JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S05-D-perplexity-r1 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-19T17:54:38.236Z Product: Perplexity Observation: 1 Collection country: UK Access: Dedicated signed-in / Free Model label: Search; automatic/default Model Mode: Free plan Search; native Incognito; underlying model not disclosed EXACT QUESTION Following several UK and European acquisitions, our UK group CFO wants one permanent Group Payroll Director to own the integration. Which recruitment agencies have a relevant senior payroll specialism, and which would you contact first? FULL SAVED ANSWER For a permanent Group Payroll Director to own UK/European post-acquisition payroll integration, I would contact Portfolio Payroll first , then JGA Recruitment and Frazer Jones in parallel. Portfolio is the strongest first call because it has a dedicated payroll executive-search team and explicitly recruits Payroll Directors, Global Heads of Payroll, transformation leads, EMEA/international payroll leaders, and payroll systems/implementation specialists. theportfoliogroup +1 Agencies to contact | Priority | Agency | Why it fits this mandate | | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Portfolio Payroll / The Portfolio Group | Dedicated payroll-only recruiter, established since 1988; its executive team targets Payroll Directors, Heads of Payroll, Global Payroll Managers and transformation leads. It also covers European/International Payroll Manager and payroll systems/HRIS specialists. theportfoliogroup +2 | | 2. JGA Recruitment | UK payroll and HR recruiter working across the UK and EMEA; it advertises searches for Global Payroll Director, Payroll Director and Head of Payroll roles. jgarecruitment +1 | | 3. Frazer Jones | Global HR recruitment and executive-search firm with a specialist payroll practice, covering UK, EMEA and global payroll leaders; useful if the role needs a broader international HR/payroll network. [frazerjones](https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/) | | 4. Hays Accountancy & Finance | Large generalist with dedicated payroll consultants and UK-wide coverage; recruits up to Head of Payroll/Director level and can provide market reach and salary benchmarking. hays.co +1 | | 5. McKinnon Talent | Smaller UK payroll-specialist recruiter, recruiting from entry level to senior leadership across in-house, bureau and outsourced environments. [mckinnontalent.co](https://mckinnontalent.co.uk/) | | 6. Dudman Tidbury Executive Search | Mid-to-senior HR and finance executive search firm that covers payroll managers through finance leadership; a possible retained-search option rather than a payroll-only specialist. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/in/bill-dudman-dudman-tidbury-executive-search-8823004) | Who to contact first Contact Portfolio Payroll first and ask specifically for its Executive Search / senior payroll leadership team . Its published specialisms align almost exactly with the brief: permanent director-level hires, global/EMEA payroll, payroll transformation, systems implementation, and senior executive search. theportfoliogroup +2 Run JGA and Frazer Jones as parallel conversations , rather than waiting for Portfolio’s shortlist. JGA brings a focused UK/EMEA payroll network, while Frazer Jones brings a wider global HR-leadership search capability—useful if the eventual appointee must operate credibly with HR, finance, works councils, local providers and acquired-country leadership teams. jgarecruitment +1 Brief to give each agency Make clear this is not a conventional UK payroll operations director role. The successful candidate should demonstrate: • Ownership of payroll integration across multiple UK and European acquired entities. • Experience consolidating payroll vendors, calendars, data, controls and reporting after M&A. