Claude: both observations

For a senior EMEA payroll hire like this, I’d start with specialist HR and payroll recruiters rather than generalist agencies. Here is what I found, plus a few names from my own general knowledge.

Best fit from my search

• Frazer Jones is the strongest match. Its payroll team is led by John O’Brien, who recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. The firm also offers executive search, contingent, interim and temporary options. That helps if you want an interim head while the search runs. Its payroll lead has hosted an event in New York City, which suggests some familiarity with US-headquartered clients. [John O’Brien +2](https://frazerjones.com/de/?p=2395)

• Oakleaf Partnership describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It has handled Head of EMEA Payroll mandates in the past, including one that required experience managing payrolls across EMEA within a matrixed organisation. The listings I found were older (2022 and 2023), so confirm their current payroll activity. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401655991/head-of-emea-payroll/) [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401655991/head-of-emea-payroll/)

• Morgan McKinley is recruiting for EMEA payroll roles now. One current listing asks for 8+ years of European payroll experience, ideally within a US-listed global technology firm. That is a useful sign they know how to find candidates who work with US headquarters, though the listing was for a manager rather than a head. [morganmckinley](https://morganmckinley.com/ie/jobs/cork/payroll-manager-emea/1104793)

• Hays is advertising multi-country European payroll roles, so it has a payroll practice. The listings I found were mostly manager and specialist level, so ask whether it runs senior or leadership searches.

From general knowledge, not verified in this search

Michael Page, Robert Walters and Harvey Nash have finance and HR practices that may cover this. Boutique executive search firms in HR, reward and finance operations are also worth a look if you want a retained search.

What to ask any firm

1. How many EMEA payroll head or director placements have they made in the last two years?

2. Can they find candidates with direct experience managing multi-country outsourced providers (ADP, CloudPay, TMF and similar), plus works council and statutory compliance?

3. Do they have US-HQ clients, and can they show candidates who have dealt with US finance and HR leadership, such as time-zone overlap, SOX controls and global reporting lines?

4. Do they work on a retained or contingent basis, and what are the fee and guarantee terms?

5. Can they provide interim cover during the search?

For a role at this level, I’d shortlist two or three firms, brief them on the same spec and compare their candidate lists. A retained search with a payroll specialist like Frazer Jones usually gets more focused attention than contingent work with several agencies at once. I can draft a role brief or a recruiter outreach message if that would help.

Based on my search, these are the firms that look most relevant. I haven’t vetted their track records, so treat this as a starting shortlist.

Frazer Jones

is probably the strongest fit. It’s a global HR recruitment and executive search firm with a dedicated payroll practice that covers UK and EMEA payroll leadership roles. John O’Brien, its Executive Director and Head of Payroll, recruits executive payroll and benefits professionals with UK, EMEA and global remits. He has also spoken at payroll industry forums. The firm also appears to have a US presence, since it recently hosted a payroll event in New York City. That could help with your US headquarters angle.

[Book a consultation +3](https://www.frazerjones.com/?p=140035)

Oakleaf Partnership

is a UK HR recruitment consultancy that regularly advertises senior payroll roles. Examples include a Head of Global Payroll role covering the UK, EMEA, LATAM and APAC. Another was a Head of Payroll EMEA role managing payroll providers across 22 countries. Another was a Regional Head of Payroll Governance role covering EMEA and the Americas. This suggests a good candidate network for multi-country leadership. Oakleaf describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy.

[Head of Global Payroll +3](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401574274/head-of-global-payroll/)

Morgan McKinley

is worth considering too. It runs both HR and executive search practices and recruits EMEA payroll roles. One role it handled asked for experience at a US-listed global technology firm, which is close to your requirement. Its listings I found were mostly manager-level, so ask whether it handles head-of-function searches.

[morganmckinley](https://www.morganmckinley.com/ie/jobs/cork/payroll-manager-emea/1104793)

Questions to put to any of them

• Have they placed heads of payroll who report into a US HQ, ideally into a CFO or CHRO?

• Can they show multi-country experience across the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordics and so on?

• Do they have candidates with experience of outsourced payroll bureaus and vendor management?

• Is the search retained or contingent, and what are the fees and guarantee terms?

Practical notes

• Candidates should be comfortable with US-style working: SOX controls, US-listed reporting cycles and time zone overlap.

• Check that candidates have experience of systems such as Workday, ADP or SAP.

• Salary benchmarks in the listings I found were roughly £75k–£120k, but those were older postings. Ask recruiters for current market rates before setting your budget.

If you tell me your industry, headcount and the countries involved, I can help you draft a brief to send to recruiters or a job spec.