ChatGPT: both observations

For this hire, I’d target executive search firms and specialist transformation recruiters who work across HR technology, global payroll, HRIS and finance transformation — not recruiters focused on BAU payroll operations.

You need someone who has led a multi-country payroll transformation end to end: selecting or implementing a platform, managing country-by-country requirements, coordinating vendors and integrations, governing data migration, leading testing and parallel runs, and driving go-live and adoption.

The key is to recruit for global payroll transformation leadership , rather than simply a senior payroll title.

1. UK recruiters I'd approach first

1. Rise Group — best first call for transformation-led hiring

Top fit

Specialises in contract and permanent HR and Finance transformation recruitment. Its published experience specifically includes building teams for a UKG cloud payroll implementation and a global payroll carve-out. This is particularly relevant if you need someone who can lead delivery rather than just manage payroll operations.

• Contact: Joe, founder

• Email: joe@risegroup.io

• Website: [risegroup.io ](https://risegroup.io/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Robert Walters — strongest direct evidence of this exact brief

The firm has advertised a Global Payroll Implementation Lead role covering multi-country implementation, vendor mobilisation, governance, testing, parallel runs and go-live. That makes it a particularly logical recruiter to approach for comparable candidates.

• Named contact: Emily Connor for the published global implementation assignment.

• Website: [robertwalters.co.uk ](https://robertwalters.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. The Portfolio Group — strong for payroll specialists moving into transformation leadership

Its payroll recruitment team advertises EMEA and global payroll project assignments. Patrick Day, a director in its executive division, specifically works on senior interim and contract payroll roles, including project implementations. The Portfolio Group

• Contact: Patrick Day

• Website: [theportfoliogroup.com ](https://theportfoliogroup.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. 167 Solutions — best when the system implementation is the centre of the role

Recruits across Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, payroll technology, integrations and HR transformation, covering both permanent and contract roles. A good route to programme leads who understand the technology and implementation lifecycle. 167 Solutions

- Website: [167solutions.com/markets/hr-technology ](https://167solutions.com/markets/hr-technology?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5. Frazer Jones — useful for a senior permanent appointment

An established HR recruitment and executive search firm with UK and international coverage. I'd use it to find a senior HR operations or reward leader who has personally delivered a significant payroll transformation, rather than assuming its payroll candidates all have implementation experience. Frazer Jones

- Website: [frazerjones.com/uk ](https://frazerjones.com/uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Who I'd contact first

My shortlist would be Rise Group, Robert Walters and The Portfolio Group , in that order for an implementation-heavy mandate. Add 167 Solutions if the programme is primarily an HR technology deployment, and Frazer Jones if you want a permanent senior leadership hire.

There is also a useful market signal: Robert Walters has advertised a London-based Global Payroll & Benefits Implementation Lead at £100,000–£110,000, while The Portfolio Group has advertised an interim EMEA payroll project manager at £500–£550 per day. These are examples of comparable roles, not a definitive salary benchmark for your position.

3. The brief I'd give recruiters

I'd use the title Global Payroll Transformation Director / Programme Lead , with alternatives such as Global Payroll Implementation Lead or Head of Payroll Transformation.

Ask each recruiter to shortlist candidates who can demonstrate:

• End-to-end ownership: personally led a multi-country payroll implementation from discovery and design through go-live and stabilisation.

• Systems delivery: implemented a global payroll platform or managed service, ideally integrated with Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM or a comparable HRIS.

• Complex international rollout: handled local country requirements, vendor dependencies, data migration, testing, parallel payroll runs and cutover.

• Change leadership: aligned HR, Finance, IT, Tax, country payroll teams and external providers.

• Transformation outcomes: standardised processes, changed the operating model and delivered measurable improvements — not simply maintained payroll accuracy and timeliness.

A crucial screening question is: “Which multi-country payroll implementation did you personally lead, which countries went live, and what were you accountable for from design through stabilisation?”

That quickly separates programme leaders from excellent payroll managers.

4. One question to narrow the search

Are you hiring on a permanent basis or for an interim programme assignment ?

That will determine whether I'd prioritise executive search and senior permanent recruiters or specialists with networks of immediately available global payroll transformation contractors.

