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

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 https://www.deel.com/nickday

Payroll is no longer just a back office function. It has become the foundation of compliance, employee trust, and organizational credibility.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, host Nick Day is joined by payroll thought leader and compliance expert Simon Parsons to unpack why HR, employment law, and payroll are rapidly converging and what this shift means for modern businesses.

Simon shares how increased government enforcement, evolving employment rights, and rising expectations around pay accuracy are forcing organizations to rethink where payroll sits and how it operates. You will hear why separating HR and payroll now creates real risk, how payroll data has become critical to employee experience and retention, and why compliance can no longer be treated as a reactive process. The conversation also explores earned wage access, real time and any day pay models, the rise of misinformation in payroll technology, and how leaders can innovate without creating new compliance or data risks.

If you want to understand the future of payroll, avoid costly compliance mistakes, and position payroll as a strategic driver of trust and performance, this episode is for you.

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!

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

Payroll is facing one of its biggest turning points. Complexity is rising, risks are increasing, and the latest UK Budget is reshaping how every employer must run payroll.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day breaks down the new government announcements, including mandatory payrolling of benefits, the incoming salary sacrifice NI cap, the frozen tax thresholds, and the national minimum wage increases that will place new pressure on both employers and payroll teams.

Nick explains how these changes will affect costs, compliance, employee communication, and the systems and data that payroll relies on. You will hear why real time reporting may soon become more demanding, how HMRC specifications could impact software providers, and why these policies will challenge small businesses, bureaus, and in house teams in ways many are not expecting.

This episode also uncovers the wider economic picture behind the Budget, from the national insurance landscape to workforce trends and the shrinking labour pool. Nick shares practical steps payroll leaders can take today, including how to audit salary sacrifice populations, prepare for payrolling of benefits, collaborate with HR and finance, and communicate with clarity during a period of rapid policy change.

If you want to stay ahead of upcoming legislation, protect employee trust, and position payroll as a strategic partner during the most significant policy shift in years, this episode is for you.

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!