Advertise on podcast: The Payroll Podcast

Tricia Hartley spent 47 years doing the latter. From a chance encounter with a clock card-carrying HR manager at Heathrow Airport in 1977 to becoming one of the first women ever appointed as Director of Global Payroll Services, hers is a career that did not just keep pace with the payroll profession. It helped shape it. In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Tricia Hartley, global payroll pioneer and recipient of the Reward Strategy Lifetime Achievement Award, to reflect on nearly five decades of payroll leadership across some of the world's most iconic organisations, including Chevron, Reuters, Cognizant, PayPal, and Microsoft. This is not just a career retrospective. It is a masterclass in what payroll truly means. Tricia and Nick explore why the payslip is one of the most important documents in a person's life, what it really takes to lead global payroll teams across multiple countries and cultures, and why the human touch in payroll must never be surrendered to automation. They also cover the honest realities of retiring after a career that consumed and fulfilled in equal measure, a coaching leadership philosophy that produced a generation of senior payroll directors, and what Tricia believes the next generation of payroll professionals must hold onto as AI begins to reshape the profession. It is not just about processing pay. It is about the people behind every payslip. And it always has been. Whether you are just starting out in payroll, leading a global team, or somewhere in between, this episode is proof that payroll is one of the most purposeful, adventurous, and human careers a person can choose. This episode is sponsored by Deel Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide. See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday Guest and Host: Connect with Tricia Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-hartley-9189259/ Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7 Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Meet Tricia Hartley (01:56) What Payroll Really Means: The Human Responsibility Behind Every Payslip (03:33) How It All Started: Heathrow Airport and a Clock Card Interview in 1977 (05:46) World Duty Free, Traveling the World and Catching the Global Bug (10:15) Leading Payroll at Chevron, Reuters, Cognizant, PayPal and Microsoft (12:24) Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Senior Payroll Leadership (15:19) Navigating Real Time Information, Brexit and the Big Industry Shifts (16:31) Winning the Reward Strategy Lifetime Achievement Award (18:26) Mentoring Future Leaders and Building Teams That Outlast You (24:43) The Honest Truth About Retirement and How to Prepare for It (33:19) The Future of Payroll, AI and Why the Human Touch Must Never Disappear (40:18) Payroll Vault: Career Advice for Every Stage of Your Payroll Journey Hashtags: #PayrollPodcast #GlobalPayroll #PayrollCareers #PayrollLeadership #LifetimeAchievement #TriciaHartley #NickDay #JGARecruitment #PayrollProfessional #WomenInPayroll #FutureOfPayroll #AIinPayroll #PayrollTransformation #CareerInPayroll #PayrollCommunity #HRPayroll #RewardStrategy #PayrollHistory #GlobalPayrollLeader #PayrollMentoring

Most companies think payroll integration is an IT project. They build it, they test it, they go live. Done. But here is the truth nobody is saying out loud: payroll integrations rarely fail on day one. They fail on day 100, day 300, or the moment something in your organization changes and the integration that once worked perfectly stops being reliable, compliant, or predictable. In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with David Docherty, Chief Commercial Officer at Epicenter, to unpack one of the most important and consistently underestimated challenges in global HR and payroll today. With over 20 years of hands-on experience and hundreds of real-world deployments behind him, David is one of the most credible voices on why payroll integrations fail and what organizations can do to stop it from happening to them. Nick and David make the case that treating integration as a technical sideshow is one of the most expensive mistakes a business can make, unpacking why payroll integration ROI is so often left on the table, how poor data governance quietly derails even the best-planned HCM implementations, and why integration belongs in the boardroom. They also cover the most common integration mistakes, from starting too late and over-engineering solutions to relying on vendor interfaces that were never built for multinational complexity, and what payroll leaders need to get in place right now as AI begins to reshape what is possible. It is not a technology problem. It is not an IT problem. It is a business risk that most organizations are not treating like one. Whether you are planning a global HCM implementation, currently mid-project, or already live and not getting the results you expected, this episode delivers the honest, practical advice the payroll integration space has been missing. This episode is sponsored by Deel Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide. See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday Guest and Host: Connect with David Docherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjdocherty/ Epicenter website: https://epicenter.eu Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7 Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Why Payroll Integration Is Underestimated (01:57) Meet David Docherty, CCO at Epicenter (04:20) What Payroll Really Means and Why It Cannot Fail (05:33) Why Integration Is Critical for Global Organizations (07:19) The Hidden ROI of Your HR and Payroll Tech Stack (09:16) Why 67% of HCM Implementations Disappoint (12:43) The Most Common Integration Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (17:12) Building the Business Case for Your Board (22:08) How Epicenter Acts as Your Integration Advisor (27:03) How AI Is Transforming Payroll Integration (34:29) About Epicenter and the Payroll Vault Hashtags: #PayrollIntegration #HRPayroll #GlobalPayroll #PayrollPodcast #PayrollLeadership #HRTransformation #OracleHCM #WorkdayHR #SAPSuccessFactors #HCMImplementation #DataGovernance #PayrollROI #AIinHR #EnterprisePayroll #PayrollStrategy #PayrollManagement #HRIntegration #PayrollProfessionals #FutureOfWork #PayrollInsights