ChatGPT said:

For this hire, I’d target HR transformation and payroll technology recruitment specialists , rather than recruiters who mainly place Payroll Managers, Payroll Directors or operational payroll leads.

You need someone who can own a multi-country payroll implementation end to end: selecting or deploying a platform, managing country-level requirements, integrating HRIS and finance systems, coordinating vendors, leading testing and migration, and delivering change across multiple jurisdictions.

The strongest candidates often have titles such as Global Payroll Transformation Director, Payroll Programme Director, Global Payroll Implementation Lead, or Director of Payroll & HRIS Transformation . They may come from a payroll provider, a large multinational, a systems integrator or a consulting firm.

The UK recruiters I’d contact first

These are the most relevant firms I found, prioritised for your brief rather than general payroll recruitment.

1. Middlemore

Best specialist starting point

They explicitly recruit global payroll leaders and cover payroll transformation, HRIS and payroll implementation, data migration, testing, governance and vendor management. This is very close to your requirement. Middlemore

Ask for: their senior global payroll transformation or programme delivery specialist.

[Visit Middlemore Payroll Search](https://middlemore.co.uk/payroll-search/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Portfolio Payroll

A strong option for a senior interim or contract appointment. Its dedicated payroll recruitment practice covers permanent, executive and contract hiring.

Named contact: Patrick Day , Director of the Executive Division, who specialises in senior interim and contract roles and has experience with payroll project implementations. The Portfolio Group +1

[Contact Portfolio Payroll](https://www.portfoliopayroll.com/payroll/recruitment-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Rise Group

Particularly relevant if the programme combines payroll with Workday, UKG, HRIS or finance transformation. Rise cites experience assembling implementation teams for UKG payroll and global payroll carve-outs.

Named contact: Joe , whose team has supported HR and finance technology implementations. UK - Europe - US

[Visit Rise Group](https://risegroup.io/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Annapurna

Worth contacting for interim transformation leadership. It has advertised a global CloudPay implementation lead role involving Workday integration, multiple regions and transition into business-as-usual operations.

Named contact: Luca Vega , Manager – Interim HR & Transformation Solutions, associated with that recruitment brief. LinkedIn Jobs

[View the relevant recruitment listing](https://uk.linkedin.com/jobs/view/interim-payroll-transformation-lead-at-annapurna-4474050359?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5. Robert Walters

A good route for senior programme appointments and fixed-term contracts. Its published roles include a Global Payroll Implementation Lead overseeing a multi-country managed-service implementation.

The relevant advertised contacts were Emily Connor for the interim programme role and Joshua Webster for a permanent payroll and benefits implementation role. Confirm their current remit before approaching. 12/18 months FTC +1

[Global payroll implementation recruitment](https://www.robertwalters.co.uk/humanresources/jobs/rewardcompensationbenefits/1898940-global-payroll-implementation-lead---1218-months-ftc.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6. Oakleaf Partnership

Its dedicated payroll division recruits at senior level, including Global Payroll Implementation Managers and Global Payroll Directors, with interim and permanent coverage.

A useful additional option for a permanent hire or a senior payroll specialist. Oakleaf

[Visit Oakleaf Payroll](https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Who I would approach first

My shortlist would be:

1. Middlemore — for specialist global payroll transformation talent.

2. Portfolio Payroll — particularly if you need a senior interim leader quickly.

3. Rise Group — if the role is technology-heavy and closely linked to an HRIS implementation.

4. Annapurna — if you need someone to take ownership of an active transformation programme.

I would brief two or three firms in parallel and ask each for evidence of candidates who have personally led implementations, not simply managed payroll operations.

How to make sure they find the right person

Give the recruiter this distinction upfront:

• Must have: personally led an end-to-end multi-country payroll implementation, including design, vendor management, data migration, testing, cutover and go-live.

• Must have: experience managing country stakeholders and coordinating HR, Finance, IT and external implementation partners.

• Preferable: experience with your chosen platform or provider, such as Workday, CloudPay, UKG or another global payroll solution.

• Not sufficient: running BAU payroll, managing payroll teams or improving processes without ownership of a system implementation.

One question that will narrow this down considerably

Are you hiring an interim programme leader for a defined implementation or a permanent senior leader who will own the transformation and then run the global payroll function ?

That distinction changes which recruiter I would prioritise and the candidate networks I would target.