S09-B / Observation 1
Claude
JGA recommended.
The full saved answer, its sources and the conditions under which it was collected.
Exact question
Which recruiters can find a Head of Payroll for a hybrid role in Manchester overseeing UK and European payroll suppliers? We are changing providers and need an experienced permanent leader.
Original wording is preserved. Statements below are generated product output, not verified claims adopted by this report.
Based on what recruiters are advertising, these are the firms most active in senior payroll hiring in Manchester. This comes from a quick market scan, not a ranking or endorsement, and I can’t vouch for their candidate pools or fees.
Specialist payroll agencies
• The Portfolio Group describes itself as the UK’s longest-established payroll specialist recruiter, covering key payroll roles across the UK and Ireland. It lists a Manchester office (0161 523 5585) and advertises roles involving in-country payroll vendors, which fits your supplier-oversight brief. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/478805754/54/)
• JGA Recruitment calls itself a specialist payroll and HR recruitment agency and has advertised roles managing an outsourced payroll provider across UK and international cycles. [overseasjobs](https://overseasjobs.com/job/details/30281989/hr-payroll-manager) [studentjob](https://studentjob.co.uk/vacancies/5498769-payroll-specialist)
Large finance recruiters with Manchester practices
• Hays (Manchester office, Piccadilly Plaza) has advertised a hybrid, permanent Senior Head of Payroll role in Manchester. It was listed at around £80,000, with up to 2 days a week remote. It has also placed payroll roles involving implementations, migrations and system reviews, which is relevant to a provider change. [dwp](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/16962713?lang_code=en) [dwp](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/15878085?lang_code=en)
• Robert Walters has advertised a permanent Head of Payroll role in Manchester City Centre and also recruits for multi-country EMEA payroll roles working with payroll vendors. [robertwalters](https://robertwalters.co.uk/accountancyfinance/jobs/financemanager/1828433-head-of-payroll.html) [robertwalters](https://robertwalters.co.uk/accountancyfinance/jobs/partqualifiedaccountant/1811923-senior-payroll-specialist.html)
• Michael Page has advertised a permanent, hybrid Head of Payroll role in Greater Manchester, though that one was public sector. [page](https://manufacturing.page.com/job-detail/head-payroll/ref/jn-022025-6667818)
• Investigo has advertised a Manchester Head of Payroll role at £80–90k plus bonus, covering global payroll. [investigo](https://investigo.co.uk/job/head-of-payroll-3)
Also worth a call:
Oakleaf Partnership, which describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy and has advertised UK and international payroll roles.
[personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401663872/senior-payroll-specialist/)
Getting the best shortlist
• Brief them on the transition. Say you are changing providers. Ask for candidates who have led a payroll vendor migration or tender, not just run steady-state payroll.
• Be specific on scope. Name the countries, headcount, whether suppliers are outsourced bureaus or in-country vendors, and your target systems.
• Set the salary band early. Advertised senior Manchester roles above ranged from the mid-£50ks in the public sector to £80–90k plus bonus in the private sector. Your band will decide who responds.
• Limit it to 2–3 agencies. Run one specialist (Portfolio or JGA) alongside one or two of the larger firms, on clear terms, to avoid duplicate CV submissions.
I can draft a role brief or an outreach email to the agencies if you’d like.
How we classified this answer
Second unnumbered specialist; final advice names Portfolio or JGA for the specialist slot. Model expressly says the quick scan is not a ranking or endorsement.
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: JGA, JGA Recruitment. 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- flippingbook.com
flippingbook
The Portfolio Group describes itself as the UK’s longest-established payroll specialist recruiter, covering key payroll roles across the UK and Ireland. It lists a Manchester office (0161 523 5585) and advertises roles involving in-country payroll vendors, which fits your supplier-oversight brief.
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/478805754/54/
- overseasjobs.com
overseasjobs
JGA Recruitment calls itself a specialist payroll and HR recruitment agency and has advertised roles managing an outsourced payroll provider across UK and international cycles.
https://overseasjobs.com/job/details/30281989/hr-payroll-manager
- studentjob.co.uk
studentjob
JGA Recruitment calls itself a specialist payroll and HR recruitment agency and has advertised roles managing an outsourced payroll provider across UK and international cycles.
https://studentjob.co.uk/vacancies/5498769-payroll-specialist
- dwp.gov.uk
dwp
Hays (Manchester office, Piccadilly Plaza) has advertised a hybrid, permanent Senior Head of Payroll role in Manchester. It was listed at around £80,000, with up to 2 days a week remote. It has also placed payroll roles involving implementations, migrations and system reviews, which is relevant to a provider change.
https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/16962713?lang_code=en
- dwp.gov.uk
dwp
Hays (Manchester office, Piccadilly Plaza) has advertised a hybrid, permanent Senior Head of Payroll role in Manchester. It was listed at around £80,000, with up to 2 days a week remote. It has also placed payroll roles involving implementations, migrations and system reviews, which is relevant to a provider change.
https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/15878085?lang_code=en
- robertwalters.co.uk
robertwalters
Robert Walters has advertised a permanent Head of Payroll role in Manchester City Centre and also recruits for multi-country EMEA payroll roles working with payroll vendors.
https://robertwalters.co.uk/accountancyfinance/jobs/financemanager/1828433-head-of-payroll.html
- robertwalters.co.uk
robertwalters
Robert Walters has advertised a permanent Head of Payroll role in Manchester City Centre and also recruits for multi-country EMEA payroll roles working with payroll vendors.
https://robertwalters.co.uk/accountancyfinance/jobs/partqualifiedaccountant/1811923-senior-payroll-specialist.html
- page.com
page
Michael Page has advertised a permanent, hybrid Head of Payroll role in Greater Manchester, though that one was public sector.
https://manufacturing.page.com/job-detail/head-payroll/ref/jn-022025-6667818
- investigo.co.uk
investigo
Investigo has advertised a Manchester Head of Payroll role at £80–90k plus bonus, covering global payroll.
https://investigo.co.uk/job/head-of-payroll-3
- personneltoday.com
personneltoday
Oakleaf Partnership, which describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy and has advertised UK and international payroll roles.
https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401663872/senior-payroll-specialist/
Other links in the record
Recruiter and contact links
No source of this type was recorded for this answer.
Retrieved results, separate from supporting citations
No source of this type was recorded for this answer.
No source of this type was recorded for this answer.
Related content links
No source of this type was recorded for this answer.
Source record coverage
The complete answer and recorded source links are included. Supporting citations, recruiter links and retrieved results are counted separately.
Saved evidence
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