There  are three groups  worth approaching,  and which one fits  depends on whether  this is a permanent  hire or a fixed-term  programme role.

Specialist HR and payroll recruiters

• Oakleaf Partnership  describes itself  as the UK’s largest  independent HR  recruitment  consultancy. It has  advertised Head of  Global Payroll roles  and a Global Head of  Payroll & Benefits  role that includes  procuring and  implementing a global  payroll solution. [Head of Global Payroll
 +2
](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401574274/head-of-global-payroll/)

• SR Group  is a  global HR recruitment  specialist and has  recruited an EMEA  Payroll  Transformation Lead,  a role requiring  payroll  transformation  experience in large  multinationals. [personneltoday
](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401619034/emea-payroll-transformation-lead/) [personneltoday
](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401619034/emea-payroll-transformation-lead/)

• JGA Recruitment has a team covering  payroll, HR and  executive search. One  consultant says they  focus exclusively on  Global Payroll and  HR-Tech, with  platform expertise  across Workday, SAP,  Oracle, ADP, UKG and  Dayforce. That is  useful if your  implementation is  tied to a specific  system. [jgarecruitment
](https://jgarecruitment.com/meet-the-team/)

Larger generalist firms with transformation or HR desks

• Robert Walters is currently  recruiting for almost  exactly your brief.  It has a Global  Payroll  Implementation Lead  on a 12-18 month  fixed-term contract,  London-based at  £100K+, covering a  phased country  rollout starting with  the UK. It also has  global payroll  project manager roles  and a group HR shared  services leadership  role that includes  payroll  transformation. Its  adverts also show the  kind of person you’d  be competing for. [Global Payroll Implementation Lead - 12/18 months FTC
 +3
](https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jv/Robert-Walters/Global-Payroll-Implementation-Lead-12-18-months-FTC-Job-London-South-East-England-UK-51fxzb)

• Michael Page has advertised Head  of Payroll roles that  involve designing and  implementing payroll  systems and leading  international  operations. [page
](https://manufacturing.page.com/job-detail/head-payroll/ref/jn-092025-6830831)

I’d also check Hays,  Harvey Nash and  Alexander Mann. I  haven’t verified  their current payroll  transformation work,  though, so treat them  as names to  investigate rather  than confirmed  options.

Practical points

• Competitors are hiring directly too. At least one large  employer is running  its Head of Global  Payroll search  directly and not  using agencies, so  expect some of the  best candidates to be  passive and found  through networks. [builtinlondon
](https://builtinlondon.uk/job/head-global-payroll/10022743)

• Your own brief matters.  Many “Head of  Payroll” candidates  come from operational  backgrounds. Ask  recruiters to screen  for programme delivery: a go-live track record across multiple countries, data migration and validation, vendor or managed-service transitions, and system integration.

• Consider interim or fixed-term.  Programme roles like these are often advertised as 12-18 month fixed-term contracts. Interim specialists are often easier to find than permanent leaders who want to stay in payroll change. [itjobswatch
](https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jv/Robert-Walters/Global-Payroll-Implementation-Lead-12-18-months-FTC-Job-London-South-East-England-UK-51fxzb)

• Pay benchmarks.  Recent adverts show roughly £90-110K for a global payroll and benefits implementation lead, and £100K+ for a fixed-term programme lead. Treat these as a guide only.

Is the role permanent, or a fixed-term programme lead? That determines whether I’d start with the specialist recruiters or an interim-focused firm.
