Payroll Like a Boss: Your Guide to Strategic Payroll

Payroll Like a Boss is a call to elevate payroll from a misunderstood back-office function to a respected and strategic career. It showcases payroll professionals as the unsung heroes who safeguard trust, ensure accuracy, and keep organizations running. The book challenges outdated perceptions and urges readers to be brave, think strategically, and embrace the deeper purpose behind their work. At the core of doing amazingly awesome payroll are two table stakes principles: ownership and love. These principles shape how payroll professionals show up, lead, and serve.

The authors explore the fundamentals of professionalism, the personal journeys that bring people into payroll, and the moments that transform it from a job into a calling. Readers are encouraged to think differently about the future by addressing the payroll talent cliff, being intentional about their role in advancing the profession, and reshaping the dialogue around payroll’s value. The book inspires payroll professionals to stand out through bravery, communication, collaboration, and the smart use of technology.

John BernatoviczJohn Bernatovicz is a father, coach, competitive amateur golfer, entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker, author, and passionate advocate for the HR and payroll communities. His purpose is to make an impact by transforming how people feel at work. John began his career at the world's largest payroll company and has since launched six entrepreneurial ventures. He is the founder and president of Willory, a professional services firm dedicated to empowering the HR and payroll communities. He is also the author of HR Like a Boss, which became SHRM Books' first-ever #1 New Release on Amazon in the Human Resources category.Grounded in deep faith, he enjoys spending his free time golfing, exercising, and coaching sports.

Tammy GillenwaterTammy Gillenwater is a payroll leader, consultant, author, speaker, and passionate advocate for elevating the payroll profession. With more than thirty years of experience across financial services and consulting, she has dedicated her career to strengthening payroll operations, improving compliance, and maximizing the value of HR and payroll systems. After fifteen years in payroll at a large financial institution, Tammy moved into consulting, where she has spent the past decade guiding organizations through systemimplementations, optimizations, acquisitions, year-end, and process improvement initiatives.A Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) since 2007, Tammy is deeply committed to advancing the payroll profession through mentorship, thought leadership, and industry collaboration. She is a longtime member of the Greater Cleveland Payroll Association and currently serves on PayrollOrg's Best Practices and Emerging Technologies committees.Tammy lives in Ohio's wine country with her husband, Rick, and their dog, Annie. She enjoys baking, reading, visiting local wineries, and spending time with their children and eleven grandchildren.