How to Connect Your Accountant or Payroll Provider to ADP Run
There are two ways to do it — and the right one depends on what access your accountant or payroll provider needs. This guide covers both options in plain language.
Why Give Your Accountant or Payroll Provider Access?
When your accountant or payroll provider can log in to ADP Run directly, they can run payroll, pull reports, fix errors, and handle compliance tasks without waiting on you to send files or answer questions. It saves time on both sides and reduces the chance of mistakes.
If your provider also needs access to ADP Time & Attendance — to pull hours, manage time-off requests, or sync time data with payroll — you'll need to set that up a specific way. The Accountant Connect invite does not give access to Time & Attendance. Creating a new user is the only option for that.
Which Option Is Right for You?
ADP Run gives you two ways to share access with your accountant or payroll provider:
Option 1 — Accountant Connect Invite
This is the easiest option if your accountant or payroll provider already uses ADP's Accountant Connect portal. You send them an invite from inside ADP Run and they accept it through their own Accountant Connect account. This gives them payroll and reporting access.
Use this if: Your provider uses Accountant Connect and only needs access to payroll and reports — not Time & Attendance.
Option 2 — Create a New User
You create a login for your accountant or payroll provider directly inside ADP Run and assign them the right permissions. This takes a few more steps, but it's the most flexible option and the only way to give someone access to ADP Time & Attendance.
Use this if: Your provider doesn't use Accountant Connect, or they need access to Time & Attendance, or you want more control over exactly what they can see and do.
Option 1: Send an Accountant Connect Invite
Before you start, confirm with your accountant or payroll provider that they use ADP Accountant Connect. If they're not sure, ask them to check with their ADP representative.
Step 1 — Log in to ADP Run
Go to runpayroll.adp.com and sign in with your username and password.
Step 2 — Go to Setup
From the main menu, click Setup.
Step 3 — Click "Accountant Connect"
Inside the Setup menu, find and click Accountant Connect. This is where you manage accountant-level access to your ADP account.
Step 4 — Enter Your Accountant's Email
Type in the email address your accountant or payroll provider uses for their Accountant Connect account. Double-check it before moving on.
Step 5 — Send the Invite
Click Send Invite. ADP will send your accountant an email with a link to connect their account to yours.
Step 6 — Your Accountant Accepts
Once your accountant clicks the link and logs in through their Accountant Connect portal, they'll have access to your ADP Run account. You'll see them listed under Accountant Connect when they've accepted.
Option 2: Create a New User
This option works for any accountant or payroll provider — and it's the only way to grant access to ADP Time & Attendance. You'll be creating a login they can use to access your ADP account directly.
Step 1 — Log in to ADP Run
Go to runpayroll.adp.com and sign in.
Step 2 — Go to Setup
From the main menu, click Setup.
Step 3 — Click "Users"
Inside the Setup menu, click Users. This is where you manage everyone who has a login to your ADP account.
Step 4 — Click "Add User"
Click the Add User button. A form will appear asking for the new user's information.
Step 5 — Enter Their Information
Fill in your accountant's or payroll provider's name, email address, and phone number. The email you enter here will become their login username, so make sure it's correct.
Step 6 — Assign the Right Role
Choose the role that matches what they need to do. Common options include:
- Payroll Specialist — can run payroll and access payroll reports
- HR/Payroll Admin — broader access including employee records
- Time & Attendance Admin — required if they need access to ADP Time & Attendance
If you're not sure which role to assign, ask your accountant or payroll provider what they need access to before you create the user.
Step 7 — Save and Send
Click Save. ADP will send your accountant or payroll provider an email with instructions to set up their password and log in for the first time.
Note: If your provider needs access to both payroll and Time & Attendance, you may need to assign multiple roles or contact ADP support to confirm the right setup for your account.
Common Questions
Accountant Connect is a portal that accounting and payroll firms use to manage multiple clients in one place. If your provider uses it, the invite method is quick and easy. Creating a new user is a more manual process, but it works for any provider and is the only way to give someone access to ADP Time & Attendance.
You need to create a new user (Option 2). Accountant Connect does not grant access to ADP Time & Attendance. When creating the user, make sure you assign a role that includes Time & Attendance permissions. If you're unsure which role to choose, contact ADP support or ask your payroll provider what access level they need.
For Accountant Connect: go to Setup → Accountant Connect, find their name, and remove the connection. For a user you created: go to Setup → Users, find their account, and either deactivate or delete it. Either way, their access is removed immediately.
Yes — if you assign them a role that includes payroll permissions, they can run payroll, review and approve pay, and pull payroll reports. Make sure you discuss with your provider exactly what they need before you set up access, so you assign the right role from the start.
Ask them to check their spam or junk folder first. If it's not there, go back to ADP Run, find their user account or pending invite, and resend the invitation. If the problem continues, contact ADP support at 1-800-225-5237.