JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S05-A-perplexity-r1 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-19T17:35:51.638Z Product: Perplexity Observation: 1 Collection country: UK Access: Dedicated signed-in / Free Model label: Search; automatic/default Model; free advanced-search preview enabled Mode: Free plan Search; native Incognito; automatic free advanced-search preview EXACT QUESTION We are a UK-based, private-equity-backed group that has acquired businesses across the UK and Europe. We need a UK-based Group Payroll Director to integrate payroll teams, providers and controls. Which recruitment firms should we shortlist? FULL SAVED ANSWER For this mandate, I would shortlist a hybrid panel : one specialist payroll executive-search firm, one PE/HR-leadership search firm, and one broad international search firm. The role is unusual because it combines deep UK payroll operations with cross-border integration, provider management, controls and PE value-creation experience. Recommended shortlist | Firm | Why shortlist | Best use | | --- | --- | --- | | Portfolio Payroll / The Portfolio Group | The strongest pure payroll-specialist option: it recruits Payroll Directors, Heads of Payroll, Global Payroll Managers and Payroll Transformation Leads, and offers dedicated executive search for senior payroll roles. theportfoliogroup +1 | Lead specialist search for candidates who have actually run multi-entity payroll, shared-service transitions and payroll-provider rationalisation. | | Oakleaf Partnership | Its dedicated payroll practice covers permanent and interim roles up to Global Payroll Directors and Global Payroll Implementation Managers, with UK and international sourcing capability. oakleafpartnership +1 | A strong second specialist firm, particularly if you need interim integration leadership alongside the permanent hire. | | Robert Walters Executive Search | A credible broad executive-search option with UK reach; its executive-search model uses market mapping, confidential outreach and assessment to reach less visible senior candidates. [Trusted domain robertwalters.co](https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/executive-search.html) | Useful where the successful candidate may come from finance transformation, shared services, HR operations or PE-backed group functions rather than a conventional payroll title. | | Berwick Partners (Odgers Berndtson) | A leading UK HR senior-leadership and executive-search consultancy, with access to a global HR talent pool through the Odgers group. [Trusted domain berwickpartners.co](https://berwickpartners.co.uk/hr/) | Best if you want a retained, board-level search and expect the role to sit close to the Group CFO/CHRO agenda. | | Marble Hill Partners | Explicitly partners with UK PE investors, portfolio companies and CEOs to hire senior leaders for growth, transformation, value creation and exit; its remit includes Chief People Officer and HR Director searches. [marblehillpartners](https://marblehillpartners.com/) | Strong choice if the mandate is explicitly PE-led and requires someone credible with investors and an integration/value-creation plan. | | Bronzegate | A London-based specialist executive-search and interim firm focused on PE-backed portfolio companies, particularly finance, technology and transformation leadership. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/company/bronzegate-search) | Worth including for PE-network access and transformation-oriented candidates, though payroll depth should be tested carefully. | Suggested panel structure • Retained search: Berwick Partners, Marble Hill Partners or Robert Walters Executive Search. • Specialist payroll search: Portfolio Payroll and Oakleaf Partnership. • PE/transformation overlay: Marble Hill Partners or Bronzegate. • Interim cover: Oakleaf Partnership and Portfolio Payroll, both of which can source interim payroll leadership while the permanent Group Payroll Director is recruited. oakleafpartnership +1 What to test in candidates For your specific situation, prioritise evidence of: • Running payroll across multiple acquired UK and European entities, including TUPE, entity onboarding, harmonisation and de-duplication. • Managing or replacing payroll bureaux, EOR providers and in-house teams; including SLA, pricing, data-migration and exit management. • Designing a target operating model: shared services versus local payroll, centralised controls, calendar governance, and payroll-system strategy. • UK compliance depth—RTI, auto-enrolment, statutory payments, P11D/benefits, HMRC audits—and practical awareness of EU country payroll differences. • Controls and assurance: SOX-style controls where relevant, reconciliation, segregation of duties, year-end controls, and audit remediation. • PE experience: integration at pace, cost synergies, reporting to a board or investment committee, and working alongside CFO/CHRO transformation leads. Briefing approach Run the specialist firms on a contingent or exclusive specialist brief , but reserve the broader retained search for a tightly defined “Group Payroll & Payroll Transformation Director” mandate. Ask each firm for anonymised examples of multi-country payroll integration, provider consolidation, and PE-backed payroll transformation—not simply director-level payroll placements. The clearest first calls would be Portfolio Payroll, Oakleaf Partnership, Marble Hill Partners and Berwick Partners ; add Robert Walters if you want a wider transformation and shared-services talent pool. robertwalters.co +4 SOURCES S05-A-perplexity-r1-C1 | supporting_citation | https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/executive-search.html S05-A-perplexity-r1-C2 | supporting_citation | https://berwickpartners.co.uk/hr/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C3 | supporting_citation | https://marblehillpartners.com/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C4 | supporting_citation | https://linkedin.com/company/bronzegate-search S05-A-perplexity-r1-R1 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R2 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R3 | retrieved_result | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S05-A-perplexity-r1-R4 | retrieved_result | https://oakleafpartnership.com/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R5 | retrieved_result | https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/executive-search.html S05-A-perplexity-r1-R6 | retrieved_result | https://berwickpartners.co.uk/hr/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R7 | retrieved_result | https://marblehillpartners.com/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R8 | retrieved_result | https://linkedin.com/company/bronzegate-search S05-A-perplexity-r1-R9 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R10 | retrieved_result | https://irisglobal.com/countries/payroll-hr-uk/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R11 | retrieved_result | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S05-A-perplexity-r1-R12 | retrieved_result | https://swgroup.com/business-outsourcing-services/outsourced-payroll-services/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R13 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/jobs/director-of-payroll-5/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R14 | retrieved_result | https://avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk S05-A-perplexity-r1-R15 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R16 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/job-listings/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R17 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/about-us/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R18 | retrieved_result | https://ashdowngroup.com/hr-recruitment S05-A-perplexity-r1-R19 | retrieved_result | https://recruit-mogul.com/uk/industries/human-resources/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R20 | retrieved_result | https://linkedin.com/company/crescent-search S05-A-perplexity-r1-R21 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/page/10/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R22 | retrieved_result | https://mindpartners.uk/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-R23 | retrieved_result | https://stoneexecutive.co.uk/industries-and-functions/function/human-resources-executive-search S05-A-perplexity-r1-R24 | retrieved_result | https://agencycentral.co.uk/agencysearch/accounting/skills/payroll/payroll.htm S05-A-perplexity-r1-C5 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C6 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C7 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S05-A-perplexity-r1-C8 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C9 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S05-A-perplexity-r1-C10 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C11 | supporting_citation | https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/executive-search.html S05-A-perplexity-r1-C12 | supporting_citation | https://berwickpartners.co.uk/hr/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C13 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S05-A-perplexity-r1-C14 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S05-A-perplexity-r1-C15 | supporting_citation | https://marblehillpartners.com/