ChatGPT: both observations

You need an interim Global Payroll Director on a six-month assignment , not an interim payroll manager or a team of temporary processors. I’d target specialist interim executive recruiters and global HR/payroll transformation consultancies that can supply someone who has owned payroll across multiple countries, managed governance and controls, and led teams through a leadership transition.

The key is to brief for director-level accountability and operational leadership from day one , while your permanent recruitment runs in parallel.

Who I would approach first

These are the most relevant UK recruiters I found for your brief, prioritising evidence of senior payroll recruitment rather than generic temporary staffing.

1. Oakleaf Partnership

Specialist payroll recruitment

Oakleaf has a dedicated payroll recruitment practice covering interim and permanent roles, including Global Payroll Directors and Global Heads of Payroll. That makes it a particularly relevant first call for a six-month leadership appointment. Oakleaf

• Website: [oakleafpartnership.com ](https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Ask for: the consultant responsible for senior and interim global payroll appointments.

2. Altum Consulting

Altum has advertised an Interim Global Director of Payroll role in London. The brief included global governance, compliance, vendor management, executive stakeholder engagement and transformation — closely aligned with the seniority you need. LinkedIn

• Contact route: [Altum Consulting ](https://altumconsulting.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Ask for: the recruiter handling its interim Global Payroll Director search.

• Note: the advertisement is evidence of relevant specialism, not confirmation that a candidate is currently available.

3. JGA Recruitment Group

A payroll and HR recruitment specialist with temporary and bespoke recruitment services. Worth approaching for access to experienced payroll leaders and a targeted search beyond advertised vacancies. google.com

• Phone: +44 1727 800377

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

• Ask for: interim director-level payroll candidates with international remit, rather than interim payroll managers.

4. Portfolio Payroll

A payroll-focused recruiter covering interim, contract, permanent and senior-level hiring. An additional channel for reaching established payroll leaders who may be available for a fixed-term assignment. google.com.br

• Phone: +44 20 7247 9455

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

• Ask for: a confidential search for an interim Global Payroll Director or Global Head of Payroll.

5. Russam

A senior interim-management and executive-search firm. I would use Russam as a complementary route if the appointment requires board-level influence, restructuring, transformation or substantial organisational change alongside payroll leadership. Its specific global-payroll candidate depth would need to be established. google.com

• Phone: +44 20 7099 2222

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

How to ensure you get a director, not a processor

Give the recruiters a brief that explicitly requires:

• Global ownership: direct accountability for payroll across multiple countries and regions.

• Leadership: experience managing senior payroll teams and outsourced providers, with authority to make decisions and escalate material risks.

• Governance: responsibility for payroll controls, audit, compliance, reconciliations and executive reporting.

• Strategic delivery: experience improving the operating model, systems, service levels and vendor performance.

• Interim readiness: availability to start promptly and take full leadership responsibility for six months while the permanent search continues.

Ask each recruiter to provide two or three relevant candidate profiles, evidence of previous director-level assignments, earliest start date, day rate and IR35 position. Confirm that candidates will accept an assignment ending when the permanent head is appointed, subject to agreed contractual terms.

Suggested outreach

Email

Subject

Interim Global Payroll Director – six-month leadership assignment

Hi,

We are looking to appoint an Interim Global Payroll Director for an initial six-month assignment while we recruit our permanent head of function.

This is a senior leadership appointment, not a temporary payroll processing or payroll manager role. We need someone who can take immediate ownership of the global payroll function, lead the team and external providers, maintain robust governance and controls, manage senior stakeholders, and drive operational effectiveness throughout the transition.

Please let me know whether you have access to experienced interim Global Payroll Directors or Global Heads of Payroll who could take on this assignment.

It would be helpful to receive relevant candidate profiles, availability, indicative day rates and IR35 arrangements, along with details of comparable interim leadership placements.

Kind regards,

My recommendation: start with Oakleaf Partnership and Altum Consulting, then engage JGA and Portfolio Payroll in parallel if you want a broader candidate pool.

One question that would help narrow the search: how many countries does your global payroll cover, and roughly how many employees are on the payroll? That will help distinguish someone who can run a genuinely global function from someone whose experience is mainly UK or EMEA payroll.

