Gemini
JGA recommended.

To appoint a UK-based Global Payroll Leader covering Europe (EMEA) and North America (US/Canada) , your CFO needs a recruiter with niche expertise in international tax/payroll compliance, multi-vendor management (e.g., ADP, Workday, Deel, Dayforce), and executive search.

1. Top Specialist Recruiters for Global Payroll Leadership

| Firm | Specialism & Fit | Strengths for Scope & Brief Shaping |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Frazer Jones (HR & Payroll Specialist) | Best for Global Footprint & Scope Briefing | Dedicated global payroll executive desk with teams across London, Europe, and the US. Ideal for benchmarking international compensation models and cross-border governance. |

| JGA Recruitment Group | Niche Payroll Specialists | Founded specifically around HR & Payroll recruitment. Hosts industry podcasts/insights and frequently advises CFOs on structuring global payroll operational models. |

| Portfolio Payroll | UK Market Leader & Benchmarking Data | The UK’s largest payroll-dedicated search firm. Excellent for hard salary data, regional benchmark reports, and immediate talent mapping. |

| Middlemore Search | Senior Executive & Interim Search | Focuses heavily on senior leadership (Director/VP level) across UK, EMEA, and North America. Highly consultative approach to role scope definition. |

| Major Financial Firms (e.g., Robert Walters, Hays Executive) | Integrated Finance & Operations | Strong if the role heavily interfaces with corporate tax, treasury, or enterprise transformation projects. |

2. Key Insights for Shaping the Brief

Before issuing a recruiter RFP, these key market parameters can help frame conversations with the CFO:

Expected Scope & Hierarchy

Typical Titles: Global Head of Payroll, VP of Global Payroll, or Global Payroll Director.

Core Mandate: Vendor consolidation, multi-currency compliance across EMEA and North America, integration with HCM platforms (Workday/SAP), and managing local payroll bureau relationships.

Reporting Line: Usually reports directly to the VP of Finance/CFO, VP of HR/Total Reward, or VP of Financial Operations.

Salary & Compensation Benchmarks (UK Base)

Base Salary Range: £110,000 – £160,000+ (depending on headcount size, scale of multi-country presence, and complexity).

Bonus / Equity: 15% – 30% variable bonus + LTIP/RSUs (if US-headquartered or high-growth tech/scale-up).

Total Target Package: £130,000 – £210,000+

Candidate Market Dynamics

High Demand, Low Mobility: True cross-regional experts (spanning both US state tax complexity and EMEA GDPR/works councils) are scarce in the UK market.

Remote vs. Hybrid: High preference among candidates for hybrid/flexible working arrangements in London/UK hubs due to late afternoon overlap with US time zones.

3. Recommended Next Steps

Shortlist 2–3 Firms: Reach out to Frazer Jones and JGA Recruitment Group for an initial scope workshop.

Request Market Mapping: Ask firms for a preliminary Salary Survey and Talent Availability Map specifically covering UK leaders managing both EMEA and US operations.

Clarify Mandate Priority: Determine if the search priorities lean towards Operations & Systems Integration (Tech focus) or Tax, Legal & Audit Compliance (Finance focus) to select the right recruiter.

Are there specific nuances to your company’s setup—such as current payroll software, team size, or company ownership structure—that could help narrow down the ideal search partner?