120 best practices to improve the total process of the payroll department Payroll Best Practices examines, in great detail, best practices for the payroll function, and how to install them to provide readers with an in-depth knowledge of how this critical functional area can be improved. Here, controllers, payroll managers, and CFOs will discover the exact work plans needed to implement each best practice in their organizations, and lays out pitfalls likely to be encountered and avoided along the way. This how-to resource for payroll improvements includes: * Techniques for reducing the workload and error rate of the payroll staff * Methods for switching from an in-house to an outsourced payroll solution * Ways to create or outsource a Web-based timekeeping system * Approaches to switching to an employee-driven payroll deduction system * Graphics indicating the cost and implementation duration for each best practice * Policies and procedures that support the best practices * A simplified best practices implementation plan * An appendix that summarizes the large number of best practices presented * A glossary of key payroll-related terminology * And much more

Praise for Accounting Best Practices, Fifth Edition "For a comprehensive, yet easy-to-read guide to fixing those all-too-common shortcomings in your accounting department, look no further than this excellent book. Steve Bragg provides hundreds of fixes, many of them requiring surprisingly little time or cost while providing a handy guide to common implementation pitfalls . . . I would recommend this invaluable book to anyone who is looking to enhance their existing processes, whether due to growth in their business, compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, or just as part of their ongoing improvement process." —Martyn Webster, CPA, Director of FinanceXenoPort, Inc. "This book is critical to running an efficient and accurate accounting department. The use of RFID technology to track documents is one of many valuable tools in this latest edition. A required read for the demanding accounting manager's role." —Jason Charet, CPA "I've used Steve Bragg's Accounting Best Practices books for years as a source of ideas for improvement. Like the previous editions, the Fifth Edition has a number of new, actionable best practices as well as refinements of those ideas reported in previous editions. The books are broad enough in their perspective so that nearly any organization could find ideas that could pay back the cost of the book many times over." —John Temmerman, Controller Evangelical Lutheran Church in America "What a great resource! I have been in the accounting field for over twenty years, and I was still able to gain insight into improving processes within my office. Thanks for putting it all in one book!" —Tina M. Thomas, CPA, CTP, Controller Goodman & Company, LLP

The only practices worth following are the best practices "Accounting Control Best Practices is succinctly described in one word-thorough. Organizations from manufacturing to hospitals can use this-easily understood by everyone from the data entry clerk in accounting to the CFO." -Melody Troesser Accountant Cole County Residential Services, Inc. "There is no authority on accounting or accounting control best practices like Steven Bragg. This guy does the hard stuff-he sees the big picture perfectly yet can also get down in the trenches and dig into difficult and complex areas. His writing is clear and his explanations are simple and sensible." -Jack W. Boyer, CPA, MCP Boyer & Associates "Accountants, analysts, and system designers will find this an excellent tool. Real examples define and demonstrate effective control points, while keeping practicality and efficiency in mind. A great addition to my library." -Clint Davies Principal Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker "A cornucopia of control ideas organized by process and explained in simple terms to ensure quick implementation." -Richard B. Lanza, CPA/CITP, CFE, PMP President Cash Recovery Partners, LLC Destined to become an essential desktop tool in helping professionals tailor a controls system to the needs of their company, Accounting Control Best Practices introduces all of the major accounting and operational processes with hundreds of controls presented in basic, intermediate, and advanced layers-from a basic paper-based system, to computerized systems, to the advanced best practice enhancements in computerized systems.

A one-stop resource for setting up or improving an existing payroll system! The most comprehensive resource available on the subject, Accounting for Payroll: A Comprehensive Guide provides up-to-date information to enable users to handle payroll accounting in the most cost-effective manner. From creating a system from scratch to setting up a payroll department to record-keeping and journal entries, Accounting for Payroll provides the most authoritative information on the entire payroll process. Ideal for anyone new to the payroll system or as a skill-honing tool for those already immersed in the field, this hands-on reference provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a well-organized payroll system or improving an existing one.

Praise for Management Accounting Best Practices "It doesn't matter where you start reading, even the most experienced accountant will find some useful ideas." —Alan H. Boycott, Chartered Accountant, Düsseldorf, Germany "This is one of the best books about new accounting practices in practical accounting. I highly recommend this book for accountants of all levels." —Andrei Ralko, Controller, International Center for Transitional Justice, New York, NY The only practices worth followingare the best practices... Destined to become an essential desktop tool in helping professionals make management decisions in accounting, Management Accounting Best Practices introduces over 100 best practices from accounting expert Steven Bragg for questions such as: How does the system of interlocking budgets work? What does a sample budget look like? What best practices can I apply to the budgeting process? How can I integrate the budget into the corporate control system? How do throughput concepts impact the budget? Now, when members of your management team come calling with questions, you'll have the answers at your fingertips, in Management Accounting Best Practices. It's the easy-to-use, daily reference manual for every accountant in a management position.

This book will help anyone who is responsible for a payroll department to manage payroll functions with the maximum efficiency and within compliance requirements. It will demonstrate the optimal methods for the basic functions of payroll through to year end and management. Proposed chapters include: Part One Basic Functions of the Payroll Department 1. Time Records, 2. Form W-4, 3. New Hires, 4. Errors and Corrections, 5. Tax Deposits and Reporting, 6. Garnishments Part Two Staffing the Payroll Department 7. Creating a First Rate Payroll Department, 8. Managing the Staff, 9. Staff Motivation and Morale, 10. Working with Human Resources and other Departments Part Three Management Issues 11. Customer Service, 12. Fraud, 13. Dealing with the Internal Revenue Service, 14. Handling Department of Labor Audits, 15. Compliance Issues, 16. Research Needs Part Four Benefits and the Payroll Department 17. Should Payroll Handle the Company's Benefits? 18. Year End and Year Beginning Issues Part Five Payroll Systems 19. Objectives of a Computerized Payroll System, 20. Interfacing and Integration, 21. Selecting a Computerize Payroll System, 22. Controls and Security for the Payroll System, 23. Disaster Recover a Must, 24. Time and Attendance Systems, 25. Employee Self Service Systems Part Six Paying Employees 26. Paper Checks are Still an Option, 27. Direct Deposit, 28. Paycards Part Seven Year End 29. Start Year End Off With a Memo, 30. Year End Teams, 31. Check Lists, 32. Reconciliation of Payroll at Year End, 33. Form W-2 Part Eight Payroll and the New Year 34. Setting Up the Payroll System for the New Year, 35. Setting Up the Payroll Department for the New Year Part Nine Professionalism and the Payroll Department 36. What is a CPP? 37. Why you should become one, 38. Studying for the test, 39. Ongoing training, 40. Professional organizations