The Payroll Podcast

In this episode: NMW & Employment Rights Bill and How it Changes HR & Compliance

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!

UK payroll is changing fast. Are you ready for 2026 and beyond?

In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Nick Day and our expert panel unpack the Employment Rights Bill timeline, National Minimum Wage hot spots, SSP day one changes, payrolling benefits readiness, and the expanding tax advisory landscape that could affect payroll teams.

From holiday pay averaging and tips or tronc rules to AML supervision proposals and software readiness for SSP, we break down what matters now so HR, payroll and finance leaders can prepare with confidence.

We cover:

- Employment Rights Bill milestones and what to prepare now

- National Minimum Wage compliance risks including unpaid working time and apprentice rates

- Holiday pay using 52 worked weeks and where employers go wrong

- SSP day one entitlement and the impact on processes and software

- Payrolling benefits timelines, registration dates and P11D phase out planning

- Tips and tronc treatment and what cannot count toward NMW

- Tax advisory market changes and AML obligations for payroll providers

- Equal pay case lessons and how job design choices create risk

- ONS and data reporting workload and what to streamline

- Practical actions to cut audit risk and improve accuracy

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/691ee4537e

Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Our Panel:

Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies at SD Worx

Mathew Akrigg, Policy & Research Officer, CIPP

Andy Nicholls, Payroll and Pensions Expert, Consultant

Richard George, Payroll leader

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 more than process. It is the heartbeat of employee trust and business performance.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day sits down with Stuart Curtis, an accountant turned payroll leader, to explore how passion, people, and purpose can transform payroll from a cost center into a strategic value driver.

Stuart shares how an accountant’s mindset can elevate payroll operations through people-first leadership, clear pricing, and productized services. You will hear how to position payroll advisory, use automation and AI as quality co-workers, turn data into persuasive stories for decision makers, and protect team wellbeing with simple, sustainable habits. We also dig into financial wellbeing trends, earned wage access, and the “trust triangle” that helps leaders build credibility with clients and stakeholders.

If you want to lead payroll with confidence, grow margins without burning out your team, and build a culture that clients love, this episode is for you.

Checkout LearnWorlds, the #1 AI-powered LMS built for course creators: https://www.learnworlds.com/

Stuart Curtis' LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/stuart-curtis-02a02ba

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!

*In this episode: Payroll Compliance Explained & How New Laws Are Changing HR and Finance | Payroll Podcast*

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!

Payroll is evolving faster than ever. Are you ready to keep up?

In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Nick Day and a panel of leading payroll and compliance experts explore how technology, legislation and policy updates are reshaping the future of payroll.

From new HMRC guidance and data security requirements to EV reimbursement rates, salary sacrifice schemes and the latest anti-money laundering obligations, this session breaks down the biggest issues affecting payroll, HR and finance teams right now.

We cover:

• The latest payroll compliance and policy developments
• EV charging rates and salary sacrifice scheme challenges
• Accuracy, automation and the future of payroll technology
• How payroll impacts employee wellbeing and mental health
• New anti-money laundering rules and agent registration requirements
• Student loan updates and starter checklist changes
• The connection between payroll accuracy, cost control and business risk
• Expert predictions for the next phase of payroll transformation

Whether you’re a payroll professional, HR leader or finance director, this episode offers practical insights to help you stay compliant, improve accuracy and build a more resilient payroll function.

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/691ee4537e

Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Our Panel:

Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies at SD Worx

Karen Thompson, Partner and Head of Payroll Services at Armstrong Watson

Mathew Akrigg, Policy & Research Officer, CIPP

Andy Nicholls, Payroll and Pensions Expert, Consultant

*Hashtags:*

#PayrollPodcast #PayrollQuestionTime #EmploymentRightsBill #PayrollCompliance #NickDay #SDWorx #PayrollLegislation #PayrollUpdates #PayrollProfessionals #PayrollLaw #PayrollRegulations #PayrollManagement #PayrollStrategy #PayrollLeadership #PayrollReforms #PayrollIndustry #PayrollTrends #PayrollInsights #PayrollGovernance #PayrollOperations #PayrollSolutions #PayrollEducation #PayrollAudit #PayrollExperts #PayrollChanges

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

What does it take to turn a payroll job into a leadership career? In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day sits down with Carlyn Davis, CPP – Director of Payroll at CBRE Government & Defense Services, 2024 Texas Payroll Professional of the Year, and President of the Alamo Chapter of Payroll Professionals.

After spending 18 years in payroll before pursuing her CPP certification, Carlyn’s career transformed. Today, she’s a respected leader, speaker, and advocate for payroll professionals everywhere.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow from processing paychecks to becoming a true payroll leader, this episode will inspire you to take action.

