Category Archives: Soft Skills

All individuals who seek to exhibit a foundational level of payroll expertise may apply for the Fundamental Payroll Certification. The FPC is intended for: Trainee payroll specialists

• Sales people and consultants for the payroll sector
• Supporting systems engineers and analysts for payroll systems
• representative of the client for a payroll service

The FPC helps to guarantee that your payroll experts are knowledgeable about all relevant payroll legislation and have a fundamental understanding of payroll procedures. If you decide to handle payroll in-house, you could want to mandate that all payroll employees possess a Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), or if you already have experts on staff but they aren’t qualified, you might want to get them certified. The FPC works to make sure that your payroll staff is familiar with all relevant payroll regulations and has a foundational understanding of payroll procedures, including the ability to use payroll software.

What is FPC?

The American Payroll Association bestows the FPC accreditation. No special memberships or degrees are necessary to acquire the certification, but participants must pass an exam.

There are two periods per year, one in the fall and one in the spring, for taking the exam. Prior to registering to take the exam, applicants must submit an application.

FPC Exam Covers?

• Compliance
• Core payroll
• Paycheck calculation
• Payroll administration
• Audits
• Accounting
• Payroll processes and supporting systems 

Since rules are always changing, compliance queries and discussions are restricted to a given period. Laws that have been adopted or modified in the middle of the year are not taken into account.

Exam Preparation

There are several tools available to aid in exam preparation. The American Payroll Association provides study groups, seminars, classes, books, and online resources. Numerous websites include study aids, flash cards, and mock exams. It is advised that participants use a variety of study tools to prepare for the test.

The FPC exam preparation period should last about 12 weeks for participants. This means that in order to succeed, candidates should start preparing for the test before submitting an application or registering.

Ilead Tax Academy is offering the payroll training course as well as real time enrolled agent training. To provide payroll training, we have qualified payroll and ea experts. Our instructors give you in-depth knowledge and assist you in passing the FPC test.

What kind of job will get after completing a fundamental payroll certification?

For individuals who desire to demonstrate some amount of payroll expertise, there is the FPC course exam offered by the American Payroll Association. To take the exam, you don’t require payroll experience. However, for certain payroll positions, some businesses want FPC designation.

Payroll Practitioner

An entry-level payroll practitioner creates and keeps track of payroll records for workers. She or he reviews timekeeping data, updates the system with new hires, tax changes, and other adjustments. Her/his responsibilities are often consistent and rarely deviate from accepted protocol. Both record-keeping and payroll processing are handled by an intermediate payroll practitioner. She or he processes paycheck advances and terminations in addition to calculating compensation and deductions. A senior payroll practitioner does responsibilities that fall within the intermediate and advanced categories. She or he calculates and records general ledger transactions, compares the totals of wages and deductions, determines and corrects imbalanced accounts, and completes and submits payroll tax forms. Additionally, she or he generates certain reports for management and executes difficult computations like levies and wage garnishments. For entry-level and intermediate positions, the FPC designation is acceptable; however, for senior positions, the FPC or Certified Payroll Professional designation may be desired.

Payroll Accounting

The company’s payroll-related accounts are kept up to date and maintained by a payroll accountant or analyst. She or he makes sure the accounts and the company’s financial statements balance. She or he aids in internal and external audits and works with the payroll division to resolve challenging payroll problems. She or he creates summaries, exhibits, and accounting schedules. She/he makes the decision regarding the requirement for additional accounts and system upgrades. In general, FPC or CPP designation is preferable.

Payroll Records and Benefits Administration

The payroll records and employee benefits are managed by the records/benefits administrator. This covers the rules for leave of absence, holidays, personal days, sick days, and bereavement days. For optional benefits like health and accident insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement, and employee stock purchase plans, she or he calculates payroll deductions. She or he collaborates with insurance companies and independent benefit administrators to implement relevant plans. Usually, FPC or CPP are preferred.

Payroll Systems Analyst

Program requirements are created by the systems analyst for computerised payroll systems. She or he establishes and implements the company’s internal system or systems obtained from outside vendors in addition to evaluating and verifying the specifications created by programmers. In order to provide recommendations and suggest modifications, she or he examines possible systems and creates pertinent reports. She or he aids in the documentation of system operations and imparts pertinent training to the payroll employees. Usually, the FPC or CPP designation is selected.

The FPC designation can support your candidacy, but it does not guarantee that you will get the position. Employers may sometimes need years of relevant experience and a degree in a related profession in addition to the FPC certification.

