Matt Taylor, President at Guardian Payroll Service chats about the benefits of end to end payroll solutions, what they entail and how they lead to better employee experiences in this HRTech Interview:
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Tell us about yourself and your role at Guardian Payroll Services.
I started my career as an employee benefits broker over 20 years ago. After the Affordable Care Act was passed, the market became commoditized, and I wanted to find new ways to solve business owners’ biggest pain points. I’ve always had a passion for HR technology, automation, and improving the employee lifecycle. From PTO management to onboarding to benefits enrollment.
I also kept hearing frustrations about payroll providers; long wait times, offshore support, and no real relationship with the client. In payroll, nothing’s wrong until it is, and when it is, you need someone you trust to fix it fast. That missing relationship piece motivated me to enter the payroll and human capital management space.
My role today is simply: whatever it takes! That means guiding the company’s vision, jumping on sales calls, consulting with clients on automation and process improvements, and maximizing they get the most out of partnering with us.
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Tell us more about your end-to-end payroll solution and how it enables HR and payroll teams.
When I say “end-to-end,” I mean automating the entire employee lifecycle. It starts with applicant tracking, capturing job requisitions electronically and building workflows around hiring this then moves into onboarding, PTO tracking, W-2 access, benefits and 401(k) enrollment, performance management, write-ups, ACA compliance, offboarding, and asset tracking like keys, computers, or licenses.
Our platform centralizes all of this so employers aren’t juggling multiple systems. It increases efficiency, compliance, and transparency while giving employees certainty and easy access to their own data. The result: more time saved, money saved, and better employer–employee relationships.
Deployment tips for distributed or global HR teams to handle and automate tax and compliance?
Success starts with clear organizational charts and workflows making sure the right people handle the right parts of the project and avoiding “too many cooks in the kitchen.” For larger organizations, that means defining stakeholder roles and keeping everyone in their lane. The quality of the implementation largely determines the success of the system, so a well-structured and committed rollout is critical. Equally important is having the right payroll partner, with the ability to handle global payrolls or multi-state tax requirements. That includes navigating state taxes, local ordinances, and compliance across jurisdictions. Finally, automate the predictable quarterly and annual tax filings, W-2s, 940s, so HR doesn’t have to think about them. And when tax notices inevitably happen, you want a payroll partner who takes ownership and resolves them, not one who hands the problem back to you.
Why should more organizations adopt end-to-end payroll solutions, especially to benefit employees.
End-to-End solutions dramatically improves the employee experience. Too often, employees can’t easily find basic information like PTO balances, handbooks, insurance deductibles, or last year’s W-2. With an end-to-end solution, that data is centralized, transparent, and available on-demand, whether it’s 11 p.m. on a Tuesday or during a major life event. Employees gain control over their own information, reducing dependency on HR for routine requests. This transparency builds trust and strengthens the employer–employee relationship.
As AI becomes more mainstream in payroll and administration, what should HR and payroll teams consider?
AI should enhance the human experience, not replace it. While AI can automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual processes, and surface information quickly, it can’t replicate the value of a human being who understands a problem and resolves it on an emotional level. People don’t just want answers, they want the personable experience that someone understands their issue and get it done. AI can and should handle the efficiency side, but the human touch is still where the magic happens.
A few thoughts on the future of HR, HR tech, and AI.
The future isn’t just about technology, it’s about the overall experience. As AI and HCM tech evolve, efficiency expectations will keep rising, and HR leaders will be freed from much of the administrative burden. That shift will allow them to focus more on strategy, culture, and high-value problem-solving. But no matter how advanced the tools become, personalization, transparency, and emotional intelligence will remain essential. At Guardian Payroll, we’re building tools and teams that don’t just process payroll but empower and connect with the people behind it.
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As President of Guardian Payroll, Matthew brings over 20 years of leadership in business operations, with deep expertise in HR, Finance, Payroll, Compliance, and Strategic Planning. He’s dedicated to helping closely held businesses grow with confidence through smart systems, streamlined operations, and a people-first approach to payroll.
Guardian Payroll partners with business owners who value people as much as performance. Backed by decades of leadership, Guardian Payroll delivers customized payroll, HR, and HCM solutions powered by modern technology and personal service.