Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Winston Salem, NC

Citizen Accounting, legally Citizen Accounting Group LLC, is a family-owned accounting practice in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Its work centers on small and medium-sized businesses, and it presents itself as an outside finance department for owners who prefer to spend their time running the company. Some clients ask for limited help, while others hand over the whole back office.

Payroll within a larger engagement

Anyone shopping for payroll help should understand how the firm structures this offering. Payroll is not sold on its own. It is an add-on for clients who already rely on the practice for other financial services, such as bookkeeping or tax work.

That setup suits owners who want a single team looking after books, taxes and employee pay, since the payroll figures sit alongside the rest of the financial records. A company seeking a stand-alone payroll vendor would need to look elsewhere. For eligible clients, the payroll side includes:

• Processing, so staff receive accurate pay on time
• Compliance support for wage and tax requirements
• Reporting that serves internal needs and filings
• Analytics that treat labor as a measure of business health, not only a recurring expense

Accounting, tax and advisory services

Beyond payroll, the practice covers a wide range of accounting needs. Bookkeeping is handled in QuickBooks, and a cleanup service exists for companies with messy or outdated records. Record keeping extends to managing money owed to vendors and money owed by customers. For taxes, the firm prepares returns and also offers planning throughout the year, serving as a continuing tax advisor.

Its financial services include planning and budgeting help, along with reports such as balance sheets, income statements and cash-flow statements. When a client keeps its books internally, the firm can step in as an impartial third party and check whether the numbers are complete and correct. Owners with particular objectives can also use fractional CFO support and business coaching.

Specialty industries and coverage area

Alongside general small business work, the firm has dedicated pages for home service and trade companies, including:

• Plumbing, electrical, roofing and HVAC contractors
• Excavation, handyman and septic service businesses
• Landscaping, lawn care, tree service and pool service companies
• Pest control, cleaning and softwashing operators

Working from its Winston-Salem base, the practice lists clients across much of central North Carolina, from the Piedmont Triad to the Research Triangle area, plus Charlotte. It also says it serves every part of the state.

Experience and outlook

The owner has worked in finance and accounting since 2001, and the firm says that depth of experience runs through the whole team. As a family-run, locally owned business, it stresses trust, honesty and openness with clients. Its stated aim is to improve things for business owners, their employees and the wider community.

Reviews on the firm's site often single out an accountant named Jon, praising his clear explanations and fast replies. Other clients describe useful advice, easier tax seasons and help staying compliant while growing. Those interested can ask for a free consultation to see whether a combined accounting and payroll arrangement fits their business.