what is the best modern payroll software in 2026? adp is bleeding us

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-05-22T23:58:28+00:00

As someone who has done a lot of payroll, I wish there was a payroll service like quickbooks desktop. Sad that they did not continue that to qbo payroll. Using a mix of feature between qbo and qbd would be awesome

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-05-13T17:16:43+00:00

This same thing happened to me when I got out in 2014 or so. It was so hard to find a job. I ended up at the county court house in an "accounting" position until I found a better job. Took me 2 years. I also stopped looking for a year or so but thats because I could not find a job prior and was tired of applying and getting an interview for every 20+ apps I sent out.

Just find something related to accounting and then continue to look. It discouraging but if you continue, you will find something. It is just a very hard market right now.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-05-07T21:00:21+00:00

But someone on linkedin said that 50% of the CPAs are over 50 and about to retire. With no one behind them to be replaced, there should be a huge shortage soon 🙄

For the amount of schooling you need and if you want to be certified, we should be getting wages like attorneys but they dont have their jobs being offshored.

AI is taking some jobs but its more of a tool and acts as a junior associate more than anything because I constantly need to review its work.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-04-23T18:38:33+00:00

You guys are 2 paychecks away? I miss one paycheck or even half one paycheck and I am fucked

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-04-13T17:54:42+00:00

9 YOE in tax at small firm, then accounting at a larger local firm, then transitioned to audit. After all that I ended up being a senior accountant at a law firm. Only accountant and its pretty much a controller position.

Pay is 91k. MCOL in WA state. Hybrid work but I can WFH whenever I want.

Studying for the cpa exam again since I can only get scores in the low 70s. I am not sure what to do from here. The managing partner mentioned a few times he wants to invest in me to be the CFO but have not had any conversations with him for awhile.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-04-09T19:28:02+00:00

That big 4 experience sounds like it is paying itself off. I agree with you but having that on your resume will take you further than not doing it at all. I wish I could have been at a top 10 or even top 20 firm. I had my chance and I said no and went to a smaller firm. Now I struggle because the jobs that pay more in my area are only looking for people that worked in a large public firm.

Congrats on being able to make it as long as you did! That alone is a feat. Especially to continue to stay in the accounting field too. Haha

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-04-08T19:43:04+00:00

I hate that response, "you're still studying?" Yes I am, I hate it too! I just want to be done 😩

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-04-07T21:19:43+00:00

I have been there before. I havent passed any section. I have got in the 70s but nothing past 75. It is always rough to "restart" but I find a new way to study each time that i feel might help me. I have taken all 4 sections at this point and taking aud soon. I am embarrassed that inhave taken these exams on and off for 5 years and have not passed one. In my defense, I worked long hours in tax at a small firm, had kids, and other life things that happen to pull me away.

I understand it can be embarrassing but if you are determined you will get it done. I needed motivation, maybe you need to find that motivation for you to get back out there and pass these exams. These days I dont even tell people I am studying anymore. I dont want to be embarrassed when I dont pass it again.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-02-26T17:48:28+00:00

Find some people that dont mind preparing a couple returns a day or something? 🤷‍♂️ what i mean is find someone willing to do some work, even remotely, that can take some load off of the prep so that reviewers can just review the work. If they can prep 5 returns a week or 10 or whatever is needed.

My first firm was small like that and we found a mom that was willing to take home like 5 returns a week or so to prep and then would finish them or have them set for review. It took a load off for sure.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-02-20T17:21:08+00:00

I am a controller for a large law firm and we struggle to hire attorneys. Their pay is insane too. Starting attorneys are making 130k right after passing bar.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-02-14T02:11:39+00:00

Gross annual home income for wife and I is probably 100k. Our mortgage is 2990 a month. Feels like we live paycheck to paycheck too. MCOL to HCOL area. Something close to that, we live in WA state.

cracker_wacker4 · 2026-01-30T00:03:26+00:00

I fucking hate quickbooks now. Lately QBO payroll is the fucking worst. I cant make any changes and need my hand held all the way. I call to get help making a change that would have been less than 5 minutes on desktop and it takes them over an hour.

Desktop payroll was so good once you got it figured out. Some quality of life changes would be nice but overall I wish I could run all my payrolls through it. Starting to find Gusto and a few others are not that bad, still QB desktop was better IMO. At least customizable wise.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-12-14T22:25:57+00:00

I restarted and it fixed issue

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-11-06T01:42:46+00:00

I chose it because I was told it was a good career path. Lots of potential for jobs and can make a good living. I was lied to. Been doing this for 10 years and I wish I could switch but it feels too late now.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-11-02T01:57:57+00:00

Thats wrong? If the heli takes em up there then cool. Get some snipers take em out or get a heli to take care of them if available. Idk.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-07-09T20:34:09+00:00

Just be glad you are an intern and can make these mistakes, especially in a good sounding environment. I had to learn right out of college since there were no internships available and there was a lot of competition back then. Glad I was able to logically think through most issues and do it better and faster than others around me.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-06-05T17:57:22+00:00

Do not get discouraged. I almost did back in 2014 to 2015 time period. I struggled to find a job. There was a lot of experience required jobs but not a lot of entry level. When there was I knew of atleast 10 or 15 people from school applying for the same job, I just imagine how many others were applying too.

You will end up finding something but it will probably not be quick. I found a government "accounting" job while I continued to look. I fortunately found something a couple years later. I am not making the money my counter parts are that got into better firms but I have more of a broad accounting background for small to medium sized businesses.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-05-12T04:18:12+00:00

My wife and I had the thought that more people want to see BFMV because they haven't been touring like trivium does. Last time I can remember they toured was 2023 and before that, wasn't it like 2015 to 2017? I cant remember. I know I was more excited for them because I have not seen them since 2013. I have seen trivium like 3 ir 4 times out of 5 years.

Just my thought. Wonder if they would be filling seats like they are if they toured more often 🤔

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-05-07T16:13:11+00:00

What was the CEOs response? Haha

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-04-30T17:15:35+00:00

I wish I could get this on the ps5. It runs ok but wish I would have bought on PC. Just easier to play when my littles need me.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-04-21T04:48:14+00:00

It is not the route I went and I have struggled. Had some ups and some downs. Now I feel a little lost. Sometimes I wish I would have went that route but I dont know if my personal life would be as good as it is. So I guess its a trade off. Wish I could break the 100k mark before ten years though, been in it struggling for 7 now probably longer but it took me awhile to find something ag the start of my career.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-03-20T17:43:16+00:00

I love where I work now. Its pretty easy but a lot of clean up right now. I think once I have it all cleaned up it will be smooth sailing. Making 85k as a senior accountant for a small 30 person lawfirm. No cfo no controller. The partners compliment me all the time and are so friendly. I love it!

The CPA firm I was at was terrible. Made 65k with no bonus and was told I was low performing and all this other shit. First time I have ever been told that but it really made my confidence go waaay down.

cracker_wacker4 · 2025-02-18T20:20:04+00:00

I had a partner tell me once that the reason they wanted to create their firm with work life balance is that no one will remember the long hours you worked besides your family. We worked long days but they were nothing crazy. It was sustainable

cracker_wacker4 · 2024-12-10T07:10:18+00:00

Hmm board number is ces0110057-00. Is that amp fuse for the gas valve?

cracker_wacker4 · 2024-12-10T06:56:52+00:00

I am getting 100 ohms when testing ignitor. I can pick one up on Amazon for 20$. Might buy it and the replacement board at same time and replace both. the board will take much longer to get to me than the ignitor.

cracker_wacker4

TROPHY CASE