It's About Payroll

In Episode 207, Brian Escobar and Walt Duncan examine one of the biggest questions facing the payroll profession: Is artificial intelligence an adversary, an ally, or simply the newest tool in the payroll toolbox? The conversation explores how AI could reshape payroll departments by answering employee questions, detecting anomalies, researching compliance requirements, supporting tax-notice processing, and automating routine work. Brian and Walt agree that AI is unlikely to eliminate payroll professionals completely, but it will reduce certain processing and data-entry roles while increasing the value of strategic leaders who can interpret information, investigate trends, and connect payroll results to the business. They also emphasize that AI cannot own compliance liability. Payroll professionals must verify AI-generated information using federal, state, and local government sources rather than presenting “AI said so” as support. The episode also examines payroll fraud controls, post-approval payroll changes, direct deposit, daily pay, unlimited PTO, and where payroll should sit within an organization. Listeners will gain a practical understanding of how to use AI responsibly while preparing for a future in which payroll professionals operate more like pilots managing increasingly automated systems.

Join us for an incredible conversation with Hayley Paterson, founder of The Payroll Guide and author of "The Value of Payroll"! Hayley shares her mission to transform how businesses view payroll—from a mundane transaction to a strategic business asset. In this episode, we dive deep into: ✅ Hayley's journey from accidentally falling into payroll to becoming a leading voice in the industry ✅ The Three Ps of Payroll: Process, People, and Profit—and why they matter ✅ Real payroll crime stories and lessons learned from embezzlement cases ✅ Why payroll deserves a seat at the leadership table ✅ How to shift from seeing payroll as a cost to viewing it as an investment ✅ Practical systems and habits to prevent payroll chaos ✅ Advice for new payroll professionals on avoiding perfectionism while maintaining excellence Hayley brings both boots-on-the-ground experience and big-picture leadership insights that every payroll professional and business owner needs to hear. Whether you're new to payroll or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical frameworks, and inspiration. 📖 Get Hayley's book: "The Value of Payroll" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-value-of-payroll-hayley-paterson/1147355300 https://www.amazon.com/Value-Payroll-Turning-biggest-asset/dp/1068447605 🔗 Connect with Hayley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleypaterson/ #Payroll #PayrollProfessionals #TheValueOfPayroll #HayleyPaterson #PayrollStrategy #BusinessStrategy #PayrollLeadership #PayrollPodcast #PayrollCommunity #HRPayroll #PayrollCompliance #PayrollTips #SmallBusinessPayroll #PayrollManagement #PayrollExperts #PayrollIndustry #PayrollEducation #PayrollBook #ThreePs #ProcessPeopleProfit #PayrollGuide https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll itsaboutpayroll.io https://youtu.be/Y88aNvzTXG4

Payroll isn't just about cutting checks—it's one of the riskiest areas in your organization. In this episode, we sit down with Jennie Wallace, CPA, CISA, CGMA, and founder of Melody Advisory Services, to uncover the hidden risks that could land you in serious trouble. Jennie shares real stories of payroll chaos, from reports with mismatched headcounts to the dangers of under-resourced teams managing highly regulated processes. Learn why "efficiency without controls is just faster chaos" and how to build audit-ready operations that actually work. Key Topics: ✅ Why payroll is where you go to jail (seriously) ✅ The difference between process problems and control problems ✅ How to right-size controls without creating red tape ✅ The power of audit trails and cross-functional collaboration ✅ Why every payroll pro needs a champion, not just a mentor Connect with Jennie Wallace: 🌐 melodyadvisory.com 📧 jennie@melodyadvisory.com 💼 LinkedIn: Jennie Wallace #podcast #PayrollRisk #JennieWallace #payrollcompliance #riskmanagement #processimprovement #internalaudit #PayrollProfessionals #HRPayroll #PayrollData #AuditTrails #PayrollControls #ItsAboutPayroll #payrolltips #PayrollExperts #risk #expert https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll itsaboutpayroll.io https://youtu.be/BJ9gAdVuQIQ

