Claude: both observations

Four specialist agencies come up in UK payroll recruitment. Most of this comes from the CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) magazine’s agency directory, with the latest listing I found dated February 2024, so check each is still trading and handling permanent payroll roles before you engage.

Specialist payroll agencies

• Portfolio Payroll : It describes itself as the longest-established payroll recruitment consultancy in the UK, founded in 1988, and focuses solely on payroll professionals across all sectors. It offers permanent, temporary and contract recruitment at all levels, with separate executive and public sector divisions. Its own listing gives 020 7247 9455 and [recruitment@portfoliopayroll.com](mailto:recruitment@portfoliopayroll.com) . [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/436939326/57) [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/436939326/57)

• James Gray Associates (JGA) : It specialises in payroll, HR and reward, supplying permanent, contract and interim professionals, and has offered CIPP members 20% off standard terms. It won Best Small Permanent Agency at the RDLC Awards in 2020. Its website lists Payroll Manager among the roles it recruits for. The 20% discount applies to CIPP members, so ask whether your company or you qualify. [Professional February 2024 +2](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/436939326/57)

• Hays Payroll Management : It recruits across a range of UK industries and specialises in placing payroll professionals. It’s a large, established recruiter, which may suit you if you want a broader candidate reach. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/436939326/57)

• Payroll Elite : It offers permanent and contract recruitment, pre-selecting candidates to match client requirements. It only appeared in the older 2018–2019 directory listings, so confirm it is still operating. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/790570/53/)

Tips for the search

• Speak to two or three agencies rather than one, and ask each for sample payroll manager placements at companies of your size. Compare fee percentages, rebate periods if the hire leaves early, and whether they hold a candidate pool of their own or just advertise.

• Be clear about your payroll software (e.g. Sage, ADP, Staffology), headcount, pay frequencies, and whether the role is hands-on or mainly supervisory. These shape the shortlist more than anything else.

• Check whether candidates hold CIPP qualifications, which are a useful benchmark for a payroll manager.

• Consider interim cover while you recruit. Portfolio Payroll and JGA both place interim and contract staff, which can protect your payroll runs through a notice period and handover.

• Advertising through the CIPP’s own channels, or asking your payroll software supplier and network for referrals, can complement an agency search.

If you tell me your sector, location and rough salary band, I can help you draft a brief for the agencies or a job specification.

I’m sorry to hear about the resignation. The payroll specialists that came up most consistently, mostly via the CIPP’s

Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward

magazine directory, are these:

Payroll-specialist agencies

• Portfolio Payroll (London, part of The Portfolio Group). Founded in 1988, it focuses solely on recruiting payroll professionals across all industries throughout the UK, and it also has executive-level and public-sector divisions. It is a corporate partner of the CIPP, and that partnership includes a payroll test written exclusively for Portfolio by the CIPP, which could be useful for screening candidates. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/) [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb)

• James Gray Associates (JGA Recruitment) (Hertfordshire). They specialise in payroll, HR and reward recruitment, covering permanent, contract and interim roles, and they list Payroll Manager vacancies among the roles they fill. Their website says the managing director has over 18 years of payroll recruitment experience. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)

• Payroll Elite (North London). They offer permanent and contract recruitment, pre-selecting candidates against the client’s requirements. The listing I found is from 2018-19, so check they are still trading and active. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/254688/55/)

Larger generalist agency with a payroll division

• Hays Payroll Management . It recruits across a range of UK industries and specialises in placing payroll professionals. It has wider reach and a bigger candidate database than the boutiques, though you may get less specialist depth. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)

Most of these descriptions are agencies’ own marketing, and several come from directory listings dated 2018 to 2024. I’d treat this as a starting shortlist and check current reputation, the consultants’ track record at Payroll Manager level, and recent client references.

Tips for choosing

• Talk to two or three, not all of them. Multiple agencies sending the same candidates can cause confusion over who “owns” an introduction.

• Compare fee terms. Typical UK permanent fees are a percentage of first-year salary (often roughly 15-25%), but they are negotiable. Ask about rebate periods if the hire leaves early, and the length of any candidate “ownership” period.

• Ask about your specific profile. Your payroll size, software (e.g. Sage, ADP, Cintra, iTrent), pay frequencies, and any multi-site, shift-pattern or pension complexity all affect who you should look for.

• Look for relevant credentials. CIPP qualifications (e.g. the Payroll Professional Certificate or a Level 7 qualification) are a good signal for a manager-level hire.

• Cover the gap in the meantime. Several of these agencies also supply interim or contract payroll managers, which can protect your next pay run while you hire permanently. Also consider a payroll bureau for short-term support.

If you tell me your location, payroll headcount, and budget, I can help draft a brief for the agencies or a job description and interview questions.