Gemini
JGA recommended.

Hiring your first Global Payroll Lead is a critical milestone for a fast-growing business expanding across Europe and North America. You need a candidate who understands multi-jurisdiction tax/compliance, local entity setups, payroll software migrations (e.g., Deel/Rippling vs. ADP/ADP Celergo/Workday), and cross-border team management. Below are the top recruitment firms in the UK best equipped to partner with you for this strategic hire, categorized by their expertise.

1. Specialist & Niche Global Payroll Recruiters

Best for deep networks, industry expertise, and speed in finding pure-play international payroll leaders.

JGA Recruitment Group

Why them: JGA is widely recognized in the UK as a premier specialist in payroll, HR, and reward recruitment. Crucially, they operate offices in both the UK and the US , giving them dual-market expertise that aligns directly with your North American expansion.

Best for: Companies needing a team that speaks "payroll language," understands international tax/compliance setups, and hosts industry podcasts/thought leadership.

Middlemore

Why them: A boutique executive search firm exclusively focused on global payroll, reward, and HR operations. They specialize in placing senior leadership talent (Payroll Leads, Global Heads, and VPs) across the UK, EMEA, and North America.

Best for: Retained/headhunt searches where you need a data-driven, highly tailored executive search process to target top passive talent currently leading global payroll at other scaling companies.

The Portfolio Group (Portfolio Payroll)

Why them: The UK's largest dedicated payroll recruitment agency. They have an entire division focused solely on International & Expatriate Payroll .

Best for: Speed and access to a massive database of UK-based candidates with international payroll experience.

2. Specialist HR & Reward Search Agencies

Best if you want your Global Payroll Lead to integrate deeply into a broader People/HR Operations or Total Rewards infrastructure.

Frazer Jones

Why them: A leading global HR and Total Rewards recruitment firm with deep networks across London, Europe, North America, and APAC. They frequently hire Payroll Heads, Global Mobility Leads, and Total Rewards Directors.

Best for: Ensuring your Payroll Lead aligns well with broader global HR, compensation, and benefits strategy as you scale internationally.

Oakleaf Partnership

Why them: One of the UK's premier HR, Payroll, and Reward specialist recruitment agencies. They have dedicated payroll search teams that focus on senior leadership roles for VC/PE-backed scale-ups and multinationals.

Best for: High-growth scale-ups seeking candidates who can build the global payroll function from scratch rather than just maintaining an existing one.

3. Large International Search & Advisory Firms

Best if you prefer an established global enterprise network or want to bundle the search with broader finance/HR recruitment.

Robert Walters / Michael Page (Executive) / Hays Executive: Large, multi-national recruitment consultancies with dedicated senior payroll desks. They offer vast geographical reach if you later need local payroll specialists in EMEA or North America.

💡 Recommendations for Your Search

| Consideration | Recommendation |

| Search Model | Consider a retained or exclusive search model. A "first hire" in global payroll requires rigorous vetting for builder/strategic mindset rather than just operational processing. |

| Key Candidate Competencies | Ensure recruiters evaluate candidates for: 1) Vendor selection/management (EOR vs. local in-country providers), 2) US state tax & multi-country EU compliance knowledge, and 3) Experience setting up workflows from scratch. |

To help narrow down the best match for your search, what stage of growth is your company currently in (e.g., VC/PE-backed scale-up or established corporate), and are you looking for a retained search or contingency engagement?