CYMA Systems, Inc. — Accounting For Windows Payroll Module

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From the September 2006 Review of Boutique Payroll Systems

CYMA Systems makes a wide range of accounting products, including its Financial Management System that includes GL, AP, AR, purchasing, job costing and other essentials, as well as a Client Write-Up and a Not-For-Profit Edition. The company’s payroll module supports direct deposit, can be used to handle payroll for any number of clients and employees, and supports all federal and state payroll requirements. Pricing starts at $595 for one user. A Pervasive SQL database is required, which costs an additional $125, bringing the minimum cost to $1,315. An optional state forms package is available for $395.

EASE-OF-USE/DATA ENTRY -- 4 Stars
The CYMA system provides a browser-like atmosphere that uses the System Manager screen as the primary interface from which users can access the various CYMA modules. Because of the browser interface, which includes traditional forward, back and home buttons, users can easily create shortcuts to specific areas within the program or even to websites. Setup tasks are guided by a checklist that helps newer users ensure that all necessary company and employee information is present and correct. During and after creating client companies and employees, data entry is performed on intuitive screens that highlight required fields and provide lookup functionality and selection lists. Time data entry takes place in a spreadsheet interface that allows users to easily select and input employee pay period information for a single employee at a time, but no method is available for mass data entry. Once data has been entered, CYMA automatically makes all necessary calculations, applies appropriate tax rates, withholds other deductions and manages employee benefits. The system supports multiple earnings types per employee, including salaried, hourly, commissioned and tipped workers.

FEATURES -- 4.5 Stars
As noted above, CYMA’s Payroll module works as a part of the vendor’s larger accounting suite, and can thereby handle virtually any number of companies, departments and employees with the option to use direct deposit. It can also work with multiple bank accounts for the company and for direct deposit recipients. Similarly, the program supports an unlimited number of earnings and deduction types, and can be used to track vacation, sick time, 401(k), cafeteria plans, union dues, loan repayments and other benefit programs and deductions.

The program offers considerable customization options, including creation of templates and the ability to create employee-specific options or make mass changes across all employees of a client company, as well as the ability to create user-specified tabs and information fields. Because the module is part of the larger accounting application, a full-time audit trail is maintained, and the system provides password security at the company, module, feature and reporting level. It even offers the ability to protect specific screens from unauthorized access. Unfortunately, CYMA considers state forms as an optional add-on, increasing the cost of the system for anyone wishing to automatically populate state payroll tax forms.

REPORTING CAPABILITIES -- 5 Stars
The payroll system offers an excellent selection of more than 40 payroll reports along with the ability to customize or create new ones. All reports can be viewed on-screen prior to printing, and the system offers bookmarking of key data areas for easier review, and the ability to search report contents. The system can generate all versions of forms 940, 941, W-2, W-3 and 1099s, SUTA, FUTA, as well as state withholding worksheets (if the state forms package is added). The system can also create magnetic media files. Payrolls can be processed in batch with checks sorted geographically or other method, or users can print individual employee checks and information stubs as needed, with support for MICR printing available.

INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT -- 4 Stars
The program works as an integrated component of the Financial Management System, which makes it a no-brainer add-on for accounting firms or businesses already using the system since it automatically posts all transactions to the appropriate accounts. Additionally, the suite integration allows the generation of job costing analysis reports. The system does not directly integrate with external accounting programs but is able to output some data into a format that can then be mapped and imported by some third-party applications.