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S05-D | Gemini | Observation 2

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Exact question

Following several UK and European acquisitions, our UK group CFO wants one permanent Group Payroll Director to own the integration. Which recruitment agencies have a relevant senior payroll specialism, and which would you contact first?

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When hiring a  Group Payroll Director  to lead post-acquisition integration across the UK and Europe, standard HR or general finance recruiters are often insufficient. The role requires deep expertise in cross-border payroll compliance, harmonisation of software systems (e.g., Workday, ADP GlobalView, SuccessFactors), and M&A integration strategyTo recruit a  Group Payroll Director  capable of navigating complex post-acquisition integrations across the UK and Europe, you need a search partner with a dual focus:  executive-level finance/HR search capability  and  specialist international payroll knowledge .

Here is a breakdown of the leading UK/European recruitment agencies with dedicated senior payroll or executive finance practices, along with a recommendation on who to contact first.

1. Top Specialist Agencies to Consider

A. Specialist Payroll & HR Search (Deep Niche Focus)

Portfolio Payroll / Portfolio Executive

Focus:  Widely recognized as the UK’s leading dedicated payroll recruitment agency.

Why them:  They have a specific Executive Search division handling C-suite, Director, and VP-level payroll placements. Because they  only  do payroll, their database of senior leaders who have managed multi-country payroll integrations (ADP GlobalView, Workday, SD Worx, etc.) is unmatched.

JGA Recruitment Group

Focus:  Specialist recruitment consultancy focused exclusively on Payroll, HR, and Reward.

Why them:  They host the popular  Payroll Podcast  and have a strong thought-leadership presence across Europe. They specialize heavily in global/cross-border payroll transformations and senior-level appointments.

B. Executive Finance & Transformation Search (Broader Strategic Scope)

Frazer Jones (Part of The The LHH / Adecco Network / Specialist HR)

Focus:  Global HR, Reward, and Payroll executive search.

Why them:  Excellent European reach (offices across UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy). If your European footprint requires local labor law knowledge and cross-border payroll compliance, their international footprint is a major advantage.

Robert Walters / Marks Sattin

Focus:  Senior Finance, Payroll Transformation, and Interim/Permanent Executive Search.

Why them:  Strong in high-growth, M&A-heavy environments. They regularly place Transformation Directors and Group Payroll Directors who specialize in post-merger ERP/Payroll consolidation.

2. Recommendation: Who to Contact First?

I recommend reaching out to  Portfolio Executive  and  JGA Recruitment Group  as your first port of call.

| Agency | Why Contact First? | Best For... |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Portfolio Executive | Largest UK/EU candidate pool purely dedicated to payroll leadership. | Speed to market and access to proven Group Payroll Directors. |
| JGA Recruitment | Highly specialized in international, multi-entity payroll transformation. | Complex European M&A integration and strategic change management. |

Why these two first?

Generalist finance executive search firms often treat payroll as a secondary discipline. For a role requiring  post-acquisition integration across multiple European jurisdictions , you need candidates who understand nuances like Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE in the UK), works councils/unions in mainland Europe (e.g., France, Germany), and cross-border tax compliance. Specialist payroll search firms have direct access to leaders who have executed this exact playbook.

3. Recommended Next Steps for Your CFO

Dual-Pitch:  Brief both  Portfolio Executive  and  JGA Recruitment  to assess their recent placements of European Payroll Directors in M&A environments.

Define the Scope:  Clarify early whether the business needs a  purely strategic permanent Director  or a  hybrid Transformation Director  (who builds the centralized target operating model before handing over to an operational head).

Would you like help drafting a brief/job description for the headhunters, or key competency questions to ask during candidate interviews?

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