Claude: both observations

Here are the firms worth contacting, grouped by how well they fit. The first group are specialists I verified through search. The second group are generalists I’m including from my own background knowledge.

Payroll and HR specialists (start here)

• Frazer Jones (part of The SR Group) : A global HR recruitment and executive search consultancy with a dedicated payroll team, offering permanent, executive search and interim solutions. It has a payroll director focused on UK interim hires, and she has specialised in that area since 2016. Its past placements include interim global payroll leadership covering a gap while a permanent head is recruited. It’s the closest match to your brief because it can handle both the interim cover and the permanent search. [Book a consultation +2](https://frazerjones.com/?p=140035)

• Middlemore : A specialist executive search and recruitment firm covering Global Payroll, HR, HRIS, Finance and Reward, offering executive search, contract and interim solutions, and talent mapping. It is listed in the Global Payroll Association directory, so it is embedded in the global payroll community. It’s a good fit if your role also involves systems or transformation work. [gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore)

• Oakleaf Partnership : Describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It has placed global payroll heads and managers, and it runs interim work too. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401574274/head-of-global-payroll/)

• Altum Consulting : It has recently recruited an interim Global Director of Payroll for a London tech business, which is close to your requirement. [itjobswatch](https://itjobswatch.co.uk/jv/Altum-Consulting/Interim-Director-of-Payroll-Job-London-South-East-England-UK-4w1wc9)

Larger generalists

These are not payroll-only, but they cover payroll and have interim arms. I haven’t verified their current payroll leadership offerings.

• Michael Page / Page Personnel : Its finance and HR teams have previously placed a six-month interim Global Head of Payroll. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/5348091/global-head-of-payroll/)

• Hays and Robert Half : Both run large finance and HR interim desks in the UK. They are useful for breadth and speed, though they may be less specialised at global head level.

Tips for the search

1. Split the two mandates if you want to. Ask each firm whether they would run the interim and the permanent search together, or separately. Using one firm for both can speed things up. Using separate firms for each avoids a firm being tempted to steer the permanent search toward its own interim candidate.

2. Be explicit about scope. Say how many countries and payrolls are involved, which vendors you use (for example ADP, Cloudpay or Workday), and whether the role is operational or governance-heavy. Interim candidates differ a lot on this, and a clear brief will tighten shortlists.

3. Ask about notice periods and availability. Strong interims are often free within a few weeks, which matters given your departure timeline.

4. Ask about fees. Interim fees are usually a mark-up on the day rate. Permanent search is either a percentage of first-year salary or a retained fee, and retained fees are more common for global head roles. Compare terms across two or three firms.

5. Use your network too. The Global Payroll Association and the CIPP can be useful sources of referrals for interims who aren’t on agency books.

I can draft a brief for the firms, covering role scope, interim duration and permanent search requirements, if that would help.

For a six-month interim plus permanent search support, I’d start with these firms. The first group comes from my search and the second from general market knowledge, so treat the second as a longlist to vet.

Specialist HR and payroll firms (best fit)

• Frazer Jones (SR Group): a global HR specialist with a dedicated UK payroll team. One of its directors focuses solely on interim payroll hires across the UK, and it is currently advertising Head of Global Payroll mandates. It is the closest match to what you describe, and it has placed interim global payroll leaders while clients recruit a permanent hire. [Linda Giacomantonio +2](https://www.frazerjones.com/nl/?p=3195)

• Altum Consulting: it has recruited an interim Global Director of Payroll for a London tech business, so this seniority of interim is familiar to them. [itjobswatch](https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jv/Altum-Consulting/Interim-Director-of-Payroll-Job-London-South-East-England-UK-4w1wc9)

• Oakleaf Partnership: it describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It is more visible on interim payroll specialist roles, so ask about their seniority of network. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401634724/international-payroll-specialist/)

Large finance and HR recruiters with payroll desks

• Page Personnel / Michael Page: Page Personnel has run a Global Head of Payroll interim assignment of up to six months, though that example was at a lower salary band than you may be targeting. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/5348091/global-head-of-payroll/)

• Robert Half: it has a finance and accounting arm placing interim payroll managers. It is strong on volume but typically less so at global-head level. [roberthalf](https://www.roberthalf.com/gb/en/jobs/camberley/interim)

• Hays and Reed: from my own knowledge, both have payroll and HR interim desks. I haven’t verified their senior payroll credentials here.

Executive search for the permanent role

• If the permanent hire is at executive level, ask the HR specialists above whether they run retained searches. Otherwise consider an HR-focused executive search firm.

• Korn Ferry and Lucas Group appear in my results, but those listings were North American. Check their UK payroll coverage first.

Tips for the process

• Brief two or three firms, not ten. Ask each whether they can supply both the interim and the permanent search, or only one.

• Ask for interim candidates who have run payroll through a transition. Candidates with multi-country experience, vendor management (such as ADP, CloudPay or Deel) and transformation or M&A experience are easier to place quickly.

• Check fee structures. Interims are usually charged as a day-rate margin. Some firms offer reduced permanent fees if your interim converts or if they run the search too.

• Ask about your own sector, since payroll leaders in tech, financial services and manufacturing often come from distinct pools.

If you tell me your sector, number of countries and payroll systems, I can help you draft a brief for the recruiters or narrow the list.