Imagine attending Payroll Congress for the very first time and within a year becoming part of the PayrollOrg team responsible for training payroll professionals across the world. That is exactly what happened to Christina Ruderer, CPP, and her story perfectly captures what makes Payroll Congress unlike any other event in the profession. In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Christina Ruderer, CPP, Director of Payroll Training at PayrollOrg, to unpack one of the most inspiring career stories in payroll today. From passing her CPP exam in tears to being selected on stage at Congress, to landing a leadership role at PayrollOrg within months, Christina's journey is living proof of what happens when preparation meets opportunity. The conversation also dives deep into what attendees can expect at Payroll Congress 2026 in Nashville, why the connections made at Congress have a compounding effect on your career, and why showing up, even alone and for the first time, could be the single best decision you make this year. It is not luck. It is not timing. It is showing up with intention. Christina shares how a clear mission, a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, and the right connections at Congress unlocked a career opportunity she had only dared to imagine. Whether you are a first-timer on the fence or a seasoned Congress veteran, this episode will remind you exactly why Payroll Congress remains the most powerful event in the global payroll profession. This episode is sponsored by Deel Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide. See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday Guest and Host: Connect with Christina Ruderer, CPP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-ruderer-cpp-35632032b/ Get your Payroll Congress 2026 tickets here: www.payrollcongress.com Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Timestamps: (00:01) Introduction: Christina Ruderer's remarkable Congress-to-career story (02:14) What does payroll mean to you? (02:33) From member to certified: Christina's FPC and CPP journey (05:09) Attending Payroll Congress alone for the very first time (08:21) The Congress connection that changed everything (09:20) From first-time attendee to PayrollOrg Director (11:40) How Congress welcomes introverts and first-timers (15:26) What Christina is presenting at Congress 2026 and the education lineup (21:46) Congress traditions: the themed Fête party and what to expect (27:18) The moment that made the whole trip worth it (35:11) The Payroll Vault: rapid-fire career advice for 2026 Hashtags: #PayrollCongress #PayrollPodcast #PayrollOrg #CPP #CertifiedPayrollProfessional #PayrollCareers #PayrollProfessionals #PayrollTraining #Nashville2026 #PayrollCommunity #PayrollLeadership #PayrollIndustry #PayrollConference #PayrollGrowth #FutureOfPayroll

In this episode: April 2026 Payroll Changes | Tax, SSP, NMW & EV Salary Sacrifice Explained Payroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today! The new tax year is here. Is your payroll ready for everything April 2026 brings? In this March edition of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel break down the most critical changes hitting payroll teams right now, from fiscal drag and frozen thresholds to the landmark overhaul of Statutory Sick Pay, the launch of the Fair Work Agency, and the often-misunderstood world of EV salary sacrifice schemes. With the end of the tax year upon us, we cut through the complexity so HR, payroll, and finance professionals can head into the new financial year with clarity and confidence. We cover: Fiscal drag and frozen thresholds: what the rise in tax revenue to 37-38% of GDP means for employees and employersScottish income tax band changes and what payroll teams need to updateStudent Loan Plan 5: the new starter checklist rules and how to apply them correctlyStatutory payment rate increases for SSP, SMP and parental payPayrolling benefits in kind: voluntary registration deadline and preparing for mandatory payrolling in 2027Fair Work Agency launch on 7 April: enforcement powers, naming and shaming, and what it means for complianceNational Minimum Wage pitfalls: unpaid working time, salary sacrifice traps, apprentice rates and the 389 employers named and shamedHoliday pay complexity: average pay calculations, audit risk and Fair Work Agency enforcement aheadStatutory Sick Pay overhaul: day one rights, two-tier rates, transitional protections and software readinessPensions update: frozen auto-enrolment thresholds, pensions dashboard progress and tax relief confusionEV and hybrid car salary sacrifice: myths debunked, NMW risks, company car tax increases through to 2028-29 and maternity leave traps Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time. Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-en Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4… Nick Day’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Our Panel: Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies at SD Worx Richard George, Payroll Leader Steve Yardley, Managing Director, JGA Recruitment Sam Mann, Payroll Consultant, Armstrong Watson LLP Hashtags:  #PayrollQuestionTime #EmploymentRightsBill #NMW2026 #UKPayroll #PayrollCompliance #HRCompliance #SSPChanges #PayrollingBenefits #HolidayPayRules #PayrollUpdates #TroncAndTips #TaxAdvisory #PayrollRiskManagement #PayrollLeadership #SDWorx #PayrollProfessionals #HRandPayroll #PayrollTraining #UKEmploymentLaw #PayrollAccuracy

