark on this exciting new chapter together.

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