If anyone wants to get the fundamental payroll certification, enrol now at iLead Tax Academy, it is one of the best academies in Hyderabad. We are also offering the EA classroom training and online training.

Only federally licensed tax professionals who are knowledgeable about US tax law are Enrolled Agents. Because of this, these Enrolled agents are qualified to represent taxpayers in IRS proceedings, such as audits (inspections), collections, and tax appeals.

The Internal Revenue Service’s basic credential, “Enrolled Agent,” is accepted in all 50 US states. They will have unrestricted authority to provide tax advice and prepare tax returns for individuals, businesses, trusts, and organisations that must file tax returns.

Enrolled Agents are also knowledgeable in the ever-evolving tax laws and help taxpayers at all IRS administrative levels. Additionally, customers can maintain confidentiality regarding their non-criminal tax matters or processes and have a limited privilege with an Enrolled Agent under the law.

Career Opportunities

Enrolled Agents’ responsibilities extend beyond tax return preparation, tax advice, and IRS representation of taxpayers. They can assist with a variety of businesses and tax-related issues, from calling the IRS with notices to advising clients on how to legally maximise tax benefits.

The following careers are accessible to those who hold an EA certification course program.

1. Tax employees of a public accounting company

Eas can work as a tax staff member for a public accounting firm where she will assist with tax return preparation and offer tax guidance. Enrolled Agents offer clients, ranging from individuals to different organisations, highly qualified advice on tax-related issues.

2. Tax employees at a small accounting business

Enrolled Agents can take on a wide range of tasks and advance their tax careers in one of the many smaller CPA firms that are readily available. These include auditing financial records, filing tax forms, and making sure payments are made on schedule.

3. The legal team

EAs who can represent customers before the IRS and handle any IRS-related notices received for the client will be beneficial to tax law companies. Businesses like law firms also need tax employees to help them manage their corporate taxes.

4. Investment firm staff

Investment companies want tax experts that can assist them in minimising tax concerns for their clients. As a result, EAs can offer guidance on how to handle investment sales and purchases to guarantee that clients’ goals are achieved in the fiscal year.

5. Department of revenue staff

Working for the IRS or the department of revenue is one of the many advantages of becoming an enrolled agent. As an EA, you will manage bookkeeping tasks and assist clients with their tax requirements.

Who can become enrolled agents?

To become an enrolled agent, no prerequisites are needed. Graduates with a foundational understanding of accounting can apply for the EA exam and demonstrate their practical expertise in tax-related matters. The following are two ways to become an EA:

• Pass the special enrollment exam
  A candidate must obtain Ptin and pass each of the three parts of the special enrollment test (covering businesses and representations, individuals, and practice and procedures) in order to become an EA.

The order in which you take the enrollment exam is up to you. The EA test can be taken in any order, however passing all three parts is necessary to become a certified enrolled agent.

• IRS experience
  Candidates must have five years of continuous service with the Internal Revenue Service in a position that regularly enforces the Internal Revenue Code’s laws and rules pertaining to income, estate, employment, or excise taxes.

Who is eligible for a special enrolment exam?

The target audience for enrolling in anEnrolled Agent certification programme can include candidates who meet the requirements listed below.

Passing the 10+2 exam, B. Tech. or MBA working professionals, and those who spent three months preparing for the enrolled agent program.

More taxpayer help is now required as a result of increased IRS enforcement in recent years. As a result, your income potential is limitless, you don’t need to work for a company, and you can help as many clients as you can.

As a result, being an enrolled agent is a recession-proof employment option because people will always owe taxes and require assistance.

Benefits of getting enrolled agent

Although becoming an EA is a drawn-out and difficult procedure, having the certification has many advantages, including:

• Comparable pay
• Job stability
• Increasingly more jobs are available
• The IRS does not require a degree for good standing.
• Unlimited rights to representation

Do you need an enrolled agent program? If so, iLead Tax Academy would be the greatest option for candidates looking to become enrolled agents as it provides high-quality training. You can significantly advance your career in US taxation by taking Enrolled Agent program training from iLead Tax Academy. We have qualified enrolled agent trainers that support candidates in passing the exam.

For preparation, we also offer study materials on US taxation course training. Access to practise exams is also provided in the course so that students can ace the test. You can join morning, evening, or weekend batches due to the variable batch times. In addition, for those who are unable to attend regular seminars, we provide an online registered agent training course.

Join Now. We support your career development!

Are you an employer, looking to hire payroll professionals? 

