Connect and Sync Payroll Data

Table of Contents

How does Bench collect payroll data?

Bench collects your payroll data using a third-party technology platform called Finch. Finch partners with over 200 HR information systems and payroll providers to build secure integrations between providers and other apps and services. Both Bench and Finch are SOC-2 compliant with security practices that meet or exceed industry standards.

When you connect your payroll account to Bench, Finch will make a connection to your payroll provider. This connection will sync payroll data into Bench automatically, and up to every 24 hours. 

Which payroll providers does Bench connect to?

Currently, we can connect to the following payroll providers:

  • Gusto*
  • ADP (ADP Run, ADP Workforce Now, ADP TotalSource)
  • Justworks
  • Quickbooks Online
  • Paychex Flex
  • Square Payroll

*We use a direct integration with Gusto to connect your payroll

How to connect your payroll account 

IMPORTANT: To establish a connection, the payroll login credentials must be associated with an employer admin user account, and have permissions to view the full employee directory and view the full company payroll.  If you’re unsure of your role permissions, follow the provider instructions in the next section.

ADP / Justworks / Paychex Flex / QBO / Square Payroll

  1. Log in to your Bench account. 
  2. On the main menu, click ‘My Books’ then ‘Connections’.
  3. Look for Finch under the Payroll section and click ‘Add +’ 
  4. Finch Connect will launch on a separate screen. Review the data and privacy disclosures, then confirm data sharing permissions by clicking ‘Continue’. 
  5. Select from the list of providers presented on the screen or enter the provider’s name in the search bar.
  6. Enter the same login credentials you use to sign in to your payroll provider.
  7. If your provider asks additional security questions or you have mult-factor authentication enabled, you will need to complete additional steps to connect.
  8. Once the connection is complete, Finch Connect will close automatically. When you refresh the ‘Connections’ page, your payroll connection should now appear under the ‘Payroll’ section.

To ensure that your data can be synced to Bench, you must be assigned a specific set of permissions in your payroll account. 

Confirm Account Permissions - Instructions by Provider

Add Bench as a User to Your Payroll  

If you’re unable to authenticate using your credentials, you may be asked to add Bench as an additional user to your payroll account so that we can set up the connection successfully. 

When you set up the user account, please use the following email address:

Email Address: payroll-integration@bench.co 

To see instructions for your provider, please follow the links below:

Gusto

  1. Log in to your Bench account. 
  2. On the main menu, click ‘My Books’ then ‘Connections’.
  3. Look for Gusto under the Payroll section and click ‘Add +’.
  4. You will be automatically redirected to the Gusto login page, where you can enter your credentials. You may have to enter additional information to verify any multi-factor authentication codes. 

Frequently asked questions

1. How often will my payroll data sync into Bench?

Most providers will sync data on a 24-hour cadence.

2. Will I need to reauthenticate my payroll connection? 

Depending on the integration, you may need to re-authenticate to keep your connection active. Authentication requirements vary, and are dependent on security protocols and cookie expirations set by each provider. 

3. How do I share my payroll data if I don’t see my provider on the list?

If your provider is not available on Finch Connect, please contact your Onboarding Specialist or your bookkeeper, and they can guide you through uploading the correct payroll reports to Bench. 

4. What happens if I’m unable to connect my account through Finch Connect? 

If you run into any issues with connecting your account, please inform your Onboarding specialist or bookkeeper and they will submit an IT Support ticket on your behalf. 

5. What should  I do if someone else is the employer admin user for payroll?

If someone else has employer admin access to your payroll, they will need to log into Bench to set up the connection. To provide them with Bench access, you can message your bookkeeper to have that person added as an additional user. Once their account has been set up, they can follow the steps above to connect your payroll.

5. Do I need to connect again if I’ve switched to a different payroll provider?

Yes, if your new provider is supported by our integration, then we will need to create a new connection for that provider to sync your payroll data.

6. How does Bench keep my connection secure? 

We work with Finch, a technology platform that enables users to connect across 200+ payroll and HR information system providers and utilizes best-in-class encryption protocols like TLS 1.2 and AES 256 bit encryption to keep customers’ data safe. You can learn more about Finch’s security practices on here.

7. Why did the connection also create a 3rd-Party Admin in my HR information system/payroll system?

If you are asked to authenticate using administrator credentials, a new third-party admin or accountant user may be added in your HRIS/payroll system. This helps extend the life of the connection, and reduce the need for re-authentication. If a third-party admin or accountant user is needed, you will be notified on the provider login screen below the username and password fields. If the user is removed, the connection will no longer work. 

8. How do I remove my connection?

You can message your bookkeeper to remove the connection.  

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