Why Every Payroll Professional MUST Attend Payroll Congress | Laurel Serra

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The payroll profession is more than compliance—it's the heartbeat of every organization.

In this episode of The Payroll Podcast, Nick Day is joined by Laurel Serra, CPP, Director of Education Services at PayrollOrg, to explore the transformational power of payroll education, community, and professional development. From discovering the magic of Payroll Congress to becoming a champion of compliance and certification, Laurel shares her personal journey and offers inspiration for anyone looking to turn a payroll job into a rewarding career.

Whether you're new to payroll or a seasoned leader, this episode will show you how the right events, networks, and mindset can redefine your payroll path.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Laurel calls payroll the “heartbeat” of every business—and what that really means.
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• How Payroll Congress can elevate your career, build your network, and keep you ahead of the curve.
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• The importance of certification (CPP) and how it opens doors to leadership, influence, and impact.
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• Overcoming imposter syndrome and burnout in payroll—and how community can re-ignite your passion.
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• How global sessions at Congress help domestic professionals grow with a broader perspective.
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• Practical tips to convince your C-suite that Payroll Congress is a strategic investment, not a cost.
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Whether you're managing domestic or global payroll, Laurel's insights will motivate you to think bigger, lead smarter, and grow faster.

Subscribe now for more inspiring conversations with payroll changemakers, and discover how to level up your payroll career—one decision at a time.

Payroll Congress Information: https://www.payrollcongress.com/

Laurel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelserra-cpp/

Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e

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

If you need the support of a payroll recruitment agency or a payroll staffing partner to help fill your next payroll vacancy, please please contact me!  I possess over 20 years of payroll recruitment agency expertise and I would love to help! nick@jgarecruitment.com or call 01727 800377

Find out more at www.jgarecruitment.com

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

(01:36) Why Payroll is Becoming Strategic

(03:14) Meet Laurel Serra, Director of Education at PayrollOrg

(09:07) Why Attend Payroll Congress

(16:12) Why Outsourcing Doesn’t Mean Stop Learning

(19:36) How Payroll Congress Validates the Profession

(22:10) Combating Burnout Through Connection

(24:02) Real Career Growth Stories from Congress

(27:22) Laurel’s Own Certification and Career Leap

(31:05) The Power of Payroll Networking

(35:38) Payroll Congress as a Strategic Investment in Payroll

(41:36) Important Dates, Events & Final Tips