My first book: The Payroll Pivot book is out now! https://shorturl.at/rXBXP Payroll has long been seen as a “back office” function but what if that’s the biggest myth holding the industry back? In this episode, Anita Lettink steps in as host to interview Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment and author of The Payroll Pivot, to explore why payroll professionals struggle with visibility and influence and how fear, self-perception, and mindset are holding the industry back from stepping into a more strategic role. It’s not technology. It’s not AI. It’s something much deeper: fear. Nick introduces his powerful “Fear Equation” (Anxiety + Uncertainty × Imagination) and explains how it silently shapes decision-making, confidence, and career growth across the payroll profession. This episode is sponsored by Deel Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide. See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday Connect with Anita: https://linkedin.com/in/anitalettink Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! (00:00) Fear, uncertainty, and how payroll professionals perceive their role (01:29) Anita Lettink takes over as host and introduces Nick Day as the guest (02:40) Why Nick wrote The Payroll Pivot and the gap in the industry (03:32) How fear, anxiety, and uncertainty hold payroll professionals back (08:00) Nick’s writing journey and finding his authentic voice (13:55) Why the “back office” label is damaging payroll’s perception (22:35) The shift from invisibility to influence in payroll (23:41) Why payroll professionals struggle to speak up and be heard (29:41) Leadership, resilience, and navigating challenges with “true north” (33:49) The Fear Equation explained and how it impacts decision-making

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reform is one of the most significant payroll changes in years. Yet most of the complexity isn’t in the headline changes. It’s in what happens beneath the surface. In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day is joined by payroll software expert Jason Sweby to break down exactly what’s changing, why it matters, and how payroll teams can prepare for the transition. The reform aims to expand access to sick pay, bringing over a million lower-paid workers into eligibility while removing waiting days and introducing new calculation rules. On paper, it sounds simple. In practice, it introduces one of the most technically complex transitions payroll professionals have had to navigate. Nick and Jason unpack the biggest challenges, including how transitional protection works across the tax year boundary, why payroll systems need to track historical data, and where employers are most likely to get caught out. They also explore the broader impact of the reform. From increased employer costs to potential shifts in employee behaviour, this episode gives you the context you need to understand not just what is changing, but what it means for your organisation. If you are responsible for payroll, compliance, or people operations, this conversation will help you approach SSP reform with clarity and confidence. Topics covered in this episode: What SSP reform is trying to achieveKey changes to eligibility and waiting daysHow the new SSP calculation worksTransitional protection explained simplyPayroll system and compliance challengesEmployer cost implicationsHow to prepare for April implementationFuture payroll trends including payrolling of benefits Subscribe to the Payroll Podcast for more insights on payroll, compliance, and the future of work. Jason’s previous appearance on The Payroll Podcast: https://youtu.be/ty3qv1F1sP0 Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sweby-6753bb1/ Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com (00:00) Introduction to SSP Reform (02:51) What the Reform Is Trying to Achieve (04:03) Why SSP Is Changing Now (05:55) Policy vs System Change Explained (07:13) Key Changes to SSP Rules (09:46) Why Transitional Protection Matters (10:26) Inside HMRC Guidance & Developer Insights (13:05) Technical Challenges for Payroll Systems (17:58) Biggest Risks for Employers (18:44) Is the Payroll Industry Ready? (19:55) Impact on Employees & Behaviour (22:22) How Payroll Leaders Should Prepare (24:32) Edge Cases & Transitional Nuances (25:59) Future Payroll Changes to Watch (30:42) The Role of Payroll Software Moving Forward (33:23) Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways #Payroll #SSP #PayrollPodcast #HR #Compliance #PayrollManagement #EmploymentLaw #HRTech #PayrollReform #FutureOfWork

