Grad Feature: Calculated Choices

When you work for one of the world’s largest payroll providers, it’s more than just a numbers game. Just ask Natalia M. Higgins, whose role as a client account executive and passion for her field spurred her to enroll in PayTrain® Fundamentals.

“I felt that I was at a point in my career to learn the fundamentals of payroll,” she said. “It was important for me to have a better understanding of payroll practices in order to better support my clients and business unit.”

Her employer, ADP, is the world’s largest provider of business outsourcing and human capital management solutions. Natalia is responsible for building and maintaining strategic client relationships with ADP’s Vantage HCM product offerings.

She said, “Payroll, time [and attendance], HR and benefits are integrated in a cloud-based solution. Our goal is for organizations to simplify their business challenges and drive performance with tangible outcomes and by leveraging our insightful expertise.”

“Significant” and “eye-opening” is how she describes the impact of PayTrain Fundamentals.

She said, “While one key goal of most organizations is to pay their employees timely and accurately, there is so much that happens behind the scenes. The course has given me a better understanding of the entire payroll administration, and I will be able to better understand and respond to my clients’ payroll needs with the knowledge I have attained.”

PayTrain Fundamentals, along with PayTrain® Mastery, comprise the Payroll Professional Certificate program.

Jennifer Henderson, KSU program manager, said, “In addition to in-depth training and knowledge our students gain from these courses, preparation for the Fundamental Payroll Certification and Certified Payroll Professional exams is another advantage of this program. To date, we have a 100% certification exam pass rate.”

Natalia’s success on her FPC exam led to a promotion.

The PayTrain Fundamentals and Mastery courses explore payroll concepts, accounting, recordkeeping, administration and more.

“The instructor is well-versed in payroll and has extensive years of experience,” Natalia said. “The chapter lectures, quizzes, resources and online practice tests are the right tools to be successful in the course and when taking the American Payroll Association FPC exam.”

In addition to her drive, Natalia’s education at KSU has also played an important role in her career success. Along with the FPC, she has a B.S. in Organizational Communication (2006), Professional in Human Resources certification (2009), and Executive MBA (2014). Natalia said, “I know the importance of having these credentials for my career as I grow in the Human Capital Management Industry.”

Natalia recommends this course for payroll professionals, regardless of experience.

“There is always new information to learn. The class moves at a good pace and the tools and resources are very valuable,” she said. “If they are interested in developing themselves for career growth, the PayTrain program is the way to go.”