The CPA @ a glance

THE CANADIAN PAYROLL ASSOCIATION (CPA) has influenced the payroll compliance practices and processes of hundreds of thousands of employers since 1978. Its mission is Payroll Leadership through Advocacy and Education. Its advocacy and education programs provide the legislative compliance content used by hundreds of thousands of small, medium and large employers in their payroll processing and remitting systems. Effective and efficient payroll administration is mission-critical for all organizations, given the responsibilities of employers, needs of employees, magnitude of remittance payments and breadth of legislative compliance requirements.

Canada’s 1.5 million employers annually pay $810 billion in wages and taxable benefits, $220 billion in remittances to the Canada Revenue Agency, $30 billion in remittances to the Ministère du Revenu du Québec, and $90 billion in health and retirement benefits. In addition, payroll administers 25 million T4s, 9 million T4As and 7 million RL-1s—all while complying with over 191 pieces of federal and provincial legislative and regulatory requirements.

Payroll constitutes the largest financial obligation for most organizations. By coordinating wages, statutory remittances (e.g., income tax, CPP, EI and workers' compensation) and benefits (e.g., savings plans, insurance, disability and medical benefits claims, pension plans, union benefits and group RRSPs), payroll professionals help to manage an organization’s investment in its workforce.

Who should be a member?

Everyone who is responsible for payroll, including:

• Payroll Administrators, Supervisors and Managers
• Accountants and other professionals who work in an organization’s finance department
• Human Resources professionals and others who have a functional responsibility for payroll
• Suppliers providing payroll products and services to corporate customers

Organization Membership: Appropriate for organizations that want to provide membership benefits, such as Payroll InfoLine (the CPA’s telephone and email hotline service), to all of their employees. An Organization Membership provides the opportunity for two payroll staff to receive the benefits for one fee. Member organizations can also choose to add additional representatives to receive the bimonthly magazine, DIALOGUE, bimonthly e-newsletter, The CPA E-Source, and other member communications.

Associate Membership: Appropriate for individuals whose company is not a member and who are not yet eligible for a professional membership. Associate membership is typically used by students who are pursuing Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) or Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification.

Professional Membership: Appropriate for individuals who want to demonstrate their professional education and skill level. This membership is available only to individuals who have completed their Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) or Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification. Upon completing certification, Professional Members must annually maintain their membership and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.

The Benefits of Membership

ADVOCACY - Know what’s around the corner

The CPA represents the interests of members to federal and provincial government ministries, departments and agencies, proactively influencing payroll-related legislation and policies to enable all stakeholders to administer them in an efficient and effective manner. The CPA is one of only ten professional and trade associations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as “an important contributor to the integrity and efficiency of tax and customs administration in Canada.” With the CPA’s consistent track record of effecting positive change for the payroll community, you can be rest assured that your voice will be heard and that relevant issues will be addressed.

CERTIFICATION - Demonstrate your professional excellence

This program offers individuals interested in beginning a career in payroll or enhancing their current payroll knowledge, the professional certifications that can help them succeed in today’s competitive business environment: the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) and the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM). Today’s employers require their payroll practitioners to be confident and have the experience to not only implement payroll policies and processes for an annual payroll cycle but also monitor and execute multi-jurisdictional legislation, and effectively communicate payroll issues to all stakeholders, including employees, senior executives and government agencies.

For more information on the CPA’s Certifications Programs, click here, email certification@payroll.ca, or call the Certification Department at 416.487.3384 or toll-free at 1.800.387.4693 x 272.

FRONT-LINE INFORMATION - Stay ahead of issues, trends, compliance and legislation

Organizations like yours must ensure that they stay current and compliant. CPA members benefit from unlimited access to front-line information including:

Payroll InfoLine
This toll-free telephone and email service is staffed by payroll experts with more than 200 years of combined payroll experience.

The CPA’s website at www.payroll.ca
Your online source for payroll information. From JobConnect™, our online job and resume posting service, to the Payroll Tip of the Week, you’ll find a host of resources to help you succeed.

DIALOGUE magazine
Our members-only magazine is published six times a year in both English and French. Each issue features articles, case studies, legislative updates, and news you can utilize in all aspects of payroll administration and management.

The CPA E-Source
Our bimonthly members-only e-newsletter is your source for the latest legislation and compliance updates, payroll and HR tips, and professional development opportunities.

Thomson Reuters (Carswell) Payroll Publications
The CPA has expanded its strategic alliance with Thomson Reuters (Carswell), one of Canada’s leading professional publishers. The new alliance now includes the CPA’s endorsement of all Thomson Reuters (Carswell) payroll products, along with the previous agreement, which promotes the CPA’s payroll certification and professional development seminars across Canada. CPA members get 20% off the regular price of all new subscriptions of Thomson Reuters (Carswell) payroll publications.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Keep your skills and knowledge up to date

Networking
Make valuable industry contacts by joining a community of 16,500 organizations and individuals committed to the advancement of the payroll profession.

Professional Development Series (PDS)
The CPA holds more than 350 professional development seminars and workshops across Canada each year to address key payroll topics. From Learning Payroll I and II, which cover the basics, to Taxable Benefits and Allowances and Year-end, our Professional Development Series has something to offer payroll newcomers and seasoned professionals alike.

Conferences
Our Annual Conference and Trade Show, held in a different city each year, is the premier payroll networking event featuring more than 50 educational and keynote sessions. It also includes the largest payroll trade show in Canada and plenty of opportunities for networking.