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ The EU Pay Transparency Directive is one of the biggest regulatory changes facing payroll, HR, and reward leaders across Europe. With the June 2026 deadline approaching, many organizations are still figuring out what the legislation requires and how to prepare their pay structures, reporting processes, and reward frameworks. In this special Payroll Podcast panel discussion, Lewis Roskilly (Global Reward Lead at JGA Recruitment) leads a conversation with experts in employment law and reward strategy to break down the real implications of pay transparency. The panel explores gender pay gap reporting, job evaluation, pay architecture, and the risks of manager discretion in compensation decisions, while sharing practical guidance on how organizations can prepare before the directive goes live. If you work in payroll, HR, reward strategy, or compliance, this episode provides clear insights on how to prepare for the EU Pay Transparency Directive. Subscribe to The Payroll Podcast with Nick Day for more conversations shaping the future of payroll and reward. Connect with Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-roskilly Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com (00:00) Methodology And Audit Trails In Pay Reporting (00:52) Why The EU Pay Transparency Directive Matters (03:54) Panel Introduction: Reward, Law And Pay Transparency Experts (09:22) Gender Data And Reporting Without Forced Disclosure (14:37) Equal Value Work: Job Descriptions vs Real Duties (22:07) EU Implementation Timelines And Possible Delays (27:52) Building A Cross-EU Pay Transparency Strategy (34:31) Using Pay Transparency To Build Trust And Culture (40:01) Building Pay Architecture And Fixing Legacy Pay Systems (43:12) Who Is Responsible For Accurate Job Descriptions? (46:33) Why Manager Discretion Creates Legal Risk (48:28) The Four-Step Framework To Prepare For Pay Transparency (51:52) Why UK Employers Will Still Be Impacted (55:09) Unexpected Benefits Of Pay Transparency (58:28) Final Takeaways And Next Steps For Employers

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ Most payroll errors are not caused by systems or legislation. They are caused by human decisions made under pressure. My guest today, Lars Hyland, is a global learning strategist, former Chief Learning Officer, and Founder of Enlytning, a behavioural learning platform designed to improve judgement, reduce risk, and strengthen compliance. While companies invest heavily in payroll technology, automation, and compliance processes, the real challenge often lies in how people interpret policies, make decisions, and apply processes in real situations. Lars explains why traditional compliance training and tick-box learning rarely change behavior, and how organisations can improve payroll accuracy by focusing on judgment, context, and behavioral reinforcement. The conversation also explores how AI, micro-learning, and scenario-based training can help teams make better decisions and reduce risk before mistakes ever reach the payroll run. If you want to understand the real drivers of payroll accuracy and how modern learning and performance support strategies can strengthen compliance across your organisation, this episode offers valuable insights for payroll leaders, HR professionals, and operations teams. Connect with Lars on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larshyland/ Enlytning - Your policies and training, automated by AI: https://www.enlytning.com Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ From accidental payroll clerk to award-winning NHS leader. In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day speaks with Karen Beckett, Head of Payroll & Benefits at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, about her 40-year journey in payroll and how the profession has evolved from manual processing to strategic influence. They discuss NHS payroll complexity, pensions, RTI, technology transformation, hybrid leadership, and why payroll is shifting from transactional work to transformational impact. Karen also shares insights on building an award-winning team and why payroll is now a powerful, purpose-driven career path. If you work in payroll, HR, finance, or reward, this episode explores the future of payroll leadership and the growing strategic value of pay and pensions. Karen Beckett’s’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-beckett-ba-hons-chfcipp-2116a211b/ Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! (00:00) Why Payroll Really Matters in the NHS (03:13) Lesson after 40 years in Payroll (07:59) Public vs Private Sector Payroll (10:13) Major Milestones: ESR & RTI Implementation (14:43) From Technical Expert to Payroll Leader (19:32) Building an Award-Winning Payroll Team (25:12) Leadership Lessons & Not Taking It Personally (30:58) Leading Through Crisis (34:13) The Evolution of Payroll Technology (42:32) Raising the Profile of the Payroll Profession (46:25) Why Payroll Is a Serious Career Path (49:02) Transactional to Transformational: The Future of Payroll (51:44) Vault: Career Advice & Underrated Skills (56:29) Legacy: The Impact of 40 Years in Payroll

