Episode 226
From Invisible to Influential: The Shift Payroll Needs Now
My first book: The Payroll Pivot book is out now!
Payroll has long been seen as a “back office” function but what if that’s the biggest myth holding the industry back?
In this episode, Anita Lettink steps in as host to interview Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment and author of The Payroll Pivot, to explore why payroll professionals struggle with visibility and influence and how fear, self-perception, and mindset are holding the industry back from stepping into a more strategic role.
It’s not technology.
It’s not AI.
It’s something much deeper: fear.
Nick introduces his powerful “Fear Equation” (Anxiety + Uncertainty × Imagination) and explains how it silently shapes decision-making, confidence, and career growth across the payroll profession.
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
Connect with Anita: https://linkedin.com/in/anitalettink
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) Fear, uncertainty, and how payroll professionals perceive their role
(01:29) Anita Lettink takes over as host and introduces Nick Day as the guest
(02:40) Why Nick wrote The Payroll Pivot and the gap in the industry
(03:32) How fear, anxiety, and uncertainty hold payroll professionals back
(08:00) Nick’s writing journey and finding his authentic voice
(13:55) Why the “back office” label is damaging payroll’s perception
(22:35) The shift from invisibility to influence in payroll
(23:41) Why payroll professionals struggle to speak up and be heard
(29:41) Leadership, resilience, and navigating challenges with “true north”
(33:49) The Fear Equation explained and how it impacts decision-making
