S05-B / Observation 1
Claude
JGA not recommended.
The full saved answer, its sources and the conditions under which it was collected.
Exact question
Which recruiters can find a Group Payroll Director for a UK buy-and-build business? We need someone who has integrated payroll after acquisitions in the UK and Europe.
Original wording is preserved. Statements below are generated product output, not verified claims adopted by this report.
I’d shortlist a few firms, though I can’t verify from public pages which of them has placed someone with your exact buy-and-build, multi-country payroll integration background. Ask each for specific examples.
Specialist payroll executive search
• Frazer Jones looks like the closest fit. It describes itself as a global HR recruitment and executive search consultancy with a dedicated payroll executive search service. Its Executive Director for payroll recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. It also publishes content aimed at private equity backed businesses, which suits a buy-and-build context. [Book a consultation +2](https://frazerjones.com/?p=140035)
• Middlemore is a specialist firm covering Global Payroll, HR, HRIS, Finance, Reward and works with high-growth and private equity-backed companies. Its services include talent mapping and interim options, and it covers payroll transformation and implementation, which overlaps with post-acquisition integration. [gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore) [gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore)
Broader HR and finance recruiters with payroll practices
• Morgan McKinley has executive search and payroll roles, including EMEA payroll. Its public listings skew towards lead and specialist level rather than director level, so test its depth at your seniority.
• Oakleaf Partnership and Hays both recruit payroll leadership roles, including Payroll Director and national payroll director mandates. They are generally better for volume and mid-senior hires than for a niche retained search. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/4462555/group-payroll-manager/) [dwp](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/18125779)
PE-focused executive search
• Directorbank specialises in executive and non-executive search for Private Equity investors, their portfolio companies, and other entrepreneurial businesses across the mid-market. It isn’t payroll-specific, but it understands the sponsor-backed environment. Your PE investor’s operating partner or talent team may also have preferred search firms. [pitchbook](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/advisor/42744-34)
Tips for the brief
• Define “integrated payroll” tightly. For example, say how many acquired entities, which payroll platforms they were consolidated onto, whether they moved from outsourced to in-house, and which countries were involved.
• Ask each firm for two or three comparable placements and how they would map the market. Candidates with real M&A payroll experience are usually at advisory firms, PE portfolio companies, or multi-site services groups.
• Consider running one retained search with a specialist alongside an interim or fractional payroll lead, which several of these firms offer, so integration work doesn’t stall during the search.
If you share your approximate headcount, number of entities, and target countries, I can help draft a role brief or a list of questions to put to these firms.
How we classified this answer
Classification follows the saved recommendation record.
Recommendations, passing mentions and source-only appearances are counted separately. A list position is recorded only when explicit.
JGA names and entity evidence
JGA names in this answer: No JGA name recorded. JGA websites linked: None recorded. Counts track the recruitment brand. Source domains and collection country do not alone establish which legal entity a recommendation refers to.
Supporting citations
Complete source record- frazerjones.com
Book a consultation +2
Frazer Jones looks like the closest fit. It describes itself as a global HR recruitment and executive search consultancy with a dedicated payroll executive search service. Its Executive Director for payroll recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. It also publishes content aimed at private equity backed businesses, which suits a buy-and-build context.
https://frazerjones.com/?p=140035
- gpa.net
gpa
Middlemore is a specialist firm covering Global Payroll, HR, HRIS, Finance, Reward and works with high-growth and private equity-backed companies. Its services include talent mapping and interim options, and it covers payroll transformation and implementation, which overlaps with post-acquisition integration.
https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore
- aicpa-cima.com
aicpa-cima
Oakleaf Partnership and Hays both recruit payroll leadership roles, including Payroll Director and national payroll director mandates. They are generally better for volume and mid-senior hires than for a niche retained search.
https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/4462555/group-payroll-manager/
- dwp.gov.uk
dwp
Oakleaf Partnership and Hays both recruit payroll leadership roles, including Payroll Director and national payroll director mandates. They are generally better for volume and mid-senior hires than for a niche retained search.
https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/18125779
- pitchbook.com
pitchbook
Directorbank specialises in executive and non-executive search for Private Equity investors, their portfolio companies, and other entrepreneurial businesses across the mid-market. It isn’t payroll-specific, but it understands the sponsor-backed environment. Your PE investor’s operating partner or talent team may also have preferred search firms.
https://pitchbook.com/profiles/advisor/42744-34
- frazerjones.com
John O’Brien frazerjones
Frazer Jones looks like the closest fit. It describes itself as a global HR recruitment and executive search consultancy with a dedicated payroll executive search service. Its Executive Director for payroll recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. It also publishes content aimed at private equity backed businesses, which suits a buy-and-build context.
https://frazerjones.com/nl/consultants/john-obrien
- frazerjones.com
Yasmine Shrebati frazerjones
Frazer Jones looks like the closest fit. It describes itself as a global HR recruitment and executive search consultancy with a dedicated payroll executive search service. Its Executive Director for payroll recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. It also publishes content aimed at private equity backed businesses, which suits a buy-and-build context.
https://frazerjones.com/nl/?p=171828
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