Here is something important you need to know!

Ever think of a payroll specialist and one of the crucial criteria affecting the reputation of your business. Right from calculating the wages, to insurance premiums, including handling risk errors, costly compliance penalties, a payroll specialist plays a crucial role in an organization. 

Hiring a professional ensures all your business’s payroll responsibilities are taken care of- but how do you find out the right candidates and what kind of skills and traits should they possess?

Here is guide for you, 

With years of experience in US Taxation and expertise in payroll iLead-FPC training institute in Hyderabad has figured out the essential traits that a recruiter should look for while hiring a payroll professional.

Overview

Let’s face it, payroll management is a chore. When was the last time you thanked the people in your organization for the timely transfer of your salary or the accurate calculation of income tax or contributions to the pension fund? Running a payment institution is similar to running an electrical business. 

Not a single consumer will thank the energy company for uninterrupted power supply. Even if there is a power outage for a second, you will immediately hear how consumers scold the power company. 

The fact that the payroll function is underestimated does not mean that the function is unimportant. Payroll errors can be costly in both monetary and non-monetary terms. Incorrect payroll calculations and delays in the implementation of payroll activities can lead to financial losses, fines from government agencies, qualification tests and employee dissatisfaction. 

Payroll today sits at the intersection of human resources, finance and compliance functions in an organization and is increasingly becoming a separate function. 

Since personnel costs are the most important item on many organizations’ expense lists, companies hire payroll professionals not only for routine administrative tasks related to payroll and compliance, but also for strategic activities such as compensation planning, rewards planning. and thanks and drawing up estimates and business plans. As a payroll service provider & US Taxation training institute in Hyderabad with some payroll knowledge, we can say with confidence that highly skilled payroll professionals are not available in abundance. 

What are the characteristics of a high-end payroll specialist? What should employers look for when hiring candidates for payroll function? 

1. Analytical Skills 

Payroll can be taught, but intelligence cannot. A good payroll professional has an analytical mind and is able to summarize facts, make assumptions, and come to sound conclusions. Whenever we meet with iLead payroll candidates, we evaluate their problem-solving skills. 

Pose a few logic/number puzzles and see if the person is enthusiastic about solving them. Check the thoroughness of the person’s approach to the decision, as well as the decision itself. 

Even if you have high-quality payroll software, sometimes you still need to do some offline calculations on a quality check spreadsheet. If you can’t count, payroll is not a profession for you. Payroll professionals may need to implement complex business rules established by their organization for payroll. 

If they are unable to analyze and think logically, they may misapply these business rules, resulting in incorrect payroll calculations. We encounter many payroll professionals who do not have sufficient knowledge of payroll practices and legislation that governs payroll. 

2. Knowledge about Statutory Compliance    

Unfortunately, many payroll professionals take pay cuts by simply loading some HR data into software and downloading some reports for finance or HR to use. Ask them an elementary question about how and why certain calculations are performed, you will get unconvincing answers. The payroll specialist should have a clear understanding of key legislation such as the Income Tax Law, the Public Finance Law, the ESI Law, the Bonus Payment Law, etc. 

3. Communication Skills     

We cannot overemphasize the importance of communication skills for a payroll specialist. There may be times when payroll personnel, even if they are not very old, may need to explain the calculations to very senior managers, including finance, human resources, and even the CEO, in their organization. A payroll specialist can easily lose credibility in the eyes of other stakeholders if their communication skills are not up to par. 

There may also be times when a payroll officer may need to explain statutory deductions to employees whose knowledge of the bylaws may be negligible. Good payroll professionals are never condescending or impatient, but instead show empathy for colleagues seeking their help. 

4. Diligence     

The pursuit of accuracy is key in payroll. Mistakes can also happen if the payroll team uses great payroll software. The payroll process should be designed in such a way that even if errors occur, they are detected before the payroll is completed. Good payroll professionals create comprehensive checklists to verify payroll results and diligently go through the checklist items each month.    

The payroll specialist must be prepared to deal with material delays and therefore work to tight deadlines. 

5. Commitment to Confidentiality

No confidentiality agreements, security systems, security certificates, etc. could help if a payroll specialist is careless about maintaining the data confidentiality. 

 Have not we all seen emails being sent to the wrong recipients due to using the autocomplete feature in email software or because the sender hit the “reply all” button by mistake? 

  The payroll professional must treat information about employees and employers with extreme care and ensure that information does not reach unauthorized recipients. 

