Gemini
JGA recommended.

When expanding a small UK payroll team, bringing in an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist requires recruiters who understand local UK statutory requirements (e.g., PAYE, Auto-Enrolment, RTI filings, salary sacrifice, and CIPP accreditation) as well as modern HR/Payroll technology integration.

The top recruitment specialists and agencies worth connecting with in the UK include:

1. Top Specialist Payroll Agencies

These firms specialize exclusively in payroll (or dedicated HR & Payroll practices) and typically have the deepest passive talent networks.

Portfolio Payroll (The Portfolio Group)

Overview: The largest dedicated payroll recruiter in the UK and official corporate partners of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).

Best For: Accessing a vast, pre-vetted database of permanent and contract Senior Payroll Specialists across all UK regions.

JGA Recruitment Group

Overview: A niche agency focusing specifically on HR and Payroll recruitment. They produce popular industry content (e.g., The Payroll Podcast ) and maintain strong links with CIPP professionals.

Best For: Tailored search for mid-to-senior payroll specialists who understand modern UK payroll platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, Sage, Dayforce, PayFit).

Frazer Jones

Overview: A specialist global HR and payroll recruitment agency with a strong presence across the UK.

Best For: Fast-growing businesses, scale-ups, and international businesses expanding their UK footprint.

2. Finance & Accountancy Specialists

If your payroll team sits closely within Finance or Accountancy, these agencies excel at identifying candidates with strong technical accounting and payroll skills.

Austin Rose

Overview: A specialist recruiter focused on public practice, accounting, and payroll roles across the UK.

Best For: Candidates who have managed complex multi-client payrolls or high-volume internal payrolls with tight reporting requirements.

Hays Payroll & Finance

Overview: One of the largest broad-market recruitment networks in the UK with dedicated regional payroll divisions.

Best For: Finding local regional talent quickly, especially if your business is based outside London/major hubs.

Key Criteria for Selecting the Right Partner

When reaching out to these agencies, consider asking the following questions to narrow down the best fit:

Talent Quality & Assessment: Do you test candidates on current UK statutory compliance (e.g., CIPP assessments, RTI, student loans, statutory payments)?

Software Familiarity: Does your network have experience with our specific payroll stack (e.g., Sage 50, Zellis, ADP, PayFit, or Workday)?

Flexible/Interim Cover: Can you supply a temporary or contract specialist if our hiring timeline extends past our target start date?

What payroll software stack does your team currently use, and are you looking for a permanent hire or interim contract support?