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It's About Payroll

It's About Payroll

By: WRKdefined
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Brian Escobar and Walter William Duncan III are the hosts of It’s About Payroll. Collectively, they have over 4 decades of experience in the payroll industry. This podcast was created with the intent of sharing their knowledge and attracting new talent to the payroll industry. ItsAboutPayroll.io You can access their LinkedIn profiles. https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/escobarbrian https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/william-duncan-477051187All rights reserved by WRKdefined Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • True Payroll Crime Stories: Shady Business in the Sunshine State

    True Payroll Crime Stories: Shady Business in the Sunshine State
    Jul 1 2026
    What happens when the person processing your payroll is the fraudster? In this episode of It's About Payroll, Brian and Walt break down a jaw-dropping real case out of Miami — a payroll manager at an orthopedic practice who allegedly stole over $1.5 million by increasing her own salary, issuing herself unauthorized bonuses as large as $25K, and racking up $400K+ in personal charges on the company credit card. Oh, and it went undetected for more than two years. This isn't just a crime story. It's a masterclass in what happens when internal controls don't exist. In this episode: 🔍 How she allegedly set herself up as the account owner — giving herself God-mode access 🚨 The control failures that made $1.5M disappear without anyone noticing 📋 A NEW segment: Payroll Crime Prevention Scenarios (multiple choice — test yourself!) 💡 Brian's Payroll Fitness Tip: How to build a payroll dashboard that catches anomalies before they become felonies ✅ Lessons for employers, small business owners, and payroll service providers The real takeaway: No honest payroll professional should be placed in a system where their work is never independently reviewed. Trust is not a control. 🎓 Interested in leveling up your payroll career? Check out our Certified Payroll Technician (CPT) course — cohort 1 is already underway! 📲 Subscribe, like, share, and tell a friend to tell a friend. 💬 Got a topic or guest you want us to cover? Drop it in the comments. Links: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll itsaboutpayroll.io https://youtu.be/Bcx9MFYjZE0 https://local12.com/news/nation-world/payroll-manager-stole-million-millions-doctors-office-doctor-back-neck-orthopedic-authorized-unauthorized-paymaster-administrative-access-discovered-arrest-fraud-steal-stealing-poor-miami
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    41 mins
  • AI Is Coming for Payroll, but Not How You Think

    AI Is Coming for Payroll, but Not How You Think
    Jun 23 2026
    In Episode 207, Brian Escobar and Walt Duncan examine one of the biggest questions facing the payroll profession: Is artificial intelligence an adversary, an ally, or simply the newest tool in the payroll toolbox? The conversation explores how AI could reshape payroll departments by answering employee questions, detecting anomalies, researching compliance requirements, supporting tax-notice processing, and automating routine work. Brian and Walt agree that AI is unlikely to eliminate payroll professionals completely, but it will reduce certain processing and data-entry roles while increasing the value of strategic leaders who can interpret information, investigate trends, and connect payroll results to the business. They also emphasize that AI cannot own compliance liability. Payroll professionals must verify AI-generated information using federal, state, and local government sources rather than presenting “AI said so” as support. The episode also examines payroll fraud controls, post-approval payroll changes, direct deposit, daily pay, unlimited PTO, and where payroll should sit within an organization. Listeners will gain a practical understanding of how to use AI responsibly while preparing for a future in which payroll professionals operate more like pilots managing increasingly automated systems.
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    42 mins
  • Jim O'Connor's Playbook for Fixing America's Broken Benefits System

    Jim O'Connor's Playbook for Fixing America's Broken Benefits System
    Jun 15 2026
    In this explosive episode of It's About Payroll, we sit down with Jim O'Connor, President & Founder of Premier Health USA, to expose the hidden truths behind America's healthcare benefits crisis — and what employers, employees, and payroll professionals can do RIGHT NOW to fight back. 💥 What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why America's benefits system gets a D (and what it would take to earn an A) ✅ The "Insurance Hamster Wheel" trapping employers with the Big Four carriers ✅ How level funded & partially self-insured plans can get your money BACK at the end of the year ✅ The #1 mistake employers make when selecting benefits (hint: they never ask their employees) ✅ Why the paycheck is the most powerful benefits communication tool you're not using ✅ How payroll and benefits teams can team up for a home run ✅ What employee benefits will look like by 2030 ✅ Jim's surprising take on what employees STILL want — same as they did 40 years ago 💡 Whether you're a payroll professional, HR leader, small business owner, or benefits consultant — this episode will change how you think about healthcare, compensation strategy, and the future of work. 🔗 Connect with Jim O'Connor & Premier Health USA: 🌐 Website: www.premierhealth-usa.com 📧 Email: joconnor@ph-usa.com 🌐LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joconnorpremierhealthusa/ 📲 Enjoyed this episode? Do us a favor: 👍 LIKE this video 🔔 SUBSCRIBE & hit the bell so you never miss an episode 📤 SHARE with a payroll pro, HR leader, or business owner who needs to hear this https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll, itsaboutpayroll.io https://youtu.be/RkVPNtuyAbg 💬 Drop your thoughts in the COMMENTS — what grade would YOU give America's benefits system? 🎙️ It's About Payroll — the podcast where payroll professionals, business leaders, and HR innovators come together to make sense of the workforce landscape. Quote of the Day 💬 "Every meaningful breakthrough in life begins with a long season of unnoticed work." — Robin Sharma #employeebenefits #payroll #healthinsurance #hrstrategy #smallbusiness #LevelFundedPlans #healthcarecosts #payrollpodcast #BenefitsStrategy #humanresources #workplacebenefits #JimOConnor #PremierHealthUSA #ItsAboutPayroll #openenrollment #affordablecareact #employeeretention #hrleadership #businessgrowth #healthcarebenefits
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    40 mins
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