Businesses require operational support staff to process payroll, distribute payroll, prepare returns, and ensure regulatory compliance. Payroll Specialist is one of the best jobs in accounting & finance.  What types of skills, credentials, skills and experience do employers look for in today’s payroll professionals in general?  If you are in the market for a payroll job, these traits can help you have a better payroll career path.

6. Payroll Certifications  

The American Payroll Association (APA) offers two types of certifications for payroll professionals: Basic Payroll Certification (FPC) and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). Designed for entry-level payroll professionals, the FPC program provides a comprehensive introduction to the field. CVT holders are ideal candidates for payroll clerical jobs or other mid-level entry-level positions. 

When you aspire to take on more challenging management and payroll roles, CPP can help you stand out. This advanced certification requires prior experience in the field and a solid understanding of key concepts such as labor taxes, employee benefits, and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  At iLead we offer Fundamental Payroll Certification training courses online along with the placement support.

CPP holders also demonstrated their knowledge of payroll, payroll management systems and payroll administration. 

7. Payroll Software

Most payroll platforms are complex. There can be many variations from one system to another, and skills are not always transferable. For example, a payroll specialist who has extensive experience using ADP Workforce Now for payroll will not be able to seamlessly transition to Kronos Workforce Ready without training. 

The good news for those looking for payroll jobs is that the market for hiring payroll professionals is very competitive right now. Therefore, many employers are willing to hire and train candidates who have not worked with their company’s dedicated payroll platform but demonstrate the ability to quickly learn new software. 

Other Software Skills 

 In addition to their knowledge of payroll software, most employers are looking for candidates who have experience using Microsoft Office software, especially programs such as Excel, Word, and Outlook. 

Some payroll experts’ roles overlap with accounting, especially in small businesses, so experience with QuickBooks or Quicken is also an asset. And, of course, since many financial statements and payment processing have been moved online, you should feel comfortable working with cloud applications. 

In addition, the ability to use telecommuting and collaboration tools, such as video conferencing, as needed in the course of daily work is a must. Even if you don’t work remotely, many of your colleagues may be remote or hybrid workers. 

This is why many employers want to hire people who understand the rules and know how to put them into practice. So, during the interview phase of a payroll job, be prepared to answer compliance questions and demonstrate your familiarity with the relevant rules and regulations. Payroll employees, whether a first-level employee or a payroll administrator, cannot afford to make mistakes in their work. 

The above mentioned are some essential criteria to look for while hiring a payroll specialist. 

So choose wisely when you are hiring payroll professionals, and you don’t need to go through the process alone. iLead offers a simpler and professional Payroll and QuickBooks Keeping services to manage your payroll and other tax compliances. 

For any queries, speak with our payroll specialists and tax experts!

While common people talk about accountants, CPAs, or accountants, they really cannot make the actual differences between them. Instead, they too often used the terms interchangeably.

Well, all of these accounting professionals handle the finances & work towards a common goal, moreover, their roles and responsibilities, scope of work varies drastically. In addition to the scope of work, there’s also a difference between their professional status. 

Accountants provide you with a more detailed analysis of the financial transactions, CPAs are state-approved accounting professionals, and bookkeepers record each and every transaction that involves money.

Choosing a financial professional for your company/business is a bit more complicated. And you must be thorough with your profile and should be aware of the main differences between accountants vs CPAs vs bookkeepers to have a seamless financial management.

iLead Tax Academy is the leading financial service provider and also, the best enrolled agent training institute in Hyderabad offering multiple accounting, QuickBooks, and payroll courses along with recognized certification & placement support.

In this blog post, you will learn the major differences between accountants vs CPAs vs bookkeepers, their duties and responsibilities. Read on to know more:

Overview 

Every business needs to have an accounting and bookkeeping process to prepare and maintain the financial records at the end of a quarter/year. Additionally, accounting & bookkeeping help the business evaluate its exact worth & take future decisions. 

Most of the times bookkeeping & accounting are used interchangeably. Although accounting and bookkeeping are inseparable, there’s a thin line to differentiate them. 

Bookkeeper, Accountant, & CPA—What’s the Difference?

Bookkeeper 

The term “bookkeeper” means exactly what it sounds like. They are individuals who understand and are capable of performing basic functions involved with maintaining the “books” of the finances. Small businesses can hire them simply to handle revenue and expenses, as well as perhaps payroll. They will perform services related to invoicing customers and paying bills due to vendors. 

