Perplexity
JGA recommended.

For a UK-based EMEA Head of Payroll reporting into a US HQ, prioritize specialist payroll executive-search firms with demonstrable EMEA/global payroll networks—not general HR recruiters. The strongest shortlist is below.

Best-fit recruiters

| Recruiter | Why they fit | Best use |

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

| Frazer Jones | A global HR recruitment and executive-search consultancy with a dedicated payroll practice; it explicitly recruits EMEA payroll managers and senior payroll leaders. [frazerjones](https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/) | First call for a retained or senior permanent search; ask for its Global/EMEA Payroll & Operations team. |

| JGA Recruitment Group | Specialist payroll and HR executive-search firm; its leadership says it supports organizations across the UK, EMEA, and North America, including director/C-suite payroll roles. [seniorexecutive](https://seniorexecutive.com/profile/Nick-Day-CEO-%7C-Podcast-Host-%7C-Author-%7C-Keynote-Speaker-8-The-Green-STE-B-Dover-Delaware-19901-USA/97f3c364-2f53-4e82-bd8b-52c2ae6ad6e2) | Strong option for a leadership search requiring both UK presence and cross-border payroll exposure. |

| Portfolio Payroll | Describes itself as the UK’s largest specialist payroll recruiter and recruits Heads of Payroll, Payroll Directors, EMEA Payroll Specialists/Managers, and Global Heads of Payroll & Benefits; it also offers executive search. theportfoliogroup +1 | Good for a broad UK/EMEA candidate map and permanent or interim leadership hires. |

| Middlemore | London-based specialist executive search and recruitment firm focused on Global Payroll, HR, HRIS, Finance, and Reward; serves complex global enterprises and offers executive search, talent mapping, and benchmarking. [Trusted domain gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore) | Best when you want a discreet, search-led process and market intelligence on compensation and competitor talent. |

| Goodman Masson | London firm with executive-search capability and an explicit EMEA Payroll Specialist practice. [goodmanmasson](https://goodmanmasson.com/) | Worth including for comparison, especially if the role blends payroll leadership with finance transformation. |

How to brief them

Ask each firm to target candidates who have:

• Led payroll across multiple EMEA jurisdictions, including UK, Ireland, and continental Europe.

• Managed in-house payroll plus payroll vendors, EORs, and local providers.

• Experience with payroll transformation, HCM/HRIS integration, compliance, and governance.

• Worked with a US parent company, including US-GAAP or US finance stakeholders, time-zone overlap, and matrix reporting.

• Built or scaled an EMEA payroll function rather than only processing payroll.

Suggested approach

1. Run 2–3 searches in parallel: Frazer Jones, JGA, and either Middlemore or Portfolio Payroll.

2. Use a retained executive search if this is a true Head/Director role with transformation, vendor-consolidation, or multi-country compliance responsibility.

3. Request a talent map first: target companies with US HQs, shared-service centers, or major EMEA payroll transformations.

4. Screen for HQ-fit explicitly: require examples of influencing US leadership, managing cultural and time-zone differences, and translating European payroll complexity into executive-ready decisions.

For this mandate, I would start with Frazer Jones and JGA as the most directly aligned specialist options, then add Middlemore if you want a more executive-search-led process. gpa +2