Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Pontiac, MI

J.A. Bowes CPA, P.C. is a certified public accounting firm in Pontiac, Michigan. It also does business as Bowes Accounting and Tax Service. Its main clients are small and medium-sized businesses in a range of industries, and it also works with individuals.

For a company looking for payroll help, the firm offers payroll processing alongside bookkeeping, accounting, tax and financial consulting. That means wage processing and the related tax and accounting work can be handled by one local CPA practice instead of being split between several vendors.

Background and Leadership

The firm traces its roots to 1955 and has served clients in Pontiac and nearby communities for decades. It now operates as a professional corporation. Owner Jeff Bowes has led the practice since July 1985. Before that, he spent several years as a staff accountant at a multi-office CPA firm in Longview, Texas. He studied accounting, business and finance at LeTourneau University. Under his leadership, the practice has focused on small businesses, trusts, estates, and individual and corporate taxes.

Payroll and Accounting Services

The firm treats payroll as one part of a wider set of financial services, not as a standalone software product. Because payroll is tied closely to bookkeeping and tax compliance, clients can have one team keep their payroll records, general ledger and tax filings consistent. Directory listings say the firm also helps business owners with financial statements and bank reconciliations. These are tasks that often go hand in hand with regular payroll runs. Its services include:

• Payroll processing for small and mid-sized employers
• Bookkeeping and general accounting
• Financial statement preparation and bank reconciliation
• Tax preparation for corporations, partnerships and individuals
• Corporate tax planning
• Estate and trust tax work, including planning
• Personal and business financial advisory and consulting

How the Firm Works With Clients

Public descriptions of the practice stress personalized service and careful attention to detail. The firm tailors its work to each client rather than offering one fixed package. Engagements can range from routine tax returns to more complex estate and trust matters. A business can start with payroll or bookkeeping and add tax planning or consulting as its needs change.

The firm is a small office, so clients can expect to work directly with a CPA-led team rather than a large call center.

What Sets It Apart

Buyers comparing payroll providers in Oakland County will notice a few things about this firm. Its history goes back to the 1950s. It has had the same owner since the mid-1980s. And it has a physical office in Pontiac.

Because it is a CPA firm and not a payroll-only bureau, it suits employers who want payroll handled together with their accounting and tax filings by licensed professionals. Business owners who also need help with personal returns, trusts or estates may find it useful to keep everything with one accountant.

The firm's website was being rebuilt at the time of this research, so prospective clients should confirm current payroll capabilities and delivery methods directly with the office.