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S11-A | ChatGPT | Observation 1
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Exact question
Our business is growing and our small UK payroll team needs another Senior Payroll Specialist to share the workload. Which recruitment agencies should we speak to for a permanent hire?
Complete saved answer
For a permanent Senior Payroll Specialist hire, I’d start with specialist payroll recruitment agencies rather than generalist recruiters . They’re more likely to understand the difference between someone who can process a payroll and someone who can independently manage a complex monthly payroll, resolve escalations and provide reliable cover for the rest of your team.
Assuming you’re hiring in the UK and are open to candidates working on-site or in a hybrid arrangement, these are the agencies I’d put on your shortlist.
5 recruitment agencies to contact first
1. Portfolio Payroll
First call
My strongest starting point. Portfolio Payroll focuses specifically on payroll recruitment and offers permanent hiring alongside temporary, contract and executive recruitment. That makes it a natural fit for a small payroll team that needs an experienced addition rather than a general finance hire. Portfolio Payroll
• Best for: UK payroll specialists with strong end-to-end processing experience.
• Contact: [portfoliopayroll.com ](https://www.portfoliopayroll.com/payroll/recruitment-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
• London office: 020 7247 9455.
2. McKinnon Talent
A strong specialist alternative with a stated focus on payroll recruitment across the UK, covering in-house payroll teams, payroll bureaux, outsourced providers and accountancy firms. Its coverage across different payroll environments is useful if you want candidates who can adapt to your particular setup. Mckinnon Talent
• Best for: Experienced payroll professionals who can take ownership and share operational responsibility.
• Contact: [mckinnontalent.co.uk ](https://www.mckinnontalent.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
• Telephone: 0161 507 0011.
3. JGA Recruitment Group
A payroll and HR specialist worth briefing on a permanent appointment. It is particularly relevant if your new hire will work closely with HR on starters, leavers, employee changes, pensions and payroll compliance. Agency Central
• Best for: Payroll and HR crossover experience.
• Contact: [jgarecruitment.com ](https://jgarecruitment.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
4. Oakleaf Partnership
Oakleaf has a dedicated payroll recruitment capability, covering permanent and interim appointments from operational payroll through to senior payroll leadership. It is worth considering if your role includes pensions, benefits, payroll systems or process improvement as well as processing. Oakleaf
• Best for: A broader senior payroll remit with HR, reward or systems responsibilities.
• Contact: [oakleafpartnership.com ](https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
5. Michael Page
A useful additional option if you want the reach of a larger recruitment firm. Michael Page has advertised permanent Senior Payroll Specialist positions and describes requirements such as end-to-end payroll ownership, statutory compliance, stakeholder management and payroll systems experience. Michael Page
• Best for: A broader candidate pool, particularly for more complex corporate payroll environments.
• Contact: [michaelpage.co.uk ](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
How I’d approach the agencies
For a small payroll team, I’d brief Portfolio Payroll and McKinnon Talent first , then compare their candidate quality and service with one broader agency such as Michael Page. You don’t need five agencies working on the same vacancy from day one.
When you speak to them, make these requirements clear:
• Hands-on expertise: Proven end-to-end UK payroll processing and the ability to check and reconcile payroll outputs.
• Independent working: Someone who can manage deadlines and routine queries without constant supervision.
• Compliance: Practical knowledge of PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, pensions and payroll reporting.
• Team fit: Someone comfortable sharing workloads, providing holiday cover and documenting processes.
• Systems: Experience with your payroll software and the size and complexity of your workforce.
Ask each agency for three things before agreeing terms: recent examples of comparable permanent placements, an indicative salary benchmark, and their permanent placement fee, guarantee period and replacement policy.
A quick question so I can narrow this down
Where in the UK is the role based? That will help me prioritise agencies with the strongest relevant candidate networks and suggest a realistic salary range for your location.
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