A new suite of online payroll qualifications has been launched, bringing together learning, software and professional accreditation into a single connected programme.
ICS Learn, winner of PQ Magazine’s 2026 Award for ‘Online College of the Year’, has developed these qualifications in partnership exclusively with Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses, and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), to address a structural gap between payroll training and workplace readiness.
The launch comes at a point of significant pressure on the profession. Research from ADP indicates that over 80% of organisations are expanding their payroll teams, yet nearly two-thirds report skills shortages already affecting service quality. Separately, 63% of practising ICB members are already delivering payroll services to their clients, reflecting how central payroll capability has become to the day-to-day work of finance and bookkeeping professionals.
Until now, payroll training has typically separated the components learners need most. They have studied with one provider, encountered software in a different context, and sat assessments that do not reflect real working environments. This programme removes that separation by design. Learners study fully online through ICS Learn, apply their knowledge within Sage payroll software throughout their studies, and complete the programme with an ICB-accredited qualification that carries recognised professional weight with employers.
Sage is one of the most widely used payroll and accounting platforms among UK employers and small businesses. Training within Sage software from the outset means learners build familiarity with the system they are likely to encounter in practice, making the transition into the workplace more seamless and reducing the need for adjustment.
The qualifications are designed for a broad range of learners: those entering the payroll profession for the first time, finance and bookkeeping professionals expanding into payroll, and individuals already delivering payroll who want to formalise their expertise through recognised accreditation.
Danielle Smith, Head of Accountancy and Finance Qualifications at ICS Learn, said: “The challenge facing the profession is not access to content. It is how effectively learning translates into real capability. By bringing learning, software and accreditation together into one connected experience, we give learners the opportunity to build confidence through application from day one. That is what employers need and it is what learners deserve.”
Tim O’Reilly, Product Marketing Manager at Sage added: “Payroll is becoming more complex, more regulated and more central to the day-to-day work of accountants and bookkeepers. At the same time, employers are telling us they need people who can step into payroll roles with real, practical capability, not just a qualification. This programme brings learning and hands-on experience together, helping learners build job-ready payroll skills using the software they’re most likely to encounter in practice, and supporting a more work-ready pipeline of talent for the profession.”
Ami Copeland CEO of ICB said: “We are so pleased to be working with ICS Learn and our long-term partners Sage on this programme. Payroll is already a core part of what many bookkeepers do, and its importance is only growing as businesses look for trusted advisers for more support. By bringing together learning, software and professional accreditation, this programme gives learners the chance to build real confidence from the start. It is a practical, forward-looking approach that reflects how payroll works in the real world and supports the next generation of payroll professionals.”
This launch reflects a growing recognition across the accounting and finance sector that qualification alone is no longer sufficient. As payroll becomes more complex, more regulated, and more visible within organisations, the profession needs training models that reflect how the role is actually performed. This programme is designed to meet that standard.
Enrolment is now open. Full details are available at: https://icslearn.co.uk/lp/payroll/icb-and-sage-courses-pq-magazine/
