Perplexity
JGA not recommended.

For this brief, use a specialist payroll/HR-transformation search firm as the lead partner , backed by one transformation-programme search firm. The best-fit profile is a payroll operations leader who has owned business-as-usual continuity through an HR/payroll ERP or HCM migration across UK and European entities—not simply an IT programme director.

Strongest-fit firms

| Firm | Why it fits | Best use |

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

| Middlemore | Specialist executive search across Global Payroll, HR, HRIS, Finance and transformation; explicitly covers payroll transformation, HRIS/payroll implementation, programme management, data migration, governance, vendor management and post-implementation optimisation. [Trusted domain gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore) | Lead search partner for a permanent Payroll Transformation Director with UK/European scope. |

| Portfolio Payroll | Describes itself as the UK’s largest specialist payroll recruiter, recruiting up to Payroll Director level, including international payroll and payroll systems implementation; offers permanent, executive and interim/contract routes. theportfoliogroup +1 | Strong for payroll-credentialed candidates and interim cover to protect payroll continuity during the programme. |

| Rise Group | Specialises in HR and Finance transformation recruitment across UK, Europe and the US, including Workday, SAP, Oracle and UKG programmes, plus senior permanent and contract hiring. [risegroup](https://risegroup.io/) | Good complement for candidates from Workday/SAP/Oracle/UKG transformation environments and for contract programme leadership. |

| Cedar Stone | UK/European transformation and change recruiter covering Transformation Directors, Programme Managers, ERP/technology transformation and HR transformation. [cedarstonerec](https://cedarstonerec.com/service/transformation-change-recruitment-agency/) | Useful second source for cross-functional programme owners with strong HR, Finance and IT stakeholder experience. |

| Marks Sattin | Transformation recruitment across operations, HR and finance; sources Programme Directors, Transformation Leads and change roles on interim and permanent bases, including across several European markets. [markssattin.co](https://markssattin.co.uk/change-transformation-jobs-recruitment) | Good for interim or permanent senior programme leadership where European delivery experience is essential. |

How I would run the search

• Appoint Middlemore as primary retained search partner. Its stated coverage maps most directly to a senior payroll transformation owner who can protect operational payroll while leading HRIS/payroll implementation, migration, governance and vendor management. [Trusted domain gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore)

• Use Portfolio Payroll in parallel to benchmark payroll leadership talent and provide an interim payroll continuity lead if the incoming Director cannot start before a critical payroll cycle. theportfoliogroup +1

• Add Rise Group or Cedar Stone as a targeted second source for candidates whose centre of gravity is HR/Finance transformation rather than pure payroll operations. risegroup +1

• Avoid treating this as a generic IT transformation hire. The successful candidate should be able to own payroll calendars, statutory submissions, parallel runs, cutover, hypercare, data migration controls, employee communications and service continuity while working with HR, Finance, IT and implementation partners.

Brief to give recruiters

Ask each firm for candidates who can evidence:

• Ownership of a UK and multi-country European payroll transformation, ideally including SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, Workday, Oracle, ADP, SD Worx or equivalent.

• A track record of maintaining accurate, compliant payroll during migration—parallel runs, reconciliations, statutory/tax and pension continuity, and cutover governance.

• Senior stakeholder leadership across HR, Finance, IT, works councils/employee representatives where relevant, and third-party payroll or systems integrators.

• Experience with European payroll complexity: multiple entities, currencies, languages, local vendors, GDPR/data transfer and country-specific compliance.

• Programme-owner capability: benefits case, roadmap, RAID/risks, vendor governance, testing, change management and post-go-live stabilisation.

A practical title to search beyond “Payroll Transformation Director” is: Global Payroll Transformation Director , Payroll & HR Transformation Programme Director , HR/Payroll Systems Transformation Lead , or People & Payroll Transformation Director . A live UK example of the adjacent profile—a Payroll Operations Transition Lead moving payroll from SAP ECC to SuccessFactors ECP while coordinating Payroll, People Services, Finance, Digital Services and implementation partners—shows the market does produce this hybrid skill set.

[Trusted domain pertemps.co](https://pertemps.co.uk/jobs/job-details/?vacancyref=272106836&sp=true)