ChatGPT
JGA recommended.

For this hire, I’d prioritise UK-based executive search firms with international payroll, global HR operations, and finance transformation expertise , rather than a generalist recruiter or a payroll-processing provider.

You need someone who can lead European payroll across multiple countries, manage local statutory and regulatory requirements, and communicate effectively with a US headquarters—particularly US Finance, HR, Legal, and senior leadership.

I’d split the search between specialist payroll and HR recruitment firms, which may have access to hands-on European payroll leaders, and executive search firms, which are better suited to a Head of EMEA Payroll or Global Payroll Director who will operate at a senior leadership level.

My recommended recruiter shortlist

1. Frazer Jones

Best overall fit

A particularly strong starting point because its UK team has a dedicated payroll executive recruitment practice covering UK, EMEA and global remits. It also recruits senior HR leaders, which is useful if the role has a broad strategic mandate. Frazer Jones +1

• Contact: John O’Brien, Executive Director and Head of Payroll

• Phone: +44 20 7415 2171

• Website: [Frazer Jones — Payroll recruitment](https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. JGA Recruitment Group

Best for global payroll depth

JGA specialises in global payroll and HR technology recruitment, including senior leadership hiring and international payroll transformation. Its team has experience across US, EMEA and APAC talent markets, making it especially relevant to a US-headquartered employer. JGA Recruitment +1

• Contacts: Tom Croughton for senior global payroll search; Tom Verrent for payroll and HRIS recruitment.

• Phone: +44 1727 800377

• Website: [JGA Recruitment Group](https://jgarecruitment.com/meet-the-team/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Portfolio Payroll

A strong specialist option for candidates who have progressed from international payroll management into director or global-head roles. Portfolio Payroll explicitly recruits EMEA and international payroll managers, heads of payroll and global payroll directors, and offers executive search. Portfolio Payroll +1

• Phone: +44 20 7247 9455

• Website: [Portfolio Payroll — Recruitment services](https://portfoliopayroll.com/payroll/recruitment-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Strategic Dimensions

Consider this firm if the role is a genuinely senior leadership appointment—for example, a Head of EMEA Payroll reporting to a global HR or Finance executive, with responsibility for transformation, governance and organisational design. Its specialism is broader HR leadership rather than payroll alone. google.co.id

• Phone: +44 20 3750 3500

• Website: [Strategic Dimensions ](https://strategicdimensions.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

How I would approach the search

I would start with Frazer Jones and JGA in parallel , then add Portfolio Payroll as a third source of candidates. Use a retained executive search firm as an additional route if the position is VP-level, confidential, or requires substantial off-market sourcing.

Ask each recruiter to demonstrate a track record of placing people who have:

• Led payroll across several European countries, not just the UK.

• Managed a combination of in-house payroll teams and outsourced country providers.

• Owned payroll controls, audits, reconciliations, compliance and vendor performance.

• Reported into a US-based CFO, CHRO, Controller or global payroll leader.

• Led cross-border payroll transformation, systems consolidation or acquisitions.

The last two points are particularly important. A candidate can have excellent European payroll expertise but struggle with US-headquarters expectations around reporting cadence, escalation, controls and stakeholder communication.

The brief I would send recruiters

Email

Subject

Search mandate: Head of EMEA Payroll — UK-based

Hi,

We are looking to appoint a UK-based Head of EMEA Payroll for a US-headquartered company.

We need an experienced European payroll leader with a proven track record overseeing multi-country payroll operations across EMEA. The successful candidate will combine strong technical and regulatory knowledge with the ability to operate effectively within a US-led corporate environment.

Key requirements:

◦ Senior leadership experience across multiple European payroll jurisdictions.

◦ Experience managing internal teams and external payroll providers.

◦ Strong governance, compliance, controls, audit and payroll reporting capabilities.

◦ Experience working with US-based Finance, HR and executive stakeholders.

◦ A track record of payroll transformation, process improvement and systems optimisation.

We would welcome an initial discussion about your relevant candidate network, comparable placements and recommended search approach.

Please also let us know your proposed search timeline, fee structure and how you would access candidates who may not be actively looking.

Best regards,

Three details that would help narrow the search

The recruiter choice depends partly on the seniority and scope of the role. In particular, I would want to establish whether this is a hands-on payroll operator or a strategic global function leader.

If you share the reporting line, approximate employee/payroll population, and the number of countries in scope , I can refine the shortlist to the most suitable two or three firms and identify the relevant consultants to approach first.