Carly Davis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyn-davis-cpp-35988485/

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) Preview

(03:25) Carlyn’s Start in Payroll  

(09:04) Winning Texas Payroll Professional of the Year  

(12:44) Leading the Alamo Chapter  

(15:57) Overcoming Overwhelm

(17:18) Finding Balance in Payroll Leadership  

(22:12) The Power of Reliable Payroll  

(27:32) AI in Payroll

(29:12) The Biggest Obstacle Holding Payroll Back

(33:52) Payroll’s Collaborative Community 

(35:37) The Dream of Global Payroll Consistency  

(38:38) Carlyn’s Timeless Advice for Payroll Professional 

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 no longer just a back-office function, it’s the heartbeat of every organization.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day sits down with Michael Francis,a global payroll leader and passionate advocate for AI in payroll, to explore how technology is transforming payroll into a strategic powerhouse.

Michael shares how AI can free payroll teams from repetitive transactions, unlock powerful data insights, improve employee experience, and help payroll secure its seat at the boardroom table. You’ll learn why payroll must evolve beyond “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” how to build the business case for tech investment, and what payroll leaders must do today to thrive in the age of AI.

If you want to future-proof your payroll career, attract the next generation of talent, and turn payroll into a driver of business success, this episode is for you.

(00:00) Payroll: The Heart of Every Organization  

(02:30) Introducing Michael Francis, Global Payroll Leader  

(05:14) How AI Is Being Used in Payroll Today  

(09:05) Cross-Department Collaboration

(13:28) Building the Business Case for Payroll Tech Investment  

(15:32) Scalability, Compliance, and Future-Proofing Payroll  

(19:20) Risk, Compliance & The True Cost of Getting Payroll Wrong  

(26:36) Marketing Payroll Internally & Educating Employees  

(28:05) Attracting Gen Z and Millennials to the Payroll Profession  

(35:14) The Future of Payroll: 2030 and Beyond  

(36:26) Why Payroll Leaders Must Embrace AI Now  

(39:10) Michael Francis’ Career Advice & Personal Insights

Michael Francis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfrancismbashareservicespm

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 no longer just about processing payments.

It’s about driving strategy, compliance, and employee experience. In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, host Nick Day sits down with Richard George, Director of Education at The Payroll Centre, to break down the future of payrolling benefits and what payroll professionals must do to prepare for the mandatory changes coming by 2027.

Discover how payroll has shifted from a back-office function to a seat at the boardroom table, why salary sacrifice schemes and real-time Class 1A NIC reporting are reshaping payroll strategy, and what steps you should take now to avoid last-minute chaos.

Whether you lead a global payroll team or are just starting your career, this conversation will help you stay ahead of industry changes, reduce risk, and position yourself as a strategic payroll leader.

Richard George’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-george-289a71117/

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) Intro

(03:20) Richard’s Career Journey & Payroll Centre Mission 

(06:30) Payroll’s Strategic Evolution & Tech’s Role 

(07:02) Payrolling Benefits Landscape in 2025 

(13:20) Preparing for Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits (2027) 

(16:50) Process Changes, Cash Flow & Communication Planning 

(18:50) What the New Operational Process Will Look Like 

(20:30) Tax Collection & Reporting Challenges 

(21:00) Payroll Centre Training & Support for Teams 

(26:20) Path to the C-Suite & Chief Payroll Officer Discussion 

(32:10) Turning Payroll into a Profit & Strategy Function 

(33:20) Leveraging AI & Technology to Boost Efficiency 

(35:35) Addressing Payroll’s Talent Crisis & Upskilling 

(40:30) Recruitment Challenges in the AI Era 

(45:30) Quickfire Advice, Resources & Career Lessons 

(48:20) Predictions for the Future of Payroll 

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

Every conversation is public speaking, and legendary speech coach Patricia Fripp is here to teach payroll professionals how to own the stage, win respect, and communicate with clarity.

In this episode, Patricia shares her journey from hairstylist to Hall of Fame keynote speaker, reveals her best Frippicisms (memorable communication principles), and explains why storytelling, structure, and specificity are essential for payroll leaders. 

You’ll learn how to overcome stage fright, open and close strong, avoid common presentation mistakes, and inspire action with every conversation.

Whether you’re presenting payroll strategy to the C-suite, leading a team meeting, or speaking at a conference, this episode gives you a masterclass in public speaking skills for payroll professionals that will elevate your career.

Patricia’s LinkedIn: https://www.frippvt.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) Preview 

(01:08) Raising Payroll’s Profile 

(03:33) PayrollOrg Roots and 1987 Origin Story

(04:52) Why Everyone in Payroll Presents Every Day

(07:04) How to Beat Stage Frigh

(16:25) Frippicisms: Specificity, Structure and Storytelling

(23:42) Communication as a Leadership Differentiator + Case Study

(28:49) Practical Communications Basics

(32:29) Story Technique: Deliver the Dialogue

(34:31) Level Up: FrippVT training and Book

(39:14) No Boring Subjects: OSHA Story that Opens with Emotion

(44:48) The Payroll Vault: Advice, Misconception, Daily Habit

Managing global payroll shouldn’t mean juggling vendors and compliance risks. Deel, recognized in the Gartner® Market Guide for Multicountry Payroll Solutions, helps finance teams automate payments, standardize reporting, and stay compliant in 100+ countries. Get key insights from industry experts to future-proof your payroll strategy.

