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Short Term Training

Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate

Build specialized payroll and accounting knowledge through focused training in Canadian payroll legislation, payroll processing, and financial accounting. Designed for students seeking a fast pathway into payroll administration, this program provides the foundational skills needed to support payroll operations in Canadian workplaces.

Next Start Date: September 7th, 2026
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Program Snapshot

CredentialCertificate

Duration17 Weeks

PracticumNo Practicum

Schedule20 hours/week, Monday – Friday, daytime and evening classes

DeliveryIn-Class, Online (Synchronous)*, or Combined

Employment Opportunities

Payroll Administrator
Accounting Clerk / Payroll Clerk
Bookkeeper
View more below →

Why Brighton?

Complete in as Little as 4 Months
PCP Pathway Through the National Payroll Institute (NPI)
Specialized Training in Canadian Payroll Practices
Learn Payroll Compliance & Year-End Reporting
Prepare for Payroll & Financial Administration Careers

Skills You’ll Gain

Introduction to AccountingFinancial FundamentalsPayroll Compliance Legislation, Fundamentals I & II

I came to Brighton College on the recommendation of a friend. I liked the education best, as it was straight to the point and the lessons were really for the future..

– Sarah Lopecillo, Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate
Program Video

Watch the Program Video

Learn about the Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate, Canadian payroll compliance training, and the PCP pathway through the National Payroll Institute.

Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate program preview

Program Description

The Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate provides focused training in payroll administration and financial accounting practices used in Canadian organizations.

Designed for students seeking specialized payroll knowledge in a short period of time, the program develops the skills required to process payroll accurately, maintain compliance, and support financial operations across a variety of industries.

Students gain a strong understanding of Canadian payroll legislation and payroll fundamentals through Brighton College's partnership with the National Payroll Institute (NPI). They learn how to calculate employee earnings, process payroll transactions, prepare remittances, complete Records of Employment (ROEs), and manage year-end payroll reporting requirements while ensuring compliance with current legislation and regulatory standards.

The program also introduces core accounting concepts, helping students understand financial records, financial statements, and the role accounting information plays in organizational decision-making. This accounting foundation supports payroll professionals who work closely with finance and accounting departments.

Unlike broader accounting programs that include accounting software, bookkeeping processes, and workplace training, this certificate focuses specifically on payroll administration and compliance. Students develop specialized knowledge that prepares them for payroll-related responsibilities while building a strong foundation for future professional growth within payroll and financial administration environments.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Accounting and Payroll Administrator Certificate, the successful student will have the ability to:

  • Understand financial reports, record financial information, and create basic financial statements.
  • Use financial information and perform basic interpretation of financial statements.
  • Understand and interpret the rules and regulations required to function within a payroll office.
  • Perform the day-to-day duties required in a payroll department.
  • Prepare payroll remittances and monthly reports for stakeholders.
  • Prepare year-end payroll reports.

Courses

BAF140 | Introduction to Accounting

This course introduces the students to the construction and interpretation of financial systems, records, reports and statements, including how vital accurate and complete financial data is for a business to ensure its ongoing success. This course is the first in a series of courses to build a solid base in accounting from both a practical and a theoretical perspective.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

BAF150 | Financial Accounting

This course is a continuation of the work stated in Introduction to Accounting. This course provides students’ introductory knowledge about the construction and interpretation of financial systems, records, reports, and statements. It also shows how vital accurate and complete financial data is for a business to ensure its ongoing success.

Duration: 40 hours, 2 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140.

CPA050 | Payroll Compliance Legislation - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Compliance Legislation, the student will have a thorough understanding of the compliance requirements. The student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

CPA100 | Payroll Fundamentals I - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 1, the student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: CPA050.

CPA200 | Payroll Fundamentals II - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 2, the student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140, CPA100.

Admission Requirements

  • High school diploma or mature student status*
  • Legal eligibility to study in Canada
  • English proficiency requirement from one of following options:
    1. Completion of 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or 2 years of if Grade are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages, or
    2. Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS), or
    3. Evidence of achievement in a recognized standardized language assessment at an overall level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 (academic) or higher: IELTS academic 5.5; TOEFL IBT 46; CAEL 40; CELPIP (Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, Writing 5); DET 95, PTE 43; FCE 160 or “C”; Cambridge Linguaskill B2; LANGUAGECERT Academic B2; MET B2; iTEP Academic 3.5; EIKEN Grade Pre-1. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program, or
    4. Evidence of graduation from language program with a minimum grade/level from a Languages Canada accredited institution with an established pathway/articulation agreement allowing direct entry (no further testing required) to a diploma or degree program at a public institution in Canada. The pathway/articulation agreement must be current at the date of enrolment, or
    5. Accuplacer - This option may only apply when:
      • English is the program’s language of instruction, and
      • the applicant is a mature domestic student facing barriers, and
      • the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined in this policy
      • Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
      • Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English* in a country where the English is one of the principal languages, and
      • Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
        • Reading: 230, and Writing: 230, and WritePlacer: 4

Refer to Language Proficiency Policy for details.

*Mature Student is defined as an individual who is 19 years of age or older at the start of the program.

*Under no circumstances can these Admission Requirements be waived.

Employment Opportunities

Start Your Career As

  • Accounting Clerk/Payroll Clerk
  • Junior Accountant
  • Bookkeeper
  • Administrative Assistant

Labour Market Snapshot

  • NOC: 13102
  • Annual Earnings *Average: $58,221
  • Job Openings (2025–2035): 2,600
  • Wages (BC): High $41.83/hr
    Median $31.00/hr
    Low $22.00/hr

Data sourced from WorkBC. Occupation information aligned with the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Career-path occupations generally require additional industry experience, employer training, certification, professional registration or further education. Completion of this program does not by itself confer a professional licence or protected occupational designation.