The Rise of Payroll as a Liquidity Strategy with Special Guest Andy Valentine

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome fintech and cross-border payments expert Andy Valentine to talk about the often-unseen realities of cross-border money movement in global payroll operations.  From FX volatility and treasury bottlenecks to compliance risk, bank fragmentation, and payroll “last mile” failures, this conversation goes deep into why payroll and payments have become a strategic growth conversation and not just an operational one. Together, they explore how embedded finance, fintech partnerships, and improved data transparency are reshaping payroll operations, reducing liquidity strain, and enabling “just-in-time” funding models that let businesses retain cash longer without increasing risk.   Andy shares real-world insights on embedded payments, just-in-time funding, digital currencies, global compliance controls, and how fintech is reshaping liquidity, optionality, and workforce expansion for companies of all sizes. Plus, what to watch for in 2026, including the rise of stablecoins, local payment networks, and deeper integration between payroll, treasury, and HCM systems. Connect with Andy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyvalentine1/  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/