Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Helena, MT

Christensen CPA is a certified public accounting practice based in Helena, Montana, led by principal CPA Nichole Christensen. The firm works with individuals, couples and companies, and it handles tax work, bookkeeping and payroll within one office. For employers comparing payroll providers in the Helena area, it is a local alternative run by accountants. Payroll is managed alongside a client's books and tax filings rather than as a stand-alone transaction service.

Payroll Services

The firm cites close to two decades of accounting experience. Its payroll offering covers the full pay cycle, from compensating staff and processing bonuses to preparing the related tax paperwork and addressing retirement plan items. Employers can choose a pay frequency that suits their operations. Its payroll work includes:

• Payroll runs on a weekly schedule
• Payroll runs on a biweekly schedule
• Preparation and filing of employee W-2 forms at year end
• Year-end 1099 filing for contractors and other non-employee payees
• Administration of regular wages and bonus payments
• Payroll tax forms and retirement plan support
• Ongoing bookkeeping offered in tandem with payroll

Who They Serve

Christensen CPA says it takes on payroll for organizations regardless of headcount, so both very small employers and larger Helena companies fall within its scope. Nichole Christensen has a particular fondness for start-ups. A client testimonial on the site describes a new business owner who received guidance on how to structure the company for filing purposes and how deductions work. That kind of help can be useful for founders who are setting up their first payroll.

Tax and Accounting Support

Beyond payroll, the practice prepares returns for individuals and businesses and offers tax planning and consulting. Its tax work focuses on identifying applicable deductions and credits, submitting paperwork correctly to the IRS and managing each return through to completion. Its bookkeeping service is aimed at owners who would rather hand off record-keeping and keep their financial data orderly and protected. Employers can therefore keep payroll records, general books and annual returns with a single firm.

Team and Background

Nichole Christensen earned her degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She then spent several years with an accounting firm in Billings before opening her own practice, and she has lived in Helena for more than fifteen years. Payroll and bookkeeping are supported by Chris Siders, who holds an associate of applied science in accounting from AIMS College in Greeley, Colorado.

Before relocating to Montana about four years ago, she worked as a bookkeeper and payroll specialist for CPA firms in Colorado and across the West Coast states. Clients therefore get a staff member who focuses specifically on payroll.

How They Work With Clients

The firm operates from an office on Partridge Place in Helena and is open on weekdays during standard business hours. Clients have access to an online client portal, and the website also links to a tool for tracking tax refunds.

New clients typically start with a conversation about their circumstances so the firm can tailor its payroll and accounting work to the business. Buyers who want a CPA-led, hometown provider that combines payroll, bookkeeping and tax under one roof may find Christensen CPA a good fit.