On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Sue Danino, a seasoned CFO and shared-services executive who has spent her career at the intersection of finance, payroll, and enterprise transformation.

Sue dishes on how CFOs truly view payroll’s strategic value - from controllership and cash-flow forecasting to risk, compliance, and data-driven decision-making. Together, the trio explores payroll’s wedge between HR and Finance, and how that tension can be turned into partnership, influence, and better business outcomes.

Sue shares candid stories from leading large, complex organizations through M&A, global payroll consolidation, and multi-provider landscapes, highlighting why payroll must be at the table early for any acquisition, restructuring, or technology investment. The conversation explores the rise of automation and AI inside finance functions, the growing importance of real-time integrations, and why documentation, governance, and cross-functional relationships matter more than ever.

Connect with Sue:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suedanino/ 

https://www.focuscfo.com/fractional-cfo-team/sue-danino 

Connect with the show:

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0

X: @HRPayroll2_0 

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0