PAYO Partners With IMA for Discounted AI Education

PayrollOrg (PAYO) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)—one of the world’s largest, most respected associations focused on advancing the management accounting profession. Founded in 1919, IMA represents 120,000 members in 150 countries and is one of the most prestigious professional organizations to support PAYO’s efforts to elevate and recognize the payroll profession and payroll leaders among leaders in finance.

IMA AI in Finance Micro-Credential

PAYO and IMA are both dedicated to providing their members with a broad array of resources and opportunities. As part of this new partnership, IMA will offer PAYO members a limited-time opportunity to enroll in IMA’s AI in Finance Micro-credential courses for the same discounted price as IMA members—a 25% savings!

The IMA AI in Finance Micro-credential builds practical artificial intelligence (AI) skills you can apply immediately, and demonstrates to employers that you have verified, job-ready AI competencies. The credential has six specialized tracks that together provide end-to-end AI literacy, proving that you can work efficiently with AI tools, deliver data-driven insights, and lead AI adoption initiatives. These tracks include the following:

1. Fundamentals of AI—Master key AI concepts and machine learning techniques, then learn to confidently explain AI models, evaluate their impact, and communicate AI insights to stakeholders across your organization.
2. Data Literacy for Finance Professionals—Learn to manage, prepare, and interpret data for AI applications while mastering data governance practices and visualization techniques that make complex insights clear and actionable for decision-makers.
3. AI Use Cases in Forecasting, FP&A, and Audit—Learn to enhance forecasting accuracy, streamline financial planning and analysis (FP&A) processes, and boost audit efficiency using predictive analytics, scenario modeling, and anomaly detection—and discover exactly how to leverage AI for better financial decision-making.
4. Generative AI in Accounting—Discover how to boost operational efficiency with AI tools, evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and compliance, and apply ethical principles to AI adoption in your organization.
5. Ethics, Governance, and Regulatory Considerations in AI—Master the frameworks you need to identify and mitigate AI risks, address algorithmic bias, and apply governance strategies that align with global regulations—ensuring your organization adopts AI with integrity.
6. Strategic Implementation and Business Value of AI—Learn to drive AI adoption across your organization, align AI initiatives with business goals, measure ROI, and lead cross-functional transformation that delivers measurable business value.

This self-study series contains interactive content, podcasts, videos, articles, and more for an engaging learning experience. Participants access the series with a computer, tablet, or smartphone and have one year to complete the courses. The series is approximately 15 to 20 hours.

By the end, participants will understand how AI can create more flexible, adaptable finance teams while supporting better decision-making. Completion of the series earns a digital badge from IMA, just like those now offered by PAYO.

Head to IMA’s website and use the code LEARNAIWITHIMA26 at checkout to take advantage of this offer before it expires on September 1.

PAYO AI Offerings

Take advantage of your PAYO membership to enroll in PAYO’s AI courses as well to round out your AI education.

PAYO’s Payroll Analytics Series is designed for participants to master payroll data insights, from beginner to expert, by offering three distinct levels:

1. Foundations of Payroll Analytics—This course will help you demonstrate dynamic leadership, leverage the value of data, identify trends for process improvements, and measure real success in your payroll operations.
2. Intermediate Payroll Analytics—This course demonstrates the importance of analytics covering timekeeping and operations, including creating an error-free payroll, and how these analytics can help you track your payroll department's key performance indicators (KPIs).
3. Advanced Payroll Analytics—This advanced course takes a deep dive into the transformative power of payroll data. You will learn how AI is revolutionizing payroll analytics and discover best practices for presenting key insights to senior management using both visualizations and presentations.

PAYO has been staying on top of AI developments with annual articles, including an AI/RPA Special Section in the June 2026 PAYTECH issue(articles include “Embrace AI, RPA in Payroll, or Be Left Behind,” “The Agentic Close,” etc.), along with webinars. Upcoming and available webinars include the following:

• AI and Global Payroll: Navigating Automation, Compliance, and Human Accountability Across Borders (FREE)
• Al Payroll Revolution: Unlock Instant Pay Power (FREE for PAYO members)
• Back to Basics: Hiring Practices That Stand the Test of Time (and Tech) (FREE)
• Empowering Global Payroll: Leveraging Analytics for Greater Strategic Impact (FREE)
• Shaping the Future of Payroll Hiring: AI, Skills, and Evolving Workforce Needs (FREE)
• The Future of Payroll: How Agents Are Transforming Global Payroll Operations (FREE for PAYO members)

A Partnership for the Future

The partnership between PAYO and IMA continues the relationship started several months ago. IMA was an exhibitor at the 44th Annual Payroll Congress in Nashville, and PAYO will be an exhibitor at the IMA Accounting and Finance Conference, June 14-17 in Tampa, Florida. In addition, Christina Ruderer, CPP, a PAYO Director of Payroll Training, will be teaching, “The Evolving Role of AI and the Payroll Profession” at the IMA conference.

This year’s Payroll Congress offered more than 100 workshops in a variety of education tracks; seven workshops focused on artificial intelligence (AI), including “The Future of Payroll: Balancing AI and the Human Impact.” The Expo featured the latest AI-integrated tools for payroll.

Take advantage of this monumental partnership between two leading professional organizations and stay ahead of the AI revolution. Enroll today in IMA’s AI in Finance Micro-credential courses for a discounted price and follow that up with your PAYO membership discount on the Payroll Analytics Series and free AI webinars.

Not a member of PayrollOrg? Check out the many benefits you get when you join.

Sean Tait Bircher is Writer/Editor of Membership Publications for PayrolOrg.