Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Schaumburg, IL

BlueOcean Tax Advisors is a CPA practice based in Schaumburg, Illinois, that works mainly with small business owners across the Greater Chicagoland area. Payroll is one part of a wider set of accounting, bookkeeping and tax services. That makes the firm a fit for companies that want their payroll handled by the same advisor who manages their books and tax strategy, rather than by a stand-alone payroll vendor.

Payroll Services

The firm offers to take payroll off the owner's plate completely. Many small employers find payroll stressful: getting each calculation right, paying different kinds of workers, and meeting tax deadlines without IRS penalties. BlueOcean handles the full cycle so owners can spend their time running the business. Its payroll offering includes:

• Payroll processing for small businesses
• Preparation and submission of federal and state payroll tax filings
• Direct deposit setup and handling
• Year-end W-2 preparation
• Payroll reporting
• Help resolving payroll tax problems with the IRS

Payroll tax problem resolution sits within the firm's IRS representation work, which is useful for employers who have fallen behind on payroll tax deposits. The same practice also handles back tax filings, penalty abatement requests, installment agreements, offers in compromise, and the release of liens, levies and wage garnishments.

Accounting and Advisory Support

Besides payroll, BlueOcean provides outsourced accounting and bookkeeping. This covers accounts payable and receivable, general ledger maintenance, bank and credit card reconciliations, monthly closings, balance sheets and financial statements. The firm sets up and supports QuickBooks, including cleaning up disorganized files. It also offers budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, business incorporation guidance, and part-time or outsourced CFO and controller services for growing companies that do not need a full-time finance executive.

How the Firm Works With Clients

The firm presents itself as a year-round partner rather than an accountant who appears only at tax time. It says it does not offer one-size-fits-all packages. Instead, it starts by learning how each business operates and what it needs, then builds a combination of accounting services and tax planning around those goals.

The firm puts particular weight on proactive tax planning to lower what clients owe. It also aims to give owners the numbers they need to track spending and cash flow, so they can see their overall financial position and plan for growth.

Prospective clients can request a free consultation, and the website includes tools for booking appointments, sending files and making payments.

Background and Credentials

The practice is led by Terence Maniki, a small business accounting specialist. He has spent more than five years helping owners in the Chicago region stay organized and save time through bookkeeping, payroll and tax solutions. The website displays AICPA membership, Certified Public Accountant branding, and QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Elite status.

Its office is on Tower Road in Schaumburg and is open on weekdays, with Saturday meetings available by appointment. For buyers comparing payroll providers, the firm's main advantage is that it combines payroll processing, payroll tax compliance and CPA-level tax and accounting advice in one local firm.

R.J. Augustine & Associates, Ltd. is a certified public accounting firm based in Schaumburg, Illinois, that works with both individuals and businesses. Companies comparing payroll providers will find that this firm folds payroll processing into a wider accounting relationship rather than selling it as a standalone product. Its clients are spread across the counties surrounding Chicago, and the firm also reports working with clients in other parts of the world.

Payroll within a full accounting practice

Payroll sits within the firm's core accounting group, so employers can have wage processing handled by the same team that maintains the books and financial records it feeds into. Offerings in that group include:

• Payroll services
• Bookkeeping and write-up work
• Preparation of financial statements
• Sales tax services
• Help choosing accounting software

Because the practice also prepares corporate and individual returns, handles state and local tax matters, and provides planning and compliance work, payroll clients can align wage-related reporting with their overall tax position.

On the consulting side, the firm offers recruiting and training support for human resources, benefit consulting, guidance on choosing a business entity, and selection and rollout of accounting software, and it lists QuickBooks ProAdvisor expertise among its capabilities. The firm also invites inquiries about needs that are not on its published service list.

Employers that sponsor retirement or other benefit programs may value the audit side of the practice, which covers audits of employee benefit plans and qualified plans, private company audits, compilations, and agreed-upon procedures. Further work includes forecasts and projections, budgeting and cash management, support with business acquisitions, valuation of businesses and intangible assets, and fraud deterrence and litigation forensics.

