S10-A / Observation 1
Gemini
JGA recommended.
The full saved answer, its sources and the conditions under which it was collected.
Exact question
Our UK-based Global Head of Payroll is leaving before we can make a permanent replacement. We need an interim senior payroll leader for six months and support with the permanent search. Which specialist recruitment firms should we contact?
Original wording is preserved. Statements below are generated product output, not verified claims adopted by this report.
To handle both an immediate six-month interim deployment and a retained executive search for a permanent Global Head of Payroll , you should target specialist UK recruitment agencies that have dedicated international payroll desks and proven executive-level capabilities.
Here are the top UK specialist recruitment firms best suited for this requirement:
Recommended Specialist Payroll Recruiters
1. JGA Recruitment Group
Overview: A leading specialist recruitment agency dedicated solely to Payroll and HR, with deep experience handling global and senior-level roles.
Why contact them: They offer both interim management and executive search solutions. They host the popular Payroll Podcast and maintain extensive talent networks across complex multi-country payroll environments.
Best for: Speed to market for interim cover and active headhunting for global payroll leadership.
2. Frazer Jones (Part of The SR Group)
Overview: A premier international HR and Reward/Payroll executive search consultancy.
Why contact them: They have a dedicated UK and global Payroll practice headed by specialist directors. They excel at dual-track assignments (supplying an immediate interim while concurrently conducting a global retained search).
Best for: Global matrix organisations needing complex, multi-jurisdiction payroll leaders.
3. Middlemore
Overview: A boutique executive search firm focusing specifically on Global Payroll, Reward, and HR Transformation leadership.
Why contact them: Unlike high-volume agencies, Middlemore operates on a retained, consultative basis tailored to senior leadership (Global Heads, VPs, Directors). They cover both interim executive contracts and permanent placements.
Best for: High-touch headhunting when you need a leader with specific enterprise system experience (e.g., Workday, ADP GlobalView) or complex tax/compliance capabilities.
4. Portfolio Payroll (The Portfolio Group)
Overview: The largest dedicated payroll recruiter in the UK.
Why contact them: Corporate partners with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), they have a dedicated Executive & Senior Management division and an extensive database of immediately available interim directors.
Best for: Rapid deployment of seasoned interim leaders within 24–48 hours.
Strategy for Managing the Transition
| Step | Action | Focus Area |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Briefing the Interim | Prioritise handover/onboarding capacity and multi-country payroll stability over transformation. | Immediate risk mitigation & global team continuity |
| 2. Dual-Track Engagement | Brief the same agency (or partner search boutique) for both interim and permanent roles to keep messaging aligned. | Seamless handover to permanent hire |
| 3. Interim Objectives | Task the interim lead with evaluating current operational risks and documentation before the permanent hire arrives. | Value-add during 6-month tenure |
Would you like advice on structuring the compensation or key competencies to specify in the brief for a Global Head of Payroll?
How we classified this answer
Explicit numbered firm one in a four-firm specialist list. Described as fast interim cover and global leadership headhunting; speed and talent-network claims remain unverified.
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 Recruitment Group. JGA websites linked: jgarecruitment.com. 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- jgarecruitment.com
JGA Recruitment Group Payroll Recruitment Specialists In UK | JGA Recruitment Agency “ JGA Recruitment Group Appointed to Government Commercial Agency Executive Search FrameworkAugust 24, 2026 - 9:56 am. ”
Why contact them: They offer both interim management and executive search solutions. They host the popular Payroll Podcast and maintain extensive talent networks across complex multi-country payroll environments.
JGA Recruitment Group
+ 1
https://jgarecruitment.com/payroll-recruitment/
- middlemore.co.uk
Middlemore Payroll Search - Middlemore “Global Payroll Recruitment. Local Insight. Lasting Impact. We connect organisations with world‑class payroll talent, from Analysts, to Directors and VP's across...”
Why contact them: They offer both interim management and executive search solutions. They host the popular Payroll Podcast and maintain extensive talent networks across complex multi-country payroll environments.
JGA Recruitment Group
+ 1
https://middlemore.co.uk/payroll-search/
- frazerjones.com
Frazer Jones Payroll recruitment agency | Hire a Payroll professional | Frazer Jones “Payroll. Our dedicated payroll team is packed with experts who know this profession inside-out. With their knowledge and global networks, you can achieve your h...”
Why contact them: They have a dedicated UK and global Payroll practice headed by specialist directors. They excel at dual-track assignments (supplying an immediate interim while concurrently conducting a global retained search).
Frazer Jones
https://frazerjones.com/payroll/
- middlemore.co.uk
Middlemore Payroll Search - Middlemore “ This was our first time ever using a retained search firm for this type of a search so I was initially skeptical. I found the team to be incredibly flexible, f...”
Why contact them: Unlike high-volume agencies, Middlemore operates on a retained, consultative basis tailored to senior leadership (Global Heads, VPs, Directors). They cover both interim executive contracts and permanent placements.
Middlemore
+ 1
https://middlemore.co.uk/payroll-search/
- middlemore.co.uk
Middlemore Payroll Search - Middlemore “Everything we do in payroll is driven by our deep proficiency. We partner with organisations to secure both specialist and senior leadership talent across the c...”
Why contact them: Unlike high-volume agencies, Middlemore operates on a retained, consultative basis tailored to senior leadership (Global Heads, VPs, Directors). They cover both interim executive contracts and permanent placements.
Middlemore
+ 1
https://middlemore.co.uk/payroll-search/
- theportfoliogroup.com
The Portfolio Group Expert Payroll Recruitment Agency - The Portfolio Group “ The largest specialist payroll recruiter in the UK. Supporting the payroll sector since 1988, Portfolio Payroll is the market-leading recruitment agency for pa...”
Overview: The largest dedicated payroll recruiter in the UK.
The Portfolio Group
https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/
- theportfoliogroup.com
The Portfolio Group Expert Payroll Recruitment Agency - The Portfolio Group “ Through partnerships with industry leaders like the CIPP, we offer payroll knowledge assessments, salary surveys, and expert guides to enhance your recruitment...”
Why contact them: Corporate partners with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), they have a dedicated Executive & Senior Management division and an extensive database of immediately available interim directors.
The Portfolio Group
https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/
Other links in the record
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Related content links
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Source record coverage
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