Perplexity
JGA recommended.

For a US-based Payroll Director to lead your team, I’d shortlist JGA Recruitment , Frazer Jones, and Robert Half. JGA is my first call for a payroll-specialist search; the other two offer useful alternatives depending on the scope of the role. All three have evidence of payroll recruitment, with JGA and Robert Half advertising US director-level searches. linkedin +2

Recruiters to contact

| Recruiter | Why they belong on your shortlist | How to approach them |

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

| JGA Recruitment — US | A specialist payroll and HR technology recruitment firm serving employers across the US. It has advertised a Maryland Director of Payroll search covering multi-state payroll, team leadership, Workday optimization, compliance, and transformation—a close match to your requirement. jgarecruitmentinc +1 | Contact its US business at info@jgarecruitment.com or +1 302 857 0446. Ask for the consultant handling US Payroll Director and Head of Payroll searches. [jgarecruitmentinc](https://jgarecruitmentinc.com/) |

| Frazer Jones | Has a dedicated payroll recruitment practice offering executive search, permanent, and interim recruitment, alongside an established North American team. Worth considering particularly if the position combines payroll leadership with a broader international remit. frazerjones +1 | Brad Law, Head of North America: bradlaw@frazerjones.com, +1 646 717 9839. He is a US-based entry point who can route the brief to the appropriate payroll specialist. frazerjones +1 |

| Robert Half | Has concrete US Payroll Director search activity, including a direct-hire Baltimore role leading multi-state payroll for several thousand employees and managing a payroll team. A useful comparison for an operationally focused US leadership hire. [roberthalf](https://roberthalf.com/us/en/jobs/all/payroll-director) | Use its US hiring inquiry route and specifically request a recruiter with recent permanent Payroll Director placements—not just payroll processing or temporary staffing experience. |

These are evidence-backed options, not a verified ranking of placement success. I would ask each firm for recent comparable placements before appointing one.

How I’d brief the search

Make “US-based leader” explicit, then distinguish location from remit: will this person lead US payroll only, or sit in the US while overseeing global payroll?

Give the recruiters a short brief covering:

• Location: US remote, a particular time zone, or a named office with hybrid requirements.

• Scale: employee population, states and countries covered, number of entities, and payroll frequency.

• Leadership: team size, reporting line, and whether the priority is developing the team, stabilizing delivery, or transforming the function.

• Systems: your current payroll platform and any planned implementation.

• Package: base salary range, bonus, and any equity.

Before engaging a firm, ask: “Which US-based Payroll Directors have you placed in comparable environments, who will personally run our search, and what are your fees, exclusivity terms, and replacement guarantee?”

What US location or remote arrangement do you need, and would this person own US payroll only or global payroll?