What if benefits weren’t just a cost center—but your biggest competitive advantage? In Episode 193, we’re joined by Melissa Walker, Co-Founder & VP of Brokerage at Sounder Benefits, to break down how AI + innovation + human connection are reshaping healthcare benefits for modern companies. Melissa went from working inside major insurance carriers to building a brokerage that brings enterprise-level strategy to small and mid-size businesses—without the complexity. We talk real results, real strategy, and what it takes to make benefits actually work for employers and employees. Why only 1 in 4 Americans understand basic health insurance terms How AI took a 25% renewal increase down to 9% while improving coverage Why the “once-a-year renewal broker” model is dying The benefits + payroll connection (and how to stop deduction errors) Level-funded vs fully insured: when it’s time to rethink your plan The truth about the Affordable Care Act — helped or hurt? How to tell if your broker is driving value—or just quoting plans Why planning before renewal season is the new power move What tech actually reduces payroll/benefits mistakes How modern benefits help attract and retain younger talent The future of payroll: becoming payroll pilots, not just processors Payroll pros, HR leaders, benefits admins, CFOs, business owners—and anyone tired of watching premiums rise while employee understanding drops. Melissa is licensed in all 50 states with 15+ years across both brokerage and carrier sides. Her mission: make healthcare more affordable, accessible, and less confusing through strategy + proprietary tech. 📲 Connect with Melissa LinkedIn: Melissa Walker Sounder Benefits: sounderbenefits.com Email: info@sounderbenefits.com 🎙️ About It’s About Payroll A show where payroll professionals, HR leaders, and innovators share real talk on payroll, benefits, workforce operations—and what’s next.

In Episode 191 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt sit down with Trent Sorbe, Chief Payments Officer at First International Bank & Trust and leader of Kotapay, one of the nation’s largest ACH and electronic payments originators supporting more than 100,000 payroll clients nationwide. With over 33 years in financial services, Trent shares his journey from the FDIC to fintech founder to payments executive and offers a powerful look into how real-time payments, modern funding models, and “windowless payroll” are reshaping the industry. Trent explains how payroll is undergoing a generational shift as longtime professionals retire and technology becomes the new gateway for attracting talent. He outlines why traditional ACH cutoffs, banking hours, and multi-day payroll windows are becoming obsolete and how real-time funding can compress a payroll event from days into minutes. The conversation dives deep into risk management, small-business payroll access, earned wage access challenges, regulatory complexity across 50 states, and why payroll must evolve into a real-time financial services experience. This episode is a must-listen for payroll leaders, processors, and technology providers preparing for the next era of payroll.

In this holiday-themed episode of It’s About Payroll, hosts Brian and Walt dive into common payroll challenges and real-world solutions—all while sprinkling in humor, seasonal cheer, and industry insights. They kick things off with a discussion on automating manual processes, noting that many organizations still rely on spreadsheets, paper timesheets, and even fax machines. The conversation shifts to the importance of system integration across HRIS, timekeeping, payroll, and benefits to reduce errors and boost efficiency. Walt shares timely pay news, including RSUs and how vesting impacts tax obligations—often causing unexpected tax bills for employees if not planned properly. Brian highlights new research from Deel revealing stark PTO usage differences between European and North American workers, exposing cultural gaps around taking time off and the pitfalls of unlimited PTO. The core of the episode: ten realistic payroll crisis scenarios—from system outages to misclassification—and practical contingency strategies. The hosts emphasize communication, backup workflows, and proactive planning as key to preventing costly payroll errors. The episode delivers tactical advice payroll pros can apply immediately.

In this cowboy-themed year-end special of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walter saddle up to ride through the biggest payroll updates every pro must prepare for as 2025 closes and 2026 approaches. They kick off with news around the economy — including U.S. foreclosure filings rising nearly 20% year-over-year and property insurance premiums spiking 70% over five years — highlighting why accurate payroll matters more than ever to employee stability. The conversation turns to technology, including AI agents already being deployed in Amazon Connect and even the IRS, sparking discussion around the future of payroll automation. Then comes the main rodeo: year-end tasks, W-2 rules, 10-form e-file thresholds, penalties ($60, $130, $330+, and up to millions for large filers), Social Security verification tools, and common W-2 mistakes. The hosts break down the OB3 Bill, tip & overtime deductions (up to $25K for tips; $12.5K single / $25K joint for OT), new guidance, and what employers should and should NOT do. They wrap up with retirement updates including 401(k) limit increases and Secure 2.0 catch-up provisions. A practical, funny, relatable year-end run-through for payroll folks everywhere.

In this episode of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt sit down with Trista Yerkich-Faul, an 18-year Certified Payroll Professional and former Workday HCM consultant with deep expertise bridging payroll operations and HR technology . Trista breaks down one of the industry’s biggest misconceptions: that Workday is only for large enterprises. She explains how Workday Go, a streamlined deployment methodology, now enables small and midsize businesses to go live in as little as 60 days at roughly 10–15% of historical deployment costs . She also reveals why 25% of companies switch payroll providers every year, often due to poor service and tech fatigue, and how Workday’s single-code-line architecture eliminates file transfers, manual prorations, and reconciliation headaches that plague other systems . Trista highlights plug-and-play package solutions—like the Payroll Transparency Dashboard, which can reduce HR ticket volume by up to 60%—making Workday even more accessible for lean teams . Listeners walk away with a clear picture of how Workday supports growth, reduces prep time from days to hours, and provides long-term stability that helps businesses avoid repeated system overhauls.