Payroll and Bookkeeping (Optional Co-op)

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Courses - September 2025

Level 1

Course details

Introductory Financial Accounting I
ACCT1030

Description: This course introduces ASPE, IFRS, accounting terminology, the accounting equation, the double-entry system of bookkeeping, the accrual basis of accounting, financial statements and the ledgers and journals making up a basic accounting system for both sole proprietorship and corporation forms of businesses.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Personal Tax Returns
ACCT1520

Description: This introductory course is designed to provide the knowledge required to prepare Canadian Income Tax Returns (T1). We will cover sources of income, deductions, credits and the calculation of tax. Successful completion of this course will allow you to be employed as a tax preparer for income tax specialty firms or prepare your own tax return.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Description: This course introduces students to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students will analyse a variety of texts and apply the steps of planning, writing, and revising to produce writing that meets the expectations of selected audiences and purposes. The course prepares students for college-level writing tasks, research, and documentation by asking them to produce clear, informed, and purposeful documents relevant to both academic and professional contexts.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Business Computing Applications I
COMP1056

Description:

During this course, the student will learn to effectively use Windows operating system, apply word processing techniques, create basic business presentations, and explore the power of spreadsheets . Students will also learn the skills necessary to operate effectively within the Conestoga College computing environment. An emphasis will be placed on the development of solutions to business problems using commonly available microcomputer tools.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Payroll Compliance Legislation
CPAY1000

Description:

Students who complete this course will be able to calculate and report the government and third-party remittances, year-end requirements and accounting for payroll at the compliance level for the organization. Students will be able to effectively communicate these organizational processes and requirements, and the role of technology in facilitating organizational compliance, to internal and external stakeholders.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Business Mathematics I
MATH1010

Description: The purpose of the course is to provide the student with a mathematical basis for personal and business financial decisions through four instructional modules. The course stresses business applications using arithmetic, algebra, ratio-proportion and graphing. Applications include payroll, cost-volume-profit analysis and merchandising mathematics. This course stresses logical reasoning and problem solving skills. A Texas Instrument BAII “Plus” calculator is required for the course.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Introductory Financial Accounting II
ACCT1040

Description:

This course teaches introductory information on principles and methods used in accounting for current assets, long-term assets, long-term liabilities and equity accounts for both partnership and corporate business structures.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: ACCT1030
  • CoRequisites:

Excel in Accounting
ACCT1495

Description:

This course provides students with the intermediate level topics required for The Microsoft Office Specialist exam; Excel Expert: Interpreting Data for Insights. Excel is an essential accounting tool. The material covered in this course will enhance the ability of the student to create and streamline accounting workbooks for optimal control, ease of use, and report design.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Advanced Personal Tax Returns
ACCT1550

Description:

This advanced level course will expand on the topics presented in Personal Tax Returns. Topics covered will include tax treatment of capital gains and losses; self-employment income and expenses; rental income and expenses; employment expenses and various types of investments, including foreign property.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ACCT1520
  • CoRequisites:

Cost And Management Accounting I
ACCT2020

Description:

This course introduces managerial accounting concepts and terminology including various methods of analyzing cost behaviour, including elements of a job costing, process costing, standard costing and activity-based costing systems. Students will apply cost-volume-profit analysis and relevant cost to special decision-making situations. Further the course will cover aspects of the master budgeting process and how a flexible budget is used in manufacturing.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Accounting Applications I
ACCT2225

Description: Through the use of Sage 50 (formerly known as Simply Accounting) and QuickBooks Online (QBO), students will learn how to use two popular accounting software packages for use in small and medium sized businesses. In the Sage 50 component of the course, they will become familiar with computer accounting for applications such as Chart of Accounts, General Journal, General Ledger, Sales, Purchases, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payments, Receipts, Reconciliations, Payroll Inventory, Vendor files, Customer files, Employee files and company setup. In the QuickBooks Online (QBO) component of the course they will become familiar with computer accounting for applications such as Chart of Accounts, Writing Cheques, Sales Receipts, Customers, Suppliers, General Journal, General Ledger, and company setup.
  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: ACCT1030
  • CoRequisites:

Payroll Fundamentals I
CPAY1010

Description:

Students who complete this course will be able to calculate and report the government and third-party remittances, year-end requirements and accounting for payroll at the compliance level for the organization.

Students will be able to effectively communicate these organizational processes and requirements, and the role of technology in facilitating organizational compliance, to internal and external stakeholders.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: CPAY1000
  • CoRequisites:

Level 3

Course details

Accounting Applications II
ACCT3150

Description:

Students will be introduced to an alternative computerized accounting system with an emphasis in determining a suitable computerized accounting system for a company's needs. A cloud based accounting software package will be used in illustrating the application of its functions to particular tasks.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ACCT2220 OR ACCT2225
  • CoRequisites:

Co-op and Career Preparation
CEPR1020

Description: This series of modules will prepare students for job searching for their co-op work terms with the guidance of a Coop Advisor. Students will familiarize themselves with the co-operative education policies and procedures and will learn the expectations, rules, and regulations that apply in the workplace regarding social, organizational, ethical, and safety issues while developing an awareness of self-reflective practices. Students will reflect on their skills, attitudes, and expectations and examine available opportunities in the workplace. Successful completion of these modules is a requirement for co-op eligibility.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Payroll Fundamentals II
CPAY2000

