11 Payroll Systems for Professional Firms

For the most part, the mobile applications currently available only offer minor functionality, like viewing reports and processing scheduled payrolls that do not require any time modifications. In many instances these mobile applications are only designed for the tax and accounting professional to use and not intended for the client or employee.

There are a handful of differentiators among the payroll solutions with one of the largest being after-the-fact payroll. Not all payroll vendors incorporate this module into their payroll solutions and those that do tend to treat after-the fact payroll as an extension as opposed to a dedicated module.

This greatly decreases the features usefulness in most instances. Human resource functions are not generally included for solutions designed for the desktop while Internet-based solutions tend to include rudimentary capabilities with available add-ons for full featured HR management. A final difference in the payroll solutions is integration capabilities.

All the solutions will import some level of data through Microsoft Excel and CSV file formats. Payroll solutions that are not part of a suite of products are usually limited to a fixed number of products for integration.

With the next generation service offerings being improved upon and the help and support options provided, tax and accounting professionals have the opportunity to be well positioned in the payroll service area. Payroll solutions available today can aid in creating new revenue streams and profitability for tax and accounting professionals.

Accountants offering payroll services are also in a position to gain additional work through frequently interacting with current clients’ most valuable assets, their employees.