Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Wichita, KS

Cook CPA, LLC, which does business as Cook CPA, is a certified public accounting firm headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Payroll is one of several core offerings, alongside tax work, bookkeeping and general accounting for both small and larger companies.

Although the firm keeps a physical office in Wichita, much of its work is delivered remotely, which lets it support employers throughout Kansas, in neighboring states such as Oklahoma and Texas, across the wider United States and even overseas, with clients reported as far away as Australia.

Payroll services

For employers comparing payroll providers, the key point is that Cook CPA does not require clients to switch to proprietary software. Its payroll staff instead look at how a company already pays its people and either build around that existing process or recommend a more efficient one.

The firm takes on the recurring daily, weekly and monthly work involved in preparing and running payroll, with the stated aim of preventing late or incorrectly filed payroll returns. It says its approach can scale from a business with only a handful of workers up to employers with several hundred staff.

• Outsourced, recurring payroll processing
• Payroll system setup for newly formed businesses
• One-time back-office payroll configuration
• Ongoing payroll administration on a monthly basis
• Payroll return preparation and filing support

Start-ups are a specific focus. New companies can engage the firm just to design a compliant payroll structure at launch, or they can have Cook CPA both establish the system and operate it on an ongoing basis afterward.

Broader accounting and tax support

Because payroll sits inside a full-service CPA practice, clients can consolidate related work with one provider. The firm lists bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, small business accounting, growth consulting, business transitions and valuations, and SBA loan assistance.

On the tax side it handles federal and state return preparation, tax planning, delinquent filings, Form 1120-F returns for foreign corporations, Schedule E rental property filings, nonprofit Form 990 and 1023 work, and representation in IRS and Employee Retention Credit audits. A dedicated AppFolio practice offers bookkeeping, user training and problem resolution for property managers.

Clients, team and approach

Cook CPA reports working with businesses in hospitality, retail, oil and gas, agriculture and real estate, among other sectors. The practice was founded by Peter Cook, CPA, who leads it as partner.

The published team includes a dedicated payroll specialist, Andrew Scheidt, as well as senior accounting associates holding CPA and MBA credentials, a tax specialist, several accounting associates and a senior AppFolio consultant. The site also displays QuickBooks ProAdvisor badges tied to Peter Cook, which may be relevant for employers already running their books in QuickBooks.

The firm describes its philosophy as closing the distance that often separates accountants from the companies they serve. It favors anticipating issues over reacting to them, tailors each engagement rather than selling fixed packages, and positions itself as a partner in planning for growth, not only a processor of transactions. Prospective clients can begin with a free initial consultation, and office visits are by appointment.

Kittrell & Klaskin, LLC is a certified public accounting practice based in west Wichita, Kansas. It works mainly with small businesses across Wichita and the rest of the state. The firm offers payroll as part of a wider set of services that also covers tax, accounting and business advisory work. Companies that want one partner to manage paychecks, payroll tax deposits and their general ledger together may find this model useful.

Payroll capabilities

The payroll offering is designed to remove the routine administrative load from owners. The firm calculates each pay run, applies deductions and withholdings, and makes sure staff are paid on the correct schedule. It also prepares federal, state and local payroll tax returns, including annual forms. On the employee side, it produces W-2s and 1099s, sets up direct deposit, and can respond to staff questions so the owner is not pulled into every inquiry. Specific services include:

• Payroll processing by check or direct deposit
• Payroll tax filings at every government level, with year-end reporting
• Pay for salaried, hourly and part-time workers
• Payments to independent contractors
• Payroll for teams spread across more than one state
• Human resources services available through ADP

Payroll runs on ADP technology combined with local, hands-on help, so clients have a real person to contact when an issue comes up. The firm says this setup suits employers with as few as two staff or as many as two hundred. Because the payroll data connects with the firm's own tax and bookkeeping work, the records tend to stay consistent across all of a client's financial reporting.

How engagements work

New clients begin with a consultation, held either by phone or in person. During this meeting the team asks about the company's goals, its current processes and any obstacles it has faced. They then build a tailored package of recommended services. Payroll pricing depends on headcount and complexity, and a custom quote follows the first conversation.

For prospects who want to understand their full staffing costs, the website offers a calculator that estimates total employee compensation, including taxes and benefits. Clients who keep their books in QuickBooks or Xero can also get help using those platforms more effectively.

Background and team

The practice is part of the Padgett network, a national organization that serves small businesses through independently owned local offices. Kittrell & Klaskin joined Padgett in 2023. It is led by two co-founders who are both CPAs:

• Ryan Kittrell has more than 14 years in accounting and business operations. He earned his accounting degree at Wichita State University and served in the U.S. Air Force.
• Lisa Klaskin has over 25 years of accounting and finance experience, including time at the FDIC.

The team also includes Harrison Seligman, an Enrolled Agent. The firm states that it is qualified to represent business clients before the IRS when tax disputes arise.

Who they serve

The firm highlights experience with real estate companies, professional services providers, restaurants and retailers. It positions itself as a year-round partner rather than a seasonal tax preparer, stressing a personal relationship, proactive planning and regular communication. For Kansas employers comparing payroll providers, its main distinctions are CPA-level oversight, an ADP-based platform, and payroll that sits alongside tax and advisory support from the same local office.