JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S04-B-perplexity-r1 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-19T12:29:45.933Z Product: Perplexity Observation: 1 Collection country: UK Access: Dedicated signed-in / Free Model label: Search; automatic/default Model; Pro free preview enabled Mode: Free plan Search; native Incognito; underlying model not disclosed EXACT QUESTION Who recruits senior payroll change leaders in the UK? We need someone to lead a multi-country payroll system implementation, not just run monthly payroll. FULL SAVED ANSWER For a multi-country payroll system implementation , use a small shortlist of specialist payroll/HCM transformation recruiters rather than a general finance recruiter. The strongest UK-first options are Middlemore , Portfolio Payroll , and Oakleaf Partnership , supplemented by HCM/ERP recruiters for Workday or SuccessFactors-specific talent. Best-fit recruiters | Recruiter | Why they fit | Best use | | --- | --- | --- | | Middlemore | Specialist executive search and recruitment across Global Payroll, HR, HRIS and Finance; explicitly covers global payroll transformation, payroll implementation, programme/project management, change, data migration, testing, governance and vendor management. [Trusted domain gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore) | First call for a permanent or interim Global Payroll Transformation Lead / Programme Director | | Portfolio Payroll | UK payroll specialist since 1988; recruits through to Heads of Payroll and Payroll Directors, including international payroll and payroll systems implementation. Its executive search explicitly covers Payroll Transformation Leads and Global Payroll Managers. theportfoliogroup +1 | Strong for senior permanent and interim payroll leadership, especially if you want deep payroll-domain networks | | Oakleaf Partnership | Payroll recruitment across financial and professional services, including operational, change/transformation and leadership hiring, permanent and interim. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/in/alex-wade-75885213) | Good for interim transformation leadership and programme-style payroll change roles | | Hays | Recruits payroll, transformation/systems and tech-enabled roles, including senior, interim, contract and executive-search appointments. [Trusted domain hays.co](https://hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance) | Useful for scale, contract/interim coverage, and adjacent HRIS/finance transformation talent | | Robert Walters Executive Search | UK executive search with confidential market mapping and outreach for leadership roles. [Trusted domain robertwalters.co](https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/executive-search.html) | Best if the role is board-visible, complex, or needs a retained search | | Opus Resourcing | HCM recruitment specialist for Workday, SAP SuccessFactors and Oracle HCM, including payroll cloud implementation talent across UK/Europe. [opusresourcing](https://opusresourcing.com/our-sectors/hcm-recruitment/) | Use alongside a payroll specialist if the implementation is Workday, SuccessFactors ECP, or another HCM platform | How to brief them Ask for a Global Payroll Transformation Lead , Payroll Programme Director , or Payroll Change & Implementation Lead —not a “Payroll Manager.” A relevant benchmark is Mondi’s Global Payroll Transformation Lead, which requires leading multi-country rollouts, end-to-end implementation, testing, stabilisation, governance and standardisation across countries. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/jobs/view/global-payroll-transformation-lead-at-mondi-group-4385246720) Require evidence of: • Leading at least one end-to-end payroll system implementation across multiple countries, ideally with wave-based rollouts. • Experience with your target platform: Workday, SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, ADP/CloudPay, SD Worx, or local in-country providers. • Data migration, parallel runs, testing, cutover, go-live and post-go-live stabilisation. • Vendor and in-country provider governance, plus compliance and controls across jurisdictions. • Stakeholder management across HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, IT and works councils/unions where relevant. • Change management and operating-model design—not merely monthly payroll processing. Recommended approach 1. Retain Middlemore or Portfolio Payroll for the core search; both have explicit senior payroll transformation coverage. gpa +1 2. Add an HCM/ERP specialist such as Opus if the role is platform-heavy. [opusresourcing](https://opusresourcing.com/our-sectors/hcm-recruitment/) 3. Use Oakleaf or Hays for interim capacity if you need someone to start quickly and hand over to a permanent leader later. hays.co +1 4. Insist on implementation case studies , with countries, platform, payroll model, timeline, risks and measurable outcomes. If you want one practical starting point: brief Middlemore and Portfolio Payroll in parallel, with a tightly written scorecard emphasising multi-country implementation, platform experience, governance and change leadership. That should avoid attracting strong monthly-payroll operators who lack programme-delivery credibility. 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