Background and team

The firm traces its start to an accounting business run from a college apartment complex, which grew into an office in Mount Prospect during the 1970s; it has served clients since 1978 and now operates from Schaumburg. Founder and President Richard J.

Augustine Sr., CPA, brings more than four decades of audit, tax, and accounting experience, chaired the board of the Schaumburg Business Association in 2012, and has held officer or director roles with groups such as the Columbian Club Foundation and Casa Italia.

Vice President and Controller Daniel Augustine joined in 1995 and concentrates on accounting, taxation, and valuations for small and midsize businesses. Audit Manager Ted Derma, CPA, has been with the firm for over 25 years, and several other CPAs cover senior tax, accounting, and audit roles. One senior auditor's background spans manufacturers, distributors, construction contractors, nonprofits, and benefit plans.

The firm describes its approach as built on open communication, careful analysis, and research, with the goal of learning each client's operations before advising on them and staying involved over the long term.

One published client testimonial describes a restaurant family that has worked with the firm for more than 30 years while expanding from a single restaurant to over thirty locations, with help on financial reporting, banking relationships, corporate structure, and succession planning. Staff also volunteer and contribute financially to national charities and local nonprofit organizations.

Windroot Corporation, which also operates as Windroot Business Services, is a financial services firm based in Schaumburg, Illinois. It works mainly with owners of small and growing businesses and with nonprofit organizations. The firm's main idea is that owners should be free to run their companies while a dedicated outside team handles the numbers. Payroll is one of its core services, along with accounting, bookkeeping, tax work, audits and advisory engagements.

Payroll Services

Windroot's payroll practice covers the full cycle of paying staff and meeting the compliance requirements that come with it. It suits employers who want payroll handled by the same team that already keeps their books and prepares their taxes. Its payroll work includes:

• Running regular payroll cycles
• Setting up records for new hires
• Processing pay rate and salary adjustments
• Preparing and submitting payroll-related filings
• Producing W-2 forms for employees and 1099 forms for contractors
• Tracking employee hours and time

One client review describes how the firm took on a business that had fallen several months behind on withholding. Within days, the team cleaned up the employee payroll tax problems, filed overdue returns and set up a bi-weekly payroll run. According to the reviewer, each run starts with one email and comes back within about two hours.

The same client runs a transportation company with drivers on staff. That suggests the firm can handle payroll in industries where tax compliance is especially complex.

Broader Financial Support

Because Windroot offers payroll alongside a wide range of other services, buyers can bring several functions under one provider. Its other services include:

• Accounting and bookkeeping, with timely financial statements
• Business, individual, nonprofit, and state and local tax services, plus tax advisory
• Audit and assurance, including audits of employee benefit plans
• Business formation for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations
• Business evaluation, covering financial health checks, risk management and strategic planning
• Business consulting and fractional CFO services
• Wealth management and financial planning
• Technology services through a Windroot Digital unit, including cloud solutions and IT outsourcing

This range may appeal to employers who would like their payroll provider to coordinate directly with their tax preparers and bookkeepers, rather than managing separate vendors.

How They Work With Clients

The firm says it uses modern accounting technology and fits its services to each client's circumstances rather than offering one fixed package. Clients get a dedicated team and can use a secure client portal. Prospective clients can book a free consultation, and organizations can submit a formal request for proposal.

Reviews describe a firm small enough to give personal attention, with fast replies and clear explanations. One reviewer notes that it may cost a little more than some local competitors. Another says their organization has worked with Windroot for nearly ten years.

Credentials and Reputation

Windroot says its tax work is led by certified public accountants who help clients make informed decisions. At the time of review, its website showed an excellent rating based on 52 Google reviews. Customers frequently mention the team's responsiveness, knowledge and professionalism. For Schaumburg-area employers, Windroot is a local option that combines payroll processing with accounting, tax and advisory support.