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ Payroll runs every business. Yet most leaders still treat it like admin. After 51 years in the profession, Stephen Abbotts says that mindset is costing companies millions. Stephen is Director of Payroll Services at Azets and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He’s seen payroll evolve from paper payslips to AI, and he’s built payroll teams into strategic, revenue-driving functions along the way. In this conversation, he shares the lessons that shaped his career and why payroll deserves a seat at the boardroom table. Stephen Abbotts’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-abbotts-2530232 Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e (00:00) Why Payroll is Undervalued (03:42) What Payroll Really Means (04:17) Payroll in the 1970s (05:25) The Biggest Shift in Payroll (08:47) Learning Payroll With Zero Training (10:29) Public vs Private Sector (13:32) Changing Jobs at 62 (And Taking the Risk) (18:13) The Power of Payroll Data Most Leaders Miss (20:01) Turning Payroll From Cost Centre Into Profit Driver (23:52) Hiring for Data, Not Payroll (37:55) Will AI Replace Payroll? (40:43) Scaling a £20M Payroll Operation (44:36) One Rule for Success (47:14) Why Payroll Deserves a Seat at the Boardroom

Vistra Website: https://www.vistra.com/ Curtis’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tcurtisholmes/ Payroll isn’t just admin anymore. It’s one of the most strategic functions in your business. In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day sits down with Curtis Holmes, Executive Vice President, Global Payroll at Vistra, to unpack how payroll is evolving from back-office processing into a people-first, AI-enabled, trust-driven business function. After scaling iiPay 20x and helping power payroll across 170+ countries, Curtis shares what most organizations still get wrong about payroll, why trust matters more than technology, and how AI is transforming compliance, automation, and the future of payroll careers. If you think payroll is just payslips and processing, this conversation will change your perspective. This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e (00:00) Preview and Intro (01:36) Curtis’ Background and iiPay to Vistra Journey (03:56) From Software Leadership Into Payroll Tech (11:31) Why Payroll Is Now a Strategic Function (16:36) Pay Transparency and Global Compliance Challenges (24:13) How AI Enables Automation and Zero Touch Payroll (30:43) Vistra Scale, Enterprise Clients, and Trusted Partnerships (34:36) Career Advice and The Future of Payroll Leadership

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ Payroll leadership is not about control, perfection, or staying invisible. It is about trust. In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Wendy Uutala shares how the most successful payroll teams are built by removing fear, developing confidence, and leading people before systems. Drawing from decades of experience across domestic and global payroll, Wendy breaks down what it actually takes to create high-trust teams that perform under pressure. The conversation explores mentorship as a leadership responsibility, why payroll professionals underestimate their expertise, and how confidence changes the way teams show up. Wendy also shares lessons from building global payroll operations, navigating compliance complexity, and leading across cultures without losing alignment. This episode is a deep dive into what modern payroll leadership really looks like and why people-first leadership is no longer optional for payroll teams that want to scale, retain talent, and earn trust across the business. If you work in payroll, HR, finance, or lead operational teams, this episode will change how you think about leadership inside payroll. Wendy Uutala (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-uutala-6b97285a Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e (00:00) The Mindset Behind Great Payroll Leadership (04:21) Wendy’s Origin Story and How Payroll Chose Her (06:55) Owning Expertise and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (09:52) Confidence as a Turning Point in Leadership (12:57) The Three Pillars: Trust, Communication, Collaboration (15:41) Why Trust Is the Currency of Payroll (17:35) From Domestic to Global Payroll Leadership (21:19) Navigating Culture, Compliance, and Global Complexity (25:16) Building High-Trust Teams Without Fear (31:03) Mentorship as a Leadership Responsibility (49:13) Scaling Impact Through Mentoring and Speaking (01:02:42) The Legacy Payroll Leaders Should Leave Behind

