Gemini
JGA recommended.

For a medium-sized UK employer looking to hire a permanent Payroll Manager, it is strongly recommended to engage specialist HR & payroll recruitment agencies rather than generalist recruiters. Specialist recruiters maintain active networks of Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) qualified candidates and understand critical operational details like specific software proficiencies (e.g., ADP, iTrent, Workday, BrightPay).

Here are the top UK recruitment agencies to contact, alongside strategic advice for managing the immediate operational transition.

1. Top Specialist Payroll Recruitment Agencies

Portfolio Payroll

Overview: The market leader and largest dedicated payroll recruitment agency in the UK. They are corporate partners of the CIPP and focus solely on payroll, HR, and reward positions.

Best For: Access to the deepest network of permanent Payroll Managers across all UK regions.

Key Strength: They provide pre-vetted payroll candidates and can assess technical competency on key systems (Sage, ADP, iTrent, etc.).

JGA Recruitment Group

Overview: An award-winning, specialist recruitment consultancy focusing heavily on Payroll, HR, and Reward leadership.

Best For: Mid-to-senior payroll leadership appointments and finding candidates with strong transformation or change-management experience.

Key Strength: Excellent retention rates (over 97%) and strong industry presence (hosting the UK’s leading Payroll Podcast ).

Oakleaf Partnership

Overview: A leading boutique recruitment firm specializing in Payroll, HR, and Reward professionals across the UK.

Best For: Mid-market and corporate employers seeking tailored search and high-touch service.

Key Strength: High success rate in placing experienced Payroll Leaders and Managers in permanent in-house positions.

2. Large Finance & HR Recruitment Consultancies

If you already have preferred supplier agreements (PSLs) or want broader commercial reach, these major finance recruitment firms have specialized, dedicated payroll desks:

Hays Specialist Recruitment (Payroll Division): Nationwide coverage with regional teams capable of quickly sourcing local mid-level candidates.

Robert Half UK: Strong in placing experienced operational managers and commercial payroll professionals across regional UK hubs.

Reed Specialist Recruitment (Payroll & Accountancy): Broad network offering fast turnaround times for mid-market roles.

3. Recommended Action Plan for the Transition

Because hiring a permanent Payroll Manager typically takes 6 to 12 weeks (accounting for notice periods of 1 to 3 months), you should address both immediate coverage and long-term recruitment concurrently:

| Priority | Strategy | Action |

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

| Immediate (Gap Coverage) | Interim / Contractor | Ask agencies (e.g., Portfolio or JGA) for an Interim Payroll Manager on a 3-month contract to ensure payroll runs smoothly while you interview. |

| Alternative Plan | Bureaux / Outsourcing | Consider short-term fully managed support from providers like Moorepay , Blick Rothenberg , or Corient if candidate availability is tight. |

| Permanent Hiring | Define Requirements | Detail your software (e.g., Xero, Sage, iTrent), team size, headcount, and pay frequency (monthly, weekly) before brief meetings with recruiters. |

Would you like advice on drafting the role description, benchmarking salary rates for a UK Payroll Manager, or structuring the technical interview questions?