From Phone Call to $35B Solution: Celery’s Journey

At Celery, we’ve always believed that payroll doesn’t have to be a headache. It’s not just about paying employees—it’s about getting it right, every time. Yet, for years, businesses have been trapped in a cycle of inefficiency with payroll—spreadsheets, manual reviews, and outdated systems that only lead to mistakes. And while a payroll error might seem small, the $35 billion lost each year tells a different story.

But what if it didn’t have to be this way? That’s where Celery comes in—and it all started with a simple phone call.

The payroll problem: a billion-dollar blind spot

Let’s face it: payroll has been a blind spot for many businesses. For years, there was no industry-wide standard. This left each company to build its own process, often relying on a mix of manual checks, homegrown spreadsheets, and third-party systems that didn’t always talk to each other.

This lack of consistency meant that errors were inevitable—and more costly than most realized. Sure, a 1% error rate might not sound like much. But across thousands of companies, that small percentage turns into a massive problem: $35 billion lost annually.

So, what happens when payroll is still treated as a “back-office function” instead of a critical, data-driven part of a business’s financial operations? Employees suffer, business owners scramble to fix mistakes, and the financial consequences pile up. That’s where Celery saw an opportunity.

The spark: How Celery was born from a simple phone call

Hillel Shalev’s path to reshaping payroll and financial automation began with a simple yet powerful realization—payroll was broken. After years in finance, including a decade at Deloitte in M&A and serving as a controller at two companies (one of which he helped take public), Hillel eventually became a CFO. 

From his experience in all parts of finance he saw firsthand the inefficiencies that plagued payroll. Despite advancements in financial technology, payroll remained an outdated, manual process, riddled with errors and unnecessary complexities.

One night, after another exhausting day wrestling with spreadsheets and manual payroll reviews, Hillel was riding home, fuming about the inefficiencies he faced daily. He picked up the phone and called his longtime friend Yuval Brot, whom he had known since high school. 

What started as a rant about work quickly turned into something bigger—an idea that would eventually become Celery. Together, they saw an opportunity to revolutionize payroll by automating processes that had been handled manually for decades. That late-night conversation set them on a path to building a company that would not only solve Hillel’s payroll frustrations but also transform the way businesses handle financial operations.

They knew that payroll didn’t have to be so complicated or prone to mistakes.

In that conversation, a thought took root: why not automate payroll auditing in real-time? Why not use technology to catch errors before they even happen? Instead of waiting to find mistakes, why not stop them in their tracks?

They had a vision: to make payroll easier, smarter, and more reliable for businesses of all sizes. That vision was the seed that would grow into Celery.

Turning vision into action: Celery’s solution to payroll

When Yuval and Hillel first launched Celery, the payroll industry wasn’t exactly calling for innovation. Businesses were comfortable with their spreadsheets and manual checks. They didn’t know there was a better way.

But Celery wasn’t just trying to fit in—it was about disrupting the norm. The goal was clear: create a solution that would help businesses automate payroll audits and eliminate errors before they caused any real damage.

And that’s exactly what Celery did. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Celery’s platform doesn’t just audit payroll—it does so in real-time, catching discrepancies as soon as they appear. This means businesses don’t have to wait for the end of the pay period to find out something went wrong. They can fix issues immediately, saving time, money, and a lot of frustration.

How Celery is changing the game for businesses

Let’s take a step back and talk about what makes Celery different. Today, Celery is leading the way in payroll automation, but its impact goes beyond just tech. Celery is advocating for a new standard in payroll management—one that is automated, transparent, and more accurate.

Here’s how Celery is changing the game:

• Real-time payroll auditing: By continuously monitoring payroll data, Celery’s platform catches potential errors before payroll is processed, making payroll a lot less stressful for everyone involved.
• AI-powered error detection: With advanced AI models, Celery identifies irregularities such as duplicate payments or incorrect tax withholdings before they spiral into costly mistakes.
• Scalable for any business: Whether you’re a startup or a large enterprise, Celery’s solution scales with you. No more worrying about how your payroll will grow as your business does.

But Celery isn’t just solving payroll problems—it’s leading the way for an entire industry shift. By automating audits, offering real-time error detection, and advocating for industry standards, Celery is helping businesses reduce the risk of costly payroll mistakes while improving the overall payroll experience.

Celery’s impact: Rethinking payroll

When we think about the impact Celery has made, it’s not just about solving payroll issues. It’s about changing the way businesses think about payroll in the first place. Celery’s technology has allowed businesses to reclaim millions of dollars lost in payroll errors, optimize their processes, and mitigate financial risks.

But beyond that, Celery is setting a new standard for payroll systems. Payroll is no longer something that’s just “done” at the end of the month. It’s now an active, dynamic process that’s integrated with the financial goals of the company.

Celery’s platform is a game-changer for businesses large and small—and it’s just getting started. With a commitment to transparency and innovation, Celery is paving the way for a future where payroll isn’t a source of anxiety, but a smooth, automated process that businesses can rely on.

What’s next? The future of payroll with Celery

Looking ahead, Celery isn’t slowing down. The journey of innovation that started with a simple phone call is only gaining momentum. With more businesses adopting Celery’s platform, the goal is clear: set a new industry standard for payroll accuracy and efficiency.

The future of payroll isn’t about spreadsheets and manual audits. It’s about using cutting-edge technology to simplify complex processes, automate error detection, and ensure businesses can focus on what really matters.

This is also where Celery’s latest solution, Profit Shield is set to redefine financial oversight in finance, giving CFOs the tools they need to safeguard revenue and maximize profitability. The ability to track patient-level profitability ensures that finance teams aren’t just reacting to issues at the end of the quarter but proactively managing margins with every billing cycle.

Profit Shield is a direct and focused solution to a longstanding problem: uncovering hidden profit leaks and optimizing financial efficiency without the burden of manual data analysis. As Celery continues to refine its AI-driven financial solutions, Profit Shield stands out as a critical step forward, helping finance teams move from high-level assumptions to precise, bottom-line control.

For Celery, the mission is simple: create a future where businesses never have to worry about financial mistakes again.

Final thoughts: Innovation and impact

Celery’s journey isn’t just one of business success; it’s about solving a real problem. What began as a simple conversation between two entrepreneurs has turned into a movement to change the way businesses think about payroll. It’s a reminder that even the most complex problems can be solved with innovation, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Today, Celery is showing the world that payroll doesn’t have to be a burden—it can be a seamless, automated process that delivers results. And with that, we’re not just solving payroll problems—we’re shaping the future of finance and business operations.

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