Perplexity: both observations

For a six-month interim Global Head of Payroll plus a concurrent permanent search, I would first contact Portfolio Payroll , Oakleaf Partnership , and Frazer Jones . They are the strongest combination of dedicated payroll specialism, senior interim coverage, and global/permanent executive search capability. theportfoliogroup +5

Best firms to contact

| Firm | Why contact them | Best use |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Portfolio Payroll | Positions itself as the UK’s largest specialist payroll recruiter and explicitly recruits interim Heads of Payroll, global/EMEA payroll specialists, project leads, and executive-level interim/contract talent. theportfoliogroup +3 | First call for the six-month interim leader ; also useful for permanent payroll leadership. |

| Oakleaf Partnership | A dedicated payroll consultancy covering interim and permanent roles from payroll managers through Global Payroll Directors, with UK and international sourcing capability. [oakleafpartnership](https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | Strong for both the interim appointment and a global payroll leadership permanent search. |

| Frazer Jones | A global HR recruitment and executive-search consultancy with a dedicated payroll practice, including named UK payroll leadership and interim specialists. It explicitly offers interim/fractional payroll professionals and executive search for global payroll managers. frazerjones +1 | Best for the permanent Global Head of Payroll search , especially if the role has international scope. |

| Hays Accountancy & Finance | Recruits payroll from senior leaders to niche specialists across permanent, interim, and contract appointments, with a large UK office network. hays.co +1 | Good secondary/parallel search, particularly if you need rapid market coverage or regional options. |

| The Leppington Group | Specialist payroll and payroll-technology talent firm covering Head of Payroll, Global Payroll Manager, and Payroll Operations Director roles; offers permanent, fixed-term, interim, and contract coverage. [theleppingtongroup](https://theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent) | Useful for a confidential, network-led senior search, especially where payroll technology/transformation matters. |

| Resourcing4HR | Independent HR-specialist recruiter covering payroll, reward, and senior HR roles through permanent, contract, and interim routes. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/company/resourcing4hr) | Worth including for a broader HR-leadership perspective, though less payroll-specialist than the first three. |

Recommended approach

Run two linked but separate mandates :

• Interim mandate: Give Portfolio Payroll and Oakleaf a 48–72-hour brief for an experienced Global/International Payroll Director or Head of Payroll who can stabilise operations, vendor management, governance, compliance, and month-end/year-end controls. Portfolio explicitly markets interim Heads of Payroll and project leads for continuity and compliance. theportfoliogroup +2

• Permanent mandate: Brief Frazer Jones and Oakleaf on a confidential executive search for the permanent Global Head of Payroll. Frazer Jones combines payroll executive search with global reach and named UK payroll/interim specialists. frazerjones +1

• Market-check option: Add Hays as a contingent/parallel source if speed is critical or you want to benchmark the interim day-rate and permanent compensation market. hays.co +1

Brief to give recruiters

Ask each firm to confirm:

• Access to candidates with multi-country payroll , EOR/vendor oversight, payroll transformation, and global governance experience.

• Whether they can provide an interim on a six-month fixed-term or day-rate contract , with a short-notice start.

• Their process for avoiding conflicts between the interim and permanent searches.

• References specifically from comparable global payroll leadership placements.

• Fee structure, replacement guarantee, IR35/engagement-model handling, and whether the interim can transition into a permanent-role advisory capacity if appropriate.

If you want the fastest practical shortlist, start with Portfolio Payroll for the interim and Frazer Jones for the permanent search , with Oakleaf engaged across both. theportfoliogroup +4

For a six-month interim Global Head of Payroll plus a parallel permanent search, start with firms that explicitly cover both senior payroll leadership and interim/contract placements. The strongest initial shortlist is below.

Priority firms

| Firm | Why contact them | Best fit |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Portfolio Payroll / The Portfolio Group | UK’s largest dedicated payroll recruiter; explicitly places interim Heads of Payroll, Global/EMEA payroll specialists, and payroll project leads, with separate permanent, executive, and temporary/contract teams. theportfoliogroup +2 | First call for fast interim cover and permanent pipeline |

| Frazer Jones | Global HR recruitment and executive-search consultancy with dedicated payroll executive recruitment; covers permanent, interim, fractional, temporary, and executive-search mandates up to global payroll leadership. [frazerjones](https://www.frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/) | Best for combining an interim appointment with a discreet global permanent search |

| Oakleaf Partnership | Dedicated payroll consultancy placing interim and permanent roles from administrators through Global Payroll Directors; says it can source across the UK and internationally. [oakleafpartnership](https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | Strong for senior/global payroll leadership and international reach |

| The Leppington Group (TLG Talent) | Specialist payroll and payroll-technology network covering Head of Payroll, Global Payroll Manager, and Payroll Operations Director; offers permanent, fixed-term, interim, and contract support, with confidential search. [theleppingtongroup](https://www.theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent) | Useful for complex, multi-country or payroll-transformation mandates |

| Hays Accountancy & Finance | Large recruiter with dedicated payroll coverage and permanent, interim, and contract capability from senior leaders to niche specialists. [hays.co](https://www.hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance) | Good secondary option for speed, scale, and broader finance-leadership coverage |

| Elliott Scott HR | HR-focused global interim and executive-search firm; suitable where the role is closely tied to wider HR transformation or global people operations. [elliottscotthr](https://www.elliottscotthr.com/hr-hiring/our-services/lf_interim-solutions/) | Alternative for a globally networked interim/executive search |

| McKinnon Talent | UK specialist payroll recruiter covering entry-level through senior leadership across in-house, outsourced, bureau, and accountancy-firm environments. [mckinnontalent.co](https://www.mckinnontalent.co.uk/) | Useful additional UK-market coverage |

Recommended approach

• Run two searches in parallel: appoint an interim leader quickly through Portfolio Payroll and/or Frazer Jones, while Frazer Jones, Oakleaf, or Leppington conducts the permanent global search.

• Brief the interim role around continuity: global payroll governance, vendor/provider oversight, compliance, year-end or transformation risk, team stabilisation, and handover to the permanent hire.

• Keep the permanent search confidential: use executive-search-style firms—especially Frazer Jones, Oakleaf, or Leppington—if the departing leader remains employed during notice.

• Ask each firm for evidence: recent Global Head of Payroll placements, interim day-rate ranges, availability, multi-country payroll experience, and references from similar complexity.

Practical shortlist

For the fastest credible response, contact Portfolio Payroll, Frazer Jones, Oakleaf Partnership, and The Leppington Group first. Portfolio is particularly strong for immediate interim payroll cover; Frazer Jones and Oakleaf are better suited to a global permanent leadership search; Leppington adds a specialised network for senior global payroll and payroll-technology leadership. theportfoliogroup +3