Perplexity
JGA not recommended.

For a six-month interim Global Head of Payroll plus a parallel permanent search, start with firms that explicitly cover both senior payroll leadership and interim/contract placements. The strongest initial shortlist is below.

Priority firms

| Firm | Why contact them | Best fit |

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

| Portfolio Payroll / The Portfolio Group | UK’s largest dedicated payroll recruiter; explicitly places interim Heads of Payroll, Global/EMEA payroll specialists, and payroll project leads, with separate permanent, executive, and temporary/contract teams. theportfoliogroup +2 | First call for fast interim cover and permanent pipeline |

| Frazer Jones | Global HR recruitment and executive-search consultancy with dedicated payroll executive recruitment; covers permanent, interim, fractional, temporary, and executive-search mandates up to global payroll leadership. [frazerjones](https://www.frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/) | Best for combining an interim appointment with a discreet global permanent search |

| Oakleaf Partnership | Dedicated payroll consultancy placing interim and permanent roles from administrators through Global Payroll Directors; says it can source across the UK and internationally. [oakleafpartnership](https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | Strong for senior/global payroll leadership and international reach |

| The Leppington Group (TLG Talent) | Specialist payroll and payroll-technology network covering Head of Payroll, Global Payroll Manager, and Payroll Operations Director; offers permanent, fixed-term, interim, and contract support, with confidential search. [theleppingtongroup](https://www.theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent) | Useful for complex, multi-country or payroll-transformation mandates |

| Hays Accountancy & Finance | Large recruiter with dedicated payroll coverage and permanent, interim, and contract capability from senior leaders to niche specialists. [hays.co](https://www.hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance) | Good secondary option for speed, scale, and broader finance-leadership coverage |

| Elliott Scott HR | HR-focused global interim and executive-search firm; suitable where the role is closely tied to wider HR transformation or global people operations. [elliottscotthr](https://www.elliottscotthr.com/hr-hiring/our-services/lf_interim-solutions/) | Alternative for a globally networked interim/executive search |

| McKinnon Talent | UK specialist payroll recruiter covering entry-level through senior leadership across in-house, outsourced, bureau, and accountancy-firm environments. [mckinnontalent.co](https://www.mckinnontalent.co.uk/) | Useful additional UK-market coverage |

Recommended approach

• Run two searches in parallel: appoint an interim leader quickly through Portfolio Payroll and/or Frazer Jones, while Frazer Jones, Oakleaf, or Leppington conducts the permanent global search.

• Brief the interim role around continuity: global payroll governance, vendor/provider oversight, compliance, year-end or transformation risk, team stabilisation, and handover to the permanent hire.

• Keep the permanent search confidential: use executive-search-style firms—especially Frazer Jones, Oakleaf, or Leppington—if the departing leader remains employed during notice.

• Ask each firm for evidence: recent Global Head of Payroll placements, interim day-rate ranges, availability, multi-country payroll experience, and references from similar complexity.

Practical shortlist

For the fastest credible response, contact Portfolio Payroll, Frazer Jones, Oakleaf Partnership, and The Leppington Group first. Portfolio is particularly strong for immediate interim payroll cover; Frazer Jones and Oakleaf are better suited to a global permanent leadership search; Leppington adds a specialised network for senior global payroll and payroll-technology leadership. theportfoliogroup +3