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8 Attributes to Look for in Your Payroll Administration Partner

8 Attributes to Look for in Your Payroll Administration Partner
Once you’ve made the decision to outsource your payroll administration, it’s time to start searching for a partner. The good news is that you will have a lot of options. The challenge will be finding the service provider that’s right for you.
Here’s a look at the eight most important attributes to look for in your partner:

1. Options
Payroll complicated, and no two organizations have the exact same needs. That’s why it’s important to look for a partner that offers a variety of options–from self-service platforms to full-service administration.

The last thing you want is to be stuck with a one-size-fits-all solution that doesn’t solve any of your specific needs.

2. An Easy-to-Use Interface
What good is outsourcing payroll administration if it doesn’t make your life easier? Make sure you look for a partner that uses technology that is easy for you to use and understand.

3. Customer Service
Exceptional customer service tends to come down to three things: care, availability and accountability. Partner with an organization that has a track record of demonstrating these three traits and you’re likely to reap the benefits of outsourcing.

4. Tax Administration
Believe it or not, there are some payroll administration companies that don’t and won’t include paying taxes and filing returns in their list of services. This leaves you holding the burden, risk and expense, which probably isn’t a position you want to be in if you’re already paying for payroll administration.

5. Command of Compliance
Payroll is among the most highly regulated functions in any organization, according to the American Payroll Association. There are federal, state and local regulations related to everything from tax withholding to tax reporting to child support to eligibility and more.

Choose a partner that has a command of all of the compliance issues.

6. Flexibility and Scalability
You never know what is going to cause your company to contract or grow–government regulations, economic upswings and downturns, natural disasters, trends, public relations wins and losses, and the unforeseen can all play a role in your company’s success.

When it’s time for you to change, you’re going to want a payroll administration partner that is flexible enough to scale up when things are going well and scale down when you need to make strategic decisions to become more efficient.

7. Expertise and Experience
There are a lot of good reasons to outsource your payroll administration, only if you have a partner who has the expertise and experience to help you realize all of the benefits. Look for a partner who can do a full assessment of your business and business needs–and then craft a customized solution specifically for your organization.

Adding value isn’t always about outsourcing every task. Sometimes outsourcing even a portion of the work can make a big difference.

8. Precision Processes
Managing payroll isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition–even at a single organization. Direct deposit, multiple wage rates, garnishment payments, paper checks, workers’ compensation and paid time off require precision processes to keep it all organized and running smoothly.

Make sure you choose a partner who has precision processes in place to compliment its technology.

Interview Your Next Payroll Administration Partner Today
If you’re looking for a payroll partner to make your life easier, connect with Flagler Financial today. You’ll find a team that has experience, expertise, options, precision processes, user-friendly tools, exceptional customer service and everything else it takes to help you succeed.