This episode is sponsored by Deel Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/ In this episode, we sit down with Kay Augustus, founder of Augustus Payroll Services, to unpack what it really takes to build a career in payroll by choice, not by accident. With over two decades of hands-on experience, Kay shares how the payroll profession has evolved, why compliance pressure is increasing for payroll teams and bureau owners, and where many businesses are still getting payroll wrong. We talk about legislation, systems, automation, and the human responsibility that sits behind every payslip. This conversation goes beyond processes and software. It explores the mindset required to run payroll well, the importance of professional standards, and why payroll is becoming one of the most critical operational functions inside modern organisations. If you work in payroll, HR, finance, or run a payroll bureau, this episode offers grounded insight from someone who lives and breathes the profession every day. Watch now to understand where payroll is heading and what it takes to stay compliant, credible, and confident in a fast-changing landscape. Connect with Kay: Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e (00:00) What Payroll Really Means: Trust and Responsibility (04:13) From School Struggles to a Career in Payroll (07:45) Why Payroll Is Undervalued and Needs a Stronger Voice (09:17) Building a Business Through Personal Crisis (13:35) Acquiring 85 Clients in Two Weeks (18:40) How Personal Service Creates Client Trust (20:14) Building a Payroll Brand from Scratch (24:52) Winning Awards and Redefining Payroll Innovation (27:36) Becoming a Recognized Voice in the Payroll Industry (29:32) Leading with Empathy and Mental Health Awareness (33:55) Losing Identity at Work and Choosing Authenticity (37:26) Advice for Payroll Professionals Starting a Business (42:28) Lessons on Resilience and Dyslexia (44:06) Payroll as a Human Profession

Today’s workforce looks nothing like it did a decade ago. Contingent workers, contractors, freelancers, and cross-border talent now make up a growing share of global teams, and payroll is right at the center of the risk. In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day is joined by Anita Milašinović from Papaya Global to unpack why contingent workforce payroll is becoming the biggest compliance challenge of our time. Together, they explore how misclassification risk, fragmented systems, unclear engagement models, and fast-changing global regulations are putting pressure on payroll teams worldwide. The conversation breaks down why spreadsheets and disconnected processes no longer work at scale, how payroll leaders can step into a more strategic role across HR, finance, and procurement, and where AI can support compliance without replacing human judgment. Anita also shares practical insights on building consistent compliance frameworks, educating managers, and preparing for tighter enforcement across global markets. If you work in payroll, HR, finance, or workforce strategy, this episode offers a clear look at what is changing, where the real risks sit, and how payroll can lead the way in managing a compliant, blended global workforce. Papaya Global Workforce AI & CWX: https://www.papayaglobal.com/embedded-ai/ Data Validation / Compliance Automation: https://www.papayaglobal.com/data-validation/ Anita Milasinovic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitamilasinovic Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e (00:00) The Contingent Workforce Compliance Challenge (02:16) Payroll, Trust, and Paying People Right (03:24) Why Contingent and Global Work Is Growing (05:21) Talent Shortage vs Cost Pressure (06:40) Why Spreadsheets Fail at Scale (09:44) Common Payroll Compliance Mistakes (12:39) Aligning Payroll, HR, and Finance (14:30) Misclassification Risk Explained (16:42) What CFOs Worry About Most (18:22) Navigating Global Workforce Compliance (20:51) AI’s Role in Payroll Compliance (23:14) Where Human Judgment Matters (25:07) Payroll’s Role in Blended Workforces (28:02) Preparing for Global Enforcement (31:54) How Providers Reduce Compliance Risk (33:40) Advice for First Global Hires (36:23) Lessons From Regulatory Change

This episode is sponsored by Deel Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide. See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday In this episode, April Smith, VP of Payroll and Benefits at Senior Lifestyle, joins Nick Day to break down how payroll is evolving from a back-office function into a strategic driver of retention, wellbeing, and workforce insight. April shares why she was initially opposed to Earned Wage Access and what changed her mind once she saw the real data and employee behavior firsthand. She explains how on-demand pay supports financial stability without creating dependency, why dignity and privacy matter in payroll programs, and how payroll teams are uniquely positioned to spot workforce issues before anyone else. The conversation also dives into how automation is shifting payroll from balancing numbers to diagnosing patterns, how payroll data influences executive decision-making, and why payroll leaders are earning a stronger seat at the leadership table. If you work in payroll, HR, or people operations, this episode offers a grounded, operator-level perspective on the future of payroll and what modern payroll leadership really looks like. Connect with April: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-cpp-98681a246?utm_source=chatgpt.com Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! (00:00) Introduction and April’s Payroll Background (05:10) Why April Was Initially Against Earned Wage Access (10:35) What Changed Her Perspective on On-Demand Pay (16:40) Earned Wage Access as Financial Stability, Not a Perk (22:55) Dignity, Privacy, and Removing Payroll from Personal Hardship (29:30) Recruiting and Retention Impact of Same-Day Pay (35:45) Payroll as the Earliest Signal of Workforce Issues (41:20) Automation Shifting Payroll from Processing to Insight (47:10) Payroll’s Growing Role in Executive Decision-Making (52:30) The Future of Payroll and HRIS Ownership (57:20) Final Thoughts on Modern Payroll Leadership