Hares Ananth Kumaressan Talks About His Book “The Gateway to Global Payroll”

About the Author:

Hares Ananth is a Global Payroll strategist with over 15 years of experience spanning every vertical of payroll. He has seen it all—navigating the intricacies of payroll processing, leading complex implementations, forging strategic partnerships, and shaping payroll technology through product management and marketing. With hands-on expertise in setting up payroll frameworks across 30+ countries, Hares brings a rare combination of deep compliance knowledge, operational excellence, and a visionary approach to the evolving world of payroll. His passion lies in transforming payroll from a transactional function into a seamless, borderless, and strategic powerhouse.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A: I love payroll and have always been fascinated by global payroll. It has opened doors for me—from processing to implementation, project management to product management, and even product marketing. My journey has taken me across the world, implementing and consulting on global payroll solutions. What amazes me most is how every country’s payroll process is unique at every step, yet all follow the same fundamental approach across the Globe. Beyond its technical aspects, payroll has given me purpose. What could be more fulfilling than knowing I play a small role in ensuring thousands get paid across the world on time? That moment when someone sees their salary credit message—it’s more than just numbers; it’s peace of mind, security, and joy. Yet, despite payroll’s significance, there’s no structured way to learn it—MBA programs don’t teach it, and professionals often dive into country-specific rules without first understanding the fundamentals. My friend and co-author, Nidhi Solanki, and I wanted to change that. We envisioned a structured learning path for global payroll, one that makes it easier for the next generation of payroll professionals to master this critical function.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: This is the first volume, and we have named it Gateway to Global Payroll. As the name suggests, this book is designed to help both beginners starting their career in payroll and professionals transitioning from managing a single-country payroll to multi-country payroll. It is also a valuable resource for experienced product management and project management professionals who are overseeing payroll for the first time. The book is structured in a way that, by the end, you will be able to build a small payroll calculator. This ensures that regardless of the technology you use—whether for product management, project management, or payroll processing—you will have a clear understanding of how payroll works in the backend.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: The title Gateway to Global Payroll signifies the book’s role as an entry point into the world of international payroll. It serves as a structured guide for professionals looking to understand and manage payroll across multiple countries. Just like a gateway opens the path to new opportunities, this book provides the foundational knowledge, frameworks, and practical insights needed to navigate the complexities of global payroll. Whether you’re starting your payroll career or expanding into multi-country operations, this book acts as a roadmap to mastering compliance, taxation, technology, and payroll management on a global scale.

Q: How Long Does It Take You To Write A Book?

A: It took me six months to write, but the idea had been brewing for two years. There’s no standard way to explain global payroll to someone new in the field, so I spent a lot of time speaking with brilliant minds in the industry to structure the content effectively. The challenge was finding the right balance—determining what’s too much and what’s too little—to ensure the book provides the perfect foundation without overwhelming or oversimplifying the subject. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In my case, it took countless conversations, advice from great minds (and way too much coffee) to bring this book to life!

Q: Where Do You Get Your Information Or Ideas For Your Books?

A: Through my decade-plus experience in global payroll and countless conversations with some of the greatest payroll minds. Real-world challenges, hands-on implementation, and insights from industry experts all shaped the ideas in this book.

Q: What, In Your Opinion, Are The Most Important Elements Of Good Writing?

A: Since my book is more knowledge-focused, clarity is key! It’s important to use simple language while still explaining industry terminologies properly. And visuals? A must! A good flowchart beats a complicated SIPOC diagram any day. 3 pages of text vs. 1 well-structured table? The table always wins!

Q: What Is The Most Difficult Part About Writing For You?

A: When you have a day job and write at night, you start feeling like Batman—except way more exhausted and without the cool gadgets! Missing publisher deadlines? Guilty. But the toughest part? Structuring the book. Should I explain terminology first or payroll basics? Both have pros—one helps with understanding, the other speeds up navigation. What I really learned? I spent more time reshuffling chapters than actually writing! So, the hardest part isn’t writing—it’s convincing yourself the Table of Contents is final and sticking with it!

Q: What Does Success Mean To You? What Is The Definition Of Success?

A: Success, to me, is IKIGAI—finding purpose in what you do. If your work makes you smile, keeps the people around you happy, and also pays the bills, that’s success. (But let’s be honest—if this book sells 10,000 copies with only 5-star reviews, and global.payroll.org creates a new award category for Best Payroll Author of the Year… and I win it—now that’s success!

Q: Tell Us About Your First Published Book? What Was The Journey Like?

A: My first published book is Gateway to Global Payroll – Volume 1. The journey? Let’s just say it was a mix of excitement, late-night writing marathons, and a lot of second-guessing whether I should explain payroll fundamentals first or jump straight into country-specific complexities. It took me six months to write, but the idea was brewing for over two years. There’s no structured way to teach global payroll, so I spent a lot of time talking to industry experts to figure out how to sequence the content. Writing the book wasn’t just about sharing knowledge—it was about making payroll learning structured and practical. And of course, balancing a full-time job while writing felt like living a double life—daytime meetings, nighttime writing sessions… basically, Batman, but instead of fighting crime, I was fighting payroll complexities and publisher deadlines!

Q: How Important Is Research To You When Writing A Book?

A: Research and facts are absolutely crucial in payroll—one wrong calculation, and you might have a thousand angry employees at your doorstep! So, when writing a book about payroll, OMG, research becomes super important. I had to ensure every concept was accurate, every regulation was correctly referenced, and every example made sense across multiple countries. Plus, since payroll laws keep changing, I had to double-check that what I wrote wasn’t outdated by the time I finished a chapter.

Q: How Do Your Book Get Published?

A: It involved a mix of patience, persistence, and a lot of coffee! First, my co-author Nidhi and I spent months structuring the content, making sure it was practical and easy to follow. Then came the endless rounds of writing, editing, and re-writing (because payroll needs precision, and so does a payroll book!). After that, we explored publishing options—traditional vs. self-publishing—and finally decided on the best route to get Gateway to Global Payroll into the hands of readers. And of course, just when we thought we were done, there were final edits, cover designs, formatting, and deadlines we definitely missed! But in the end, seeing the book come to life made it all worth it. Thanks to OrangePublications.

Q: Where Do You Get Your Greatest Ideas For Writing?

A: Usually from what’s happening day to day. I love process maps and user guides—I get super impressed when a document treats me like a three-year-old but still gets me up and running in no time with minimal text. So, my ideas come from a mix of those, plus everyday experiences and, of course, podcasts!

This book is published by OrangeBooks Publication. All rights are reserved with the author & the publisher.