The average paycheck size grew 0.1 percent in December, according to payroll processor SurePayroll, although month-over-month hiring dipped 0.1 percent.

Payroll giant ADP reported Thursday that private sector employment increased by 215,000 jobs from November to December, driven in part by construction jobs in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Even though President Obama indicated only last Friday that the fiscal cliff deal likely to be produced by the January 1 deadline would be a basic package, lawmakers managed to come out with a surprisingly comprehensive set of tax provisions, some with long-lasting effects.

CBIZ, Inc. has acquired “certain” assets of Diversified Industries, Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

Payroll services giant ADP said Wednesday that it has been monitoring the fiscal cliff deal and has been in constant contact with the Internal Revenue Service regarding the changes in tax rates.

Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees created 15,000 jobs in December, according to Intuit, a 0.99 percent increase over November.

Firms continue wooing skilled prospects with steady salary bumps

The Internal Revenue Service released new income tax withholding tables for 2013 late Monday to reflect the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and the more recent payroll tax cuts of 2011 and 2012, but noted that the guidance would be modified if Congress acts.

Kansas-based accounting firm Mize Houser & Company has already begun adjusting its payroll withholding tables in anticipation of the expiration of the payroll tax cut at the end of the year.

A new company aims to match up accounting contractors with potential employers.

Cloud-based payroll and HR service Paylocity Corp. has unveiled Web Pay 10.1, the company’s flagship product that now boasts increased performance along with several new features, including a redesigned report writer and a new manager self-service portal.

The Small Business Services division of payroll provider ADP has created a series of tips for small-businesses and their accountants to help smooth the year-end.

ZenPayroll Inc. has closed on a $6.1 million round of corporate and individual financing, enabling it to launch its new cloud-based payroll service.

Small business employers in the U.S. added 30,000 jobs in November, according to Intuit, while the hours worked and compensation also rose.

CBIZ said it found an uptick in small business employment in November, with its CBIZ Small Business Employment Index increasing 0.82 percent after a decrease of 0.89 percent in October.

SurePayroll found month-over-month hiring fell slightly by 0.1 percent at small businesses in November while the average paycheck size remained essentially the same.

Employers added 146,000 new jobs in November, decreasing the unemployment rate by two-tenths of a percent to 7.7 percent, the lowest level in four years, despite the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Private sector employers added 118,000 jobs from October to November, according to the latest monthly employment report from payroll giant ADP, though the hiring gains were tempered by the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Check out the digital edition of the December 2012 issue of Accounting Today.

Payroll and human resource services provider Paychex Inc. has purchased expense report automation product maker ExpenseWire from Rearden Commerce Inc. for an undisclosed sum.