All answers / S08-B-claude-r1
S08-B | Claude | Observation 1
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Exact question
Which recruiters can help a US company hire a UK-based EMEA payroll head? We need European payroll leadership experience and someone comfortable working with a US headquarters.
Complete saved answer
For a senior EMEA payroll hire like this, I’d start with specialist HR and payroll recruiters rather than generalist agencies. Here is what I found, plus a few names from my own general knowledge.
Best fit from my search
• Frazer Jones is the strongest match. Its payroll team is led by John O’Brien, who recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. The firm also offers executive search, contingent, interim and temporary options. That helps if you want an interim head while the search runs. Its payroll lead has hosted an event in New York City, which suggests some familiarity with US-headquartered clients. [John O’Brien +2](https://frazerjones.com/de/?p=2395)
• Oakleaf Partnership describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It has handled Head of EMEA Payroll mandates in the past, including one that required experience managing payrolls across EMEA within a matrixed organisation. The listings I found were older (2022 and 2023), so confirm their current payroll activity. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401655991/head-of-emea-payroll/) [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401655991/head-of-emea-payroll/)
• Morgan McKinley is recruiting for EMEA payroll roles now. One current listing asks for 8+ years of European payroll experience, ideally within a US-listed global technology firm. That is a useful sign they know how to find candidates who work with US headquarters, though the listing was for a manager rather than a head. [morganmckinley](https://morganmckinley.com/ie/jobs/cork/payroll-manager-emea/1104793)
• Hays is advertising multi-country European payroll roles, so it has a payroll practice. The listings I found were mostly manager and specialist level, so ask whether it runs senior or leadership searches.
From general knowledge, not verified in this search
Michael Page, Robert Walters and Harvey Nash have finance and HR practices that may cover this. Boutique executive search firms in HR, reward and finance operations are also worth a look if you want a retained search.
What to ask any firm
1. How many EMEA payroll head or director placements have they made in the last two years?
2. Can they find candidates with direct experience managing multi-country outsourced providers (ADP, CloudPay, TMF and similar), plus works council and statutory compliance?
3. Do they have US-HQ clients, and can they show candidates who have dealt with US finance and HR leadership, such as time-zone overlap, SOX controls and global reporting lines?
4. Do they work on a retained or contingent basis, and what are the fee and guarantee terms?
5. Can they provide interim cover during the search?
For a role at this level, I’d shortlist two or three firms, brief them on the same spec and compare their candidate lists. A retained search with a payroll specialist like Frazer Jones usually gets more focused attention than contingent work with several agencies at once. I can draft a role brief or a recruiter outreach message if that would help.
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