Depending on the level of complexity a business requires, they may keep a general ledger and record entries as debits and credits. They may also be in charge of producing simpler reports. In larger businesses, the bookkeeper may only be responsible for an element of the bookkeeping process, such as accounts receivable. By definition, bookkeeping does not require special training or licensure, although employers will usually point out qualifications that they are looking for, such as a bachelor’s degree in business administration or, at a minimum, some experience with accounting. 

iLead offers the best QuickBooks training in Hyderabad by the top industrial experts, where you can learn from basics to the tools, QuickBooks Online Software required for accounting, bookkeeping, running a business and more.  

Unfortunately, a bookkeeper’s role, which is 100% focused on the bookkeeping function, is frequently watered down with other tasks around the office. As a bookkeeper has more time devoted to books and higher-level duties like internal controls, he or she begins to take on the role of internal auditor. 

Accountants     

Accountants require more knowledge and management skills.

Accountants are typically required to have more formal training than a bookkeeper, such as an undergraduate or even master’s degree in accounting. In larger companies, they can oversee lower-level accounting or bookkeeping personnel. 

Organizations need a lot more from them than just managing money flowing in and out. The amount of responsibility required of bookkeepers differs depending on the size of a company, and the particular needs it serves. But they are usually expected to be able to help management understand its financial condition, so that it can make better business decisions. 

Perhaps most neglected of all is the role that the (internal) accountant has in providing formal financial reports to management, which will aid in making more timely, accurate business decisions, which are tailored to the business’s financial realities. 

The accountant may either be employed full-time by the business, or may be employed part-time, on an annual basis, simply to keep a book, and to produce the internal financial reports, depending on the size of the company and the requirements for the report. 

Tax Preparer

Being the Tax Preparer is usually not a title, nor is it an ability…it is most often simply a function. Anyone at the company can prepare a tax return, if they are authorized by management to do so (whether that is the company’s owners or a bookkeeper). 

Now, it is true that third-party CPAs do the taxes very often (and I will explain more about what this credential means), but at Fat, 3/4 of all paid registered preparers (with credentials like PTIN, RTRP, EA, attorney) are NOT CPAs. Very often, the CPAs role is confused with the Tax Preparers, and while the majority of small firm CPAs are focused on this function, it is not all they do. 

CPA-(Certified Public Accountant)

While a bookkeeper, an accountant, or a non-enrolled tax preparer can prepare taxes for an employer or client, they cannot represent their clients at an IRS audit, and cannot legally sign the company’s tax returns for them either. 

They have to be lawyers, registered enrolled agents, or certified public accountants (CPAs) to do so. CPAs have to take an intensive exam and are licensed by their states in order to practice. They also need to keep up to date on tax laws. Because of their education and training, CPAs are better at reviewing and explaining key financial statements than an accountant. They are sometimes employed by businesses, but they usually operate their own independent practices. 

But the initial function of the CPA was not to prepare a tax return or represent clients in IRS audits. The primary function of a CPA is to sign-off all the financial statements that hold public faith. Simply put, they need to sign a set of financial statements which include statements of cash flows, income statements or profit & loss statements, etc. and all of these to be fairly presented as per the accounting principles. This signature might come in the form of:

• Compilation
• Review
• Audit
• Assurance services 

And finally…there are certain professionals within the accounting profession who perform none of those functions, but rather support them. Generally, these are computer consultants (specialists for accounting), QuickBooks ProAdvisors (generally experts on the features in QuickBooks), and Process/Control Consultants who help businesses accelerate their daily operations without sacrificing bookkeeping accuracy or quality. As one would expect, salaries range widely, with CPAs being the highest on the food chain. But do not shop for a financial professional by price. 

Determine what level of services you want now, knowing you can always upgrade to higher levels when your business grows. 

Which Accounting Profession is Suitable for You?

Every business or individual needs to keep track of its books and keep an eye on its finances. For that, one needs to hire (either full-time or on a freelance basis) a bookkeeper — the primary purpose is to keep systematic records of transactions and keep a balance in the books. 

In other words, a bookkeeper would handle all of the heavy lifting, handling salary, producing reports, paying bills, and balancing accounts. 

However, if you need to have the bigger picture view of those reports and numbers, the bookkeeper is the go-to guy. He or she will handle tax matters and help you to increase cash flow in order to meet future goals. 

However, if you have complicated business transactions, and need someone who is more trustworthy than your accountant, opt for any accounting profession like EA or CPA. And we provide the best US taxation courses in Hyderabad along with certification where you can earn authority to represent in front of the IRS as a certified EA/accountant.