Claude: both observations

Here are the agencies that came up, grouped by type. I’d shortlist two or three and brief them in parallel.

Payroll-only specialists

• Portfolio Payroll is a London-based consultancy that recruits only payroll professionals at all levels across the UK, covering permanent, temporary and contract roles. It is also a corporate partner of the CIPP and offers candidates a payroll test written with them, which helps if you want to verify technical skills early. [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb) [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb)

• JGA Recruitment Group describes itself as a specialist payroll and HR recruitment agency. It has advertised permanent payroll specialist roles that include query handling and auto-enrolment checks, which is close to your brief. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/8632420/payroll-specialist-london-40-000pa/)

HR and finance specialists with payroll desks

• Oakleaf Partnership calls itself the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy. It regularly places permanent payroll specialists, including sole-payroll and system-migration roles. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401603356/payroll-specialist-/)

• Frazer Jones is a global HR recruitment specialist offering permanent and interim solutions. It has recruited for payroll roles that require specific systems experience. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401672651/uk-payroll-specialist-/)

Large generalists

• Michael Page lists senior payroll specialist and other payroll roles across a range of industries. [michaelpage](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll?page=1)

• Robert Walters and Hays both advertise payroll roles. Hays recruits for permanent end-to-end UK payroll roles, including high-volume environments. [dwp](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/details/17306735)

How to choose

• If you want the deepest payroll-only candidate pool, start with Portfolio Payroll and JGA.

• If you also want access to wider HR and finance networks, add Oakleaf or Michael Page.

• Give each agency the same brief so you can compare candidate quality fairly. Include headcount and pay frequencies, your payroll software (IRIS, ADP, Sage, etc.), whether the role is hybrid, and the salary range. Mention that you want someone confident handling employee queries day to day.

• Ask about fee percentage, the rebate or replacement period if the hire leaves early, and whether they test payroll knowledge before submitting CVs.

• Check the CIPP qualification level you want, such as the Payroll Technician or Professional certificates, since many strong candidates hold them.

I can draft a job spec or a brief for the agencies if that would help.

Several UK agencies specialise in payroll recruitment. These are the ones that came up, plus some tips on choosing between them.

Payroll specialists

• Portfolio Payroll (part of The Portfolio Group, London): It says it was founded in 1988 and recruits only payroll professionals, offering permanent, temporary and contract hiring at all levels. It is also a corporate partner of the CIPP and offers candidate testing through a payroll test written exclusively for it by the CIPP. That test could help you screen for end-to-end UK payroll competence. Contact: [recruitment@portfoliopayroll.com](mailto:recruitment@portfoliopayroll.com) , 020 7247 9455. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/) [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb)

• JGA Recruitment Group (James Gray Associates) : It specialises in payroll, HR and reward recruitment, covering permanent, contract and interim roles across the UK, Europe and Asia. It also advertises mid-level payroll specialist roles, so it clearly works at your seniority. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)

• Oakleaf Partnership : It describes itself as the UK’s largest independent HR recruitment consultancy, founded in 2005. It has a dedicated payroll team covering roles from Payroll Administrator up to Global Head of Payroll. [personneltoday](https://jobs.personneltoday.com/job/1401629323/payroll-specialist/) [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/970825/57/)

Larger generalists with payroll desks

• Hays : Its Payroll Management division recruits across a range of UK industries and specialises in placing payroll professionals. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/463504591/57/)

• Robert Walters : It recruits payroll specialists, including on temp-to-perm terms, for roles covering HMRC compliance, National Insurance, auto-enrolment, SSP/SMP and day-to-day queries. [robertwalters](https://robertwalters.co.uk/humanresources/jobs/otherspecialistpositions/1894184-payroll-specialist---temp-tp-perm.html)

Choosing between them

1. Specialist vs generalist: For a permanent senior hire, I’d start with one or two specialists (Portfolio and JGA are the obvious candidates). They tend to have deeper candidate pools than generalists.

2. Brief them precisely: Say whether you need hands-on processing of the full monthly cycle, which payroll system you run, and whether you want CIPP qualifications. Also state the salary band, which helps agencies shortlist more accurately.

3. Ask about fees and terms: Compare percentage fees, rebate or replacement periods if the hire leaves early, and whether they can show recent placements at senior level.

4. Don’t over-rely on one agency: Two agencies on a contingent basis usually give better coverage for a small team’s single hire. Just avoid briefing too many, since duplicate CV submissions cause friction.

Some of the directory listings I found date from 2024 or earlier, so check each agency’s current contact details and services on its website before reaching out. If you’d like, I can draft a job brief or outline interview questions for a Senior Payroll Specialist.