Atlas Partners Podcast

In Season 2 of Payroll Perspectives, Shawny Smith speaks with payroll compliance lead Sean Ganim about why payroll errors often begin outside the payroll team. They explore wage theft, data integrity, system configuration and the growing need for cross-functional accountability, before reflecting on career development and lessons from public health.

Payroll systems specialist Di Hill joins Shawny Smith to explore the complexity behind accurate pay, from enterprise agreement interpretation and healthcare rosters to implementation, documentation and data quality. They also discuss practical uses for AI, growing salary pressures and why listening to the people doing the work matters in payroll.

From global payroll deadlines to fast-growing businesses, Agnes Achetraritei has learned that reliable pay depends on strong controls, local expertise and adaptable systems. She joins Shawny Smith on Payroll Perspectives to discuss career paths beyond people management, technology decisions, Payday Super, and the value of questioning established processes and assumptions.

Payroll manager James Petrella joins Shawny Smith to discuss the transition from processing to leadership, and the responsibility behind every pay run. Drawing on experience in outsourced payroll and the not-for-profit sector, James explores professional curiosity, knowledge sharing, developing emerging talent and why accurate payroll is ultimately about real people.

In this episode of Payroll Perspectives, Shawny Smith sits down with Kate May, Payroll Manager at Aurora Dairies, to talk about career growth, leadership and the changing demands of payroll.

Kate shares what she has learned from moving from hospitality into the dairy and agriculture sector, how she is preparing for Payday Super, and why strong systems, good data and continuous learning matter so much in payroll. She also reflects on the realities of stepping into leadership, learning to delegate and building the people skills needed to progress.

With 14 years in payroll, Kate offers a candid perspective on why the profession continues to challenge and reward her, and why, for the right person, payroll can offer the perfect balance between numbers, people and problem solving.

In this episode of Payroll Perspectives, Kelly Pora joins us to talk about the realities of leading payroll through change — from navigating a major Dayforce implementation and increasingly complex compliance obligations, to preparing for Payday Super and building trust across the business.

Kelly shares her perspective on why successful payroll is about far more than getting the numbers right. We discuss the importance of strong communication, knowing when to bring in specialist support, developing junior payroll talent, and what leadership really looks like when you're responsible for both people and pay.

It’s a practical and candid conversation about the evolving role of payroll — and why today's payroll leaders need to be equal parts technical expert, problem solver, communicator and people leader.

What's are the key things that Kate Murnig (nee May), Payroll Manager of Pan Pacific Hotels Group looks for in a team-mate? Atlas Parters Manager, Shawny Smith asked her this very question on her new series 'Payroll Perspectives' – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

In episode one, Kate Murnig share her insight into what is takes to succeed as a payroll expert, the biggest changes she’s seen in her time, and how to combat burnout.

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Atlas Partners Manager of Accounting Support and Payroll, Shawny Smith, has launched her new series Payroll Perspectives – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

The series delves into what is takes to succeed as an expert in the field, the biggest challenges our guests have faced, and their tips to growing and progressing in payroll.

It’s Rebecca Fletcher‘s near two-decades of experience across Payroll and Human Resources that has seen her work her way from Payroll Officer, to now managing a new division at Alfred Health. As Manager of Employee Connect, The Alfreds innovative approach to managing the sheer amount of administration that comes with having ~14,000 employees, Rebecca is putting years of insight and experience into practice, supporting a brand new team. She sat down with Shawny Smith to discuss her journey.

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Atlas Partners Manager of Accounting Support and Payroll, Shawny Smith, has launched her new series Payroll Perspectives – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

The series delves into what is takes to succeed as an expert in the field, the biggest challenges our guests have faced, and their tips to growing and progressing in payroll.

Tania Fenech didn’t choose a career in payroll — it chose her — straight out of school, while she was working part time for Coles. Twenty-five years later, she has built a phenomenal career honing her craft across various industries, leading to become the Payroll Manager at Hall and Wilcox. Tania met with Shawny Smith of Atlas Partners for our Payroll Perspectives podcast.

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Atlas Partners Manager of Accounting Support and Payroll, Shawny Smith, has launched her new series Payroll Perspectives – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

The series delves into what is takes to succeed as an expert in the field, the biggest challenges our guests have faced, and their tips to growing and progressing in payroll.

Combine English teaching, Japan, MYOB, and the business opportunity of a lifetime — and you can get a very unexpected career pivot into Payroll. Karl McKenna, Consulting Manager for NLC Payroll chats to us about the other side of payroll, outsourced teams, and how he’s seen the industry change in the last decade, in his chat with Shawny Smith, for Payroll Perspectives.

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Atlas Partners Manager of Accounting Support and Payroll, Shawny Smith, has launched her new series Payroll Perspectives – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

The series delves into what is takes to succeed as an expert in the field, the biggest challenges our guests have faced, and their tips to growing and progressing in payroll.