Download the Report: https://bit.ly/4g5mfQG

Payroll never sleeps and neither did we at Global PayFest 2025. For 24 hours straight, payroll leaders from 24 countries came together to share the latest insights on compliance, tax, legislation, and payroll innovation. 

From Germany’s complex tax classes to Singapore’s unique foreign worker levies, from Argentina’s strict penalties to the Netherlands’ collective labor agreements, this episode brings you the best highlights from around the globe.

Whether you’re a payroll leader, HR professional, or finance executive, these insights will help you stay ahead of changing regulations and position payroll as a true strategic powerhouse.

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!

Managing global payroll shouldn’t mean juggling vendors and compliance risks. Deel,

recognized in the Gartner® Market Guide for Multicountry Payroll Solutions, helps finance

teams automate payments, standardize reporting, and stay compliant in 100+ countries. Get key insights from industry experts to future-proof your payroll strategy.

Download the Report: https://bit.ly/4g5mfQG

Kevin Fitzgerald, Managing Director UK at Employment Hero, joins Nick Day on The Payroll Podcast to unpack one of the boldest moves in HR tech: free payroll software for UK SMEs. 

They dig into why a third of small businesses still run payroll on spreadsheets, how AI-powered checks can flag anomalies before pay run, and why consolidating HR and payroll into one platform reduces errors, saves time, and lifts payroll’s strategic profile. 

Kevin shares early UK results, lessons from global markets, and how Employment Hero is rethinking earned wage access to improve cash-flow for employees without predatory costs. 

If you care about accuracy, compliance, employee experience, and turning two and a half days of processing into a couple of hours, this one’s for you.

Employment Hero UK: https://www.employmenthero.com/uk 

Free Payroll Software: https://www.employmenthero.com/uk/products/free-payroll-software/

Kevin Fitzgerald’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-fitzgerald-acca/

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) Preview and Intro

(03:05) Payroll as a strategic opportunity

(04:25) Why Employment Hero made payroll free in the UK

(07:28) What free payroll includes (and what it doesn’t)

(08:42) Proving payroll’s value to leadership

(12:19) Spreadsheet risks and hidden costs

(16:05) Overcoming fear of payroll change

(19:20) AI-powered pre-payrun error detection

(22:32) Turning saved time into strategy

(27:09) Why SMEs are adopting new payroll tech

(29:19) UK rollout results and case studies

(33:24) Global lessons shaping UK payroll

(36:20) Benefits of unified HR and payroll systems

(41:37) Enhancing employee experience with accuracy and access

(44:47) The Employment Hero app for hiring and ratings

(47:32) Quickfire: career lessons, digitisation, and Fast & Furious

Struggling with global payroll complexity? Get Deel’s expert-backed playbook to automate payments, stay compliant in 100+ countries, and simplify multicountry payroll.

Download the report and future-proof your payroll strategy today:  https://shorturl.at/jtKL9

In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day speaks with Vic O’Callaghan, Director of Global Payroll Pre-Sales Delivery at Deel, about how Deel is disrupting global payroll and redefining what payroll careers can be.

Vic shares her journey from handing out paper payslips in Manchester to leading payroll transformation at one of the fastest-growing global platforms. She explains why payroll is no longer just about processing, how Deel’s model challenges outdated in-country providers, and why real-time pay and AI are set to transform the employee experience.

The discussion dives into why the traditional monthly cycle may disappear, how payroll is becoming a driver of business strategy, and what professionals can do today to prepare for the payroll function of 2030.

If you want to understand how global payroll is changing and what that means for the future of work, this episode provides insights from one of the industry’s leading voices at Deel.

Vic O’Callaghan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicocallaghan/

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) What Payroll Could Look Like in 2030

(01:07) Introduction to Vic O’Callaghan

(03:22) What Payroll Means Beyond the Payslip

(06:03) Early Days in Payroll

(07:36) Moving from UK Payroll to Global Payroll at THG

(09:32) Learning Global Payroll Through Acquisitions and Challenges

(12:01) Finding Passion and Purpose in Global Payroll

(14:01) Joining Deel and Building Payroll Implementation Teams

(16:47) Transitioning to Pre-Sales and Client Engagement

(18:34) Embracing Client-Facing Roles in Payroll

(20:39) Why Payroll Belongs in Sales and Strategic Conversations

(23:42) Payroll Careers Beyond Processing

(24:55) Will We See a Chief Payroll Officer in the Future?

(26:32) How Deel’s Model Disrupts Global Payroll Operations

(29:22) The Next Five Years: Real-Time Payroll and Employee Demands

(32:29) Payroll as an Employee Experience and Retention Driver

(34:45) The Scale of Deel’s Global Payroll Operations

(37:20) A Culture of Payroll Passion Across Deel Teams

(39:25) Predictions for Payroll in 2030

(42:10) Career Advice