APA Payroll Technology & Systems Flashcards

What is the primary advantage of self-service employee portals in a payroll system?

Answer: They let employees view pay stubs and update personal information without HR intervention

Self-service portals empower employees to access pay information and update details like addresses or direct deposit, reducing HR administrative burden.

Which encryption standard is considered best practice for transmitting payroll files containing sensitive employee data?

Answer: TLS/SSL encryption

TLS/SSL encryption protects payroll data in transit by encrypting the connection, preventing interception of sensitive employee information.

In payroll technology, what is an 'off-cycle' payroll run typically used for?

Answer: Issuing manual corrections, termination pays, or bonus payments outside the normal schedule

Off-cycle payrolls handle special payments such as corrections, missed pays, or termination final checks that cannot wait for the next regular payroll cycle.

What is the function of a checksum in a payroll file transmission to a bank or third party?

Answer: To verify the file was not corrupted or altered during transmission

A checksum is a calculated value used to detect errors or tampering in a transmitted file by comparing values at send and receive.

Which payroll system configuration setting ensures that an employee cannot be paid for more than the approved hours entered in the time system?

Answer: Hard edit or validation rules tied to approved time records

Hard edit rules in payroll systems prevent payment of hours not approved in the time-and-attendance system, enforcing authorization controls.

What is the purpose of disaster recovery planning specifically for payroll systems?

Answer: To ensure payroll can be processed on time even if the primary system or data center fails

Payroll disaster recovery planning establishes backup procedures and systems to maintain timely employee payments if the primary payroll infrastructure is disrupted.