Description:

Students who complete this course will be able to calculate and report the government and third-party remittances, year-end requirements and accounting for payroll at the compliance level for the organization. Students will be able to effectively communicate these organizational processes and requirements, and the role of technology in facilitating organizational compliance, to internal and external stakeholders.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: CPAY1010
  • CoRequisites:

Client Communications and Entrepreneurship
ENTR2090

Description: In this course, students will demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and convincingly with clients, employees and co-workers. While monitoring their non-verbal communication, they will learn how to listen actively to ensure accurate information gathering. Students will deliver oral presentations in a variety of settings including on-on-one and small groups, with a view to building confidence and professionalism. Students will also be introduced to the option of business ownership, how a business operates, forms of business and the role of government in small business. Established business practices and ethics will be explored using case studies. Students will create the various components of a business plan.
  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Compensation
HRM1050

Description:

The major objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the process, issues and techniques involved in developing and administering a modern compensation system. Students will acquire knowledge about theoretical and applied aspects of the compensation function, an understanding of the linkage between the compensation function and organizational management process, and familiarity with the compensation system design necessary to attract, retain and motivate employees.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Canadian Employment Law
HRM1095

Description: This course will provide the student with a fundamental working knowledge of the key provisions of labour and employment law legislation. Areas of study include: Employment Standards, Human Rights and the Labour Relations Act, and the rights of employees, employers and unions and the impact of these Acts on items such as hiring, termination, discrimination, union certification and union decertification. A brief overview of elements on Employment contracts and Collective Labour Agreement will also be included.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 4

Course details

Co-op Work Term (Payroll and Bookkeeping)
COOP2530

Description: This co-op work term will provide students with college-approved work experience in an authentic, professionally relevant work environment. Students will be provided the opportunity to connect theory and practice by leveraging their academic training to develop a broad base of vocational skills. The practical applications of this work term will promote students’ awareness of key concepts and terminology in their field, cultivate their problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, encourage their development of professional autonomy and collaboration, and enhance their capacity to analyze and reflect on their demonstrated abilities in the workplace.
  • Hours: 420
  • Credits: 14
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 5

Course details

Advanced Excel In Accounting
ACCT3135

Description: Students will use Microsoft Excel as a data analytics tool to create workbooks that use advanced functions in to analyze financial and non-financial data. This includes the retrieval, synthesis, and analysis of large datasets. Understanding end-user requirements will be a primary consideration to ensure the objectives of analysis are satisfied while using best practices regarding data management to ensure data integrity. Students will have an opportunity to prepare financial statements, perform trend analysis, use pivot tables, chart financial data, use business intelligence tools, and develop an Excel application. The material covered in this course, including macro creation, will enhance the ability of the student to create and streamline accounting workbooks for optimal control, ease of use, and report design. As part of this course students will have covered all topics for the Microsoft Office Specialist Exam: “Excel Expert: Interpreting data for Insights.”
  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Payroll Practicum
CPAY2010

Description:

The payroll technology practicum is a critical part of the payroll practitioner development plan and provides real-world experience with an industry standard Canadian payroll and HR technology platform.

By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to implement end-to-end payroll processing and administration using an online software program.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: CPAY1010
  • CoRequisites:

Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Program
HRM1110

Description:

The focus of this course is on designing, administering and funding company benefit plans including life, short term disability, long term disability, major medical, dental and pension plans. Current trends in the insurance industry in the group benefits area will be reviewed. Students will also have an opportunity to explore the linkages which exist between government sponsored plans and company sponsored plans. Current approaches to benefit design will be reviewed and students will explore alternative design types and critique their suitability for differing employee needs. Cost and price issues will also be reviewed along with some of the major pieces of legislation impacting on this area.

  • Hours: 36
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: HRM1050
  • CoRequisites:

Introduction to Management for Payroll Professionals
MGMT1495

Description:

This course provides an introduction to the management and supervision skills specific to payroll administrators. Topics include payroll best practices, benchmarking working with various government agencies and organizations, complex issues related to payroll administration and payroll planning to support organizational planning.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Program outcomes

  1. Prepare accurate financial reports for analysis and control purposes in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  2. Plan, direct and apply controls to an enterprise in accordance with industry standards.
  3. Prepare payroll remittances, T4’s, basic personal tax returns, HST/GST and other required filings ensuring compliance with relevant Canadian legislation and regulations.
  4. Support the financial management of a business organization to make evidence-informed decisions that align with business goals and objectives.
  5. Perform payroll and accounting tasks in various computerized systems in accordance with legislative and government requirements.
  6. Support the investigation of and response to payroll queries within the operational structure of an organization and in accordance with organizational customer service standards.
  7. Complete all work in accordance with ethical business practices that foster corporate responsibility within the context of the Canadian business environment and the Sustainable Development Goals.
  8. Communicate professionally with vendors, clients and other stakeholders to foster successful business relationships.
  9. Develop a plan for personal and professional development to enhance knowledge of industry trends and best practices relating to the payroll profession.