Why Payroll Is the Most Underrated Function in Business with Stephen Abbotts

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

Payroll runs every business.

Yet most leaders still treat it like admin.

After 51 years in the profession, Stephen Abbotts says that mindset is costing companies millions.

Stephen is Director of Payroll Services at Azets and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He’s seen payroll evolve from paper payslips to AI, and he’s built payroll teams into strategic, revenue-driving functions along the way.

In this conversation, he shares the lessons that shaped his career and why payroll deserves a seat at the boardroom table.

Stephen Abbotts’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-abbotts-2530232

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

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

(00:00) Why Payroll is Undervalued

(03:42) What Payroll Really Means

(04:17) Payroll in the 1970s

(05:25) The Biggest Shift in Payroll

(08:47) Learning Payroll With Zero Training

(10:29) Public vs Private Sector

(13:32) Changing Jobs at 62 (And Taking the Risk)

(18:13) The Power of Payroll Data Most Leaders Miss

(20:01) Turning Payroll From Cost Centre Into Profit Driver

(23:52) Hiring for Data, Not Payroll

(37:55) Will AI Replace Payroll?

(40:43) Scaling a £20M Payroll Operation

(44:36) One Rule for Success

(47:14) Why Payroll Deserves a Seat at the Boardroom