Claude
JGA not recommended.

For a six-month interim plus permanent search support, I’d start with these firms. The first group comes from my search and the second from general market knowledge, so treat the second as a longlist to vet.

Specialist HR and payroll firms (best fit)

• Frazer Jones (SR Group): a global HR specialist with a dedicated UK payroll team. One of its directors focuses solely on interim payroll hires across the UK, and it is currently advertising Head of Global Payroll mandates. It is the closest match to what you describe, and it has placed interim global payroll leaders while clients recruit a permanent hire. [Linda Giacomantonio +2](https://www.frazerjones.com/nl/?p=3195)

• Altum Consulting: it has recruited an interim Global Director of Payroll for a London tech business, so this seniority of interim is familiar to them. [itjobswatch](https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jv/Altum-Consulting/Interim-Director-of-Payroll-Job-London-South-East-England-UK-4w1wc9)

• Oakleaf Partnership: it describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It is more visible on interim payroll specialist roles, so ask about their seniority of network. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401634724/international-payroll-specialist/)

Large finance and HR recruiters with payroll desks

• Page Personnel / Michael Page: Page Personnel has run a Global Head of Payroll interim assignment of up to six months, though that example was at a lower salary band than you may be targeting. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/5348091/global-head-of-payroll/)

• Robert Half: it has a finance and accounting arm placing interim payroll managers. It is strong on volume but typically less so at global-head level. [roberthalf](https://www.roberthalf.com/gb/en/jobs/camberley/interim)

• Hays and Reed: from my own knowledge, both have payroll and HR interim desks. I haven’t verified their senior payroll credentials here.

Executive search for the permanent role

• If the permanent hire is at executive level, ask the HR specialists above whether they run retained searches. Otherwise consider an HR-focused executive search firm.

• Korn Ferry and Lucas Group appear in my results, but those listings were North American. Check their UK payroll coverage first.

Tips for the process

• Brief two or three firms, not ten. Ask each whether they can supply both the interim and the permanent search, or only one.

• Ask for interim candidates who have run payroll through a transition. Candidates with multi-country experience, vendor management (such as ADP, CloudPay or Deel) and transformation or M&A experience are easier to place quickly.

• Check fee structures. Interims are usually charged as a day-rate margin. Some firms offer reduced permanent fees if your interim converts or if they run the search too.

• Ask about your own sector, since payroll leaders in tech, financial services and manufacturing often come from distinct pools.

If you tell me your sector, number of countries and payroll systems, I can help you draft a brief for the recruiters or narrow the list.