All answers / S07-A-claude-r2
S07-A | Claude | Observation 2
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Exact question
Our Payroll Manager has resigned. We are a medium-sized UK employer and need a permanent replacement to run our UK payroll. Which recruitment agencies should we speak to?
Complete saved answer
I’m sorry to hear about the resignation. The payroll specialists that came up most consistently, mostly via the CIPP’s
Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward
magazine directory, are these:
Payroll-specialist agencies
• Portfolio Payroll (London, part of The Portfolio Group). Founded in 1988, it focuses solely on recruiting payroll professionals across all industries throughout the UK, and it also has executive-level and public-sector divisions. It is a corporate partner of the CIPP, and that partnership includes a payroll test written exclusively for Portfolio by the CIPP, which could be useful for screening candidates. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/) [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb)
• James Gray Associates (JGA Recruitment) (Hertfordshire). They specialise in payroll, HR and reward recruitment, covering permanent, contract and interim roles, and they list Payroll Manager vacancies among the roles they fill. Their website says the managing director has over 18 years of payroll recruitment experience. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)
• Payroll Elite (North London). They offer permanent and contract recruitment, pre-selecting candidates against the client’s requirements. The listing I found is from 2018-19, so check they are still trading and active. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/254688/55/)
Larger generalist agency with a payroll division
• Hays Payroll Management . It recruits across a range of UK industries and specialises in placing payroll professionals. It has wider reach and a bigger candidate database than the boutiques, though you may get less specialist depth. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)
Most of these descriptions are agencies’ own marketing, and several come from directory listings dated 2018 to 2024. I’d treat this as a starting shortlist and check current reputation, the consultants’ track record at Payroll Manager level, and recent client references.
Tips for choosing
• Talk to two or three, not all of them. Multiple agencies sending the same candidates can cause confusion over who “owns” an introduction.
• Compare fee terms. Typical UK permanent fees are a percentage of first-year salary (often roughly 15-25%), but they are negotiable. Ask about rebate periods if the hire leaves early, and the length of any candidate “ownership” period.
• Ask about your specific profile. Your payroll size, software (e.g. Sage, ADP, Cintra, iTrent), pay frequencies, and any multi-site, shift-pattern or pension complexity all affect who you should look for.
• Look for relevant credentials. CIPP qualifications (e.g. the Payroll Professional Certificate or a Level 7 qualification) are a good signal for a manager-level hire.
• Cover the gap in the meantime. Several of these agencies also supply interim or contract payroll managers, which can protect your next pay run while you hire permanently. Also consider a payroll bureau for short-term support.
If you tell me your location, payroll headcount, and budget, I can help draft a brief for the agencies or a job description and interview questions.
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