Gemini
JGA recommended.

Hiring an EMEA Payroll Head based in the UK to report into a US HQ requires a recruiter with two specific capabilities: deep domain expertise across fragmented European tax/compliance frameworks, and experience placing leadership candidates into transatlantic matrix structures.

Several specialist recruitment firms and global search practices excel at cross-border HR and payroll leadership hiring between the UK/EMEA and the US.

Dedicated Payroll & HR Specialists

1. Frazer Jones (part of The SR Group)

Why them: Frazer Jones is a global specialist in HR, Reward, and Payroll executive search. They operate extensive operations across North America (New York, Boston) and Europe (London, DACH, Netherlands), making them well-equipped to bridge conversations between a US HQ and UK talent pools.

Best for: Roles where the Head of EMEA Payroll needs to work in tandem with US People/HR leadership while managing multi-country payroll operations across Europe.

2. JGA Recruitment

Why them: JGA is a boutique agency focused exclusively on Senior Payroll and HR search across the UK, Europe, and North America. They regularly host industry thought-leadership podcasts and networks on global payroll operations, giving them direct access to passive candidates. [Source G01]

Best for: Deep vertical knowledge of payroll platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP GlobalView, Dayforce) and recruiting candidates who understand cross-border shadow payrolls, expat tax, and European statutory compliance.

International & US-Transatlantic Recruiters

3. EMEA Recruitment

Why them: Based in Europe with strong cross-border capabilities, EMEA Recruitment specializes in mid-to-senior leadership searches (Finance, Payroll, HR) for multinational companies operating across Europe.

Best for: US multinationals expanding or scaling their EMEA footprint who need a partner skilled in explaining complex European employment models back to US stakeholders.

4. Robert Half / Protiviti (Executive Search)

Why them: Their international finance and payroll practice provides dual coverage across US corporate offices and UK regional hubs. They have extensive experience placing leaders who act as the central operational bridge between global payroll strategy and localized European delivery.

Best for: US tech or high-growth mid-market firms looking for speed, an established footprint in both time zones, and interim-to-perm options if leadership coverage is needed immediately.

Global Executive Search (Boutique Practices)

5. Oakwood Partnership or Michael Page Executive (Finance & HR)

Why them: For heavy, multi-entity transformation roles (e.g., unifying 15+ European country payrolls under a single vendor/system), an executive search firm focusing on Global Mobility and Shared Services Leadership is often preferred.

Key Criteria to Screen For

When interviewing potential recruitment partners for this position, confirm that they evaluate candidates for:

US Matrix Readiness: A UK-based payroll head must be comfortable managing stakeholding asynchronously across US time zones (EST/PST) and translating US payroll philosophies into European statutory realities.

Multi-Country Statutory Knowledge: Candidate experience across key European regions (e.g., Works Councils in Germany/France, complex social security frameworks in Southern Europe, IR35/PAYE in the UK).

Vendor Consolidation Experience: Candidates should have a track record of running RFP processes and managing global vendor relationships (e.g., ADP, CloudPay, Papaya, Safeguard, Deel).

Would you like advice on structuring the compensation package for a UK-based EMEA payroll lead, or template questions to evaluate candidates' experience working with US headquarters?