You need an interim executive-level Global Payroll Director , not an agency supplying temporary payroll administrators or processing staff. For a six-month assignment while you recruit the permanent head, I’d focus on UK interim management recruiters and specialist payroll executive search firms that can source someone who has already led a multinational payroll function.

The brief should cover leadership continuity, global payroll governance, vendor and outsourced-provider management, controls and compliance, transformation oversight, and stakeholder management with HR, Finance and senior leadership.

Who I would contact first

1. Frazer Jones

Strong specialist fit

They explicitly recruit for interim payroll leadership and executive search, with global payroll talent networks. Their UK team includes a Head of Payroll and interim recruitment specialists. Frazer Jones +1

• Contact: John O’Brien, Executive Director, Head of Payroll

• Phone: +44 20 7415 2171

• Website: [Frazer Jones — payroll recruitment](https://www.frazerjones.com/payroll/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Portfolio Payroll

Specialist payroll recruitment and interim executives

A dedicated payroll recruiter with experience filling senior interim roles, including global payroll and payroll director positions. Its Executive Division specifically handles senior interim and contract assignments. Oakleaf +1

• Contact: Patrick Day, Director, Executive Division

• Email: Patrick.Day@portfoliopayroll.com

• Phone: +44 20 7247 9455

• Website: [Portfolio Payroll](https://www.portfoliopayroll.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Oakleaf Partnership

Dedicated payroll search capability

Oakleaf's payroll practice covers interim and permanent appointments, including Global Payroll Directors, Global Payroll Implementation Managers and Global Heads of Payroll, with UK-wide and international reach. Oakleaf

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

• Ask specifically for its senior interim payroll practice.

4. Altum Consulting

Relevant global payroll leadership experience

Altum has advertised an Interim Global Director of Payroll role for a London-based technology business, covering multi-country operations, executive stakeholder management and payroll transformation. That is closely aligned with your requirement, although it does not confirm current candidate availability. LinkedIn

• Recruiter identified: Jen McMurray

• Website: [Altum Consulting](https://www.altumconsulting.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Ask whether the consultant or team can access candidates for an immediate six-month appointment.

How I would brief the recruiters

Be explicit that this is an accountable leadership appointment, with authority to run the function while the permanent search takes place.

Email

Subject

Urgent: Interim Global Payroll Director — six-month assignment

Hi, We are looking to appoint an

Interim Global Payroll Director for an initial six-month assignment

while we conduct a search for our permanent head of function. This is a senior leadership appointment, not a temporary payroll processing or operational support role. We need an experienced global payroll leader who can:

◦ Take immediate ownership of the global payroll function and provide leadership continuity.

◦ Lead multi-country payroll operations, governance, controls, risk and compliance.

◦ Manage outsourced payroll providers and internal teams.

◦ Partner effectively with senior HR, Finance and executive stakeholders.

◦ Oversee any operational improvement or transformation priorities during the interim period.

◦ Maintain stability and support a smooth handover to the permanent appointee.

Please prioritise candidates who have previously operated as a Global Payroll Director, Global Head of Payroll or equivalent senior international payroll leader, ideally with experience in complex, multi-country organisations. Please let us know how quickly you could present a shortlist, which immediately available candidates you have access to, and the expected day-rate range. We would welcome an initial conversation as soon as possible. Best regards

What to insist on before appointing

• Leadership evidence: Ask for examples of global payroll functions they have personally led, rather than projects they merely supported.

• International scope: Establish the number of countries, employees, payroll providers and internal reports they managed.

• Executive authority: Confirm they can make decisions on controls, provider performance, escalations and operational priorities.

• Availability: Require a realistic start date and commitment for the full six-month term.

• Handover: Make transition planning and knowledge transfer part of the assignment objectives.

My recommendation: Start with Frazer Jones and Portfolio Payroll in parallel, then add Oakleaf and Altum to widen the shortlist. These firms have directly relevant specialist recruitment capabilities; none should be assumed to have an available candidate until they confirm it.

One question that would help narrow the search: roughly how many countries does your global payroll cover, and is it predominantly outsourced or managed in-house? That will help distinguish a true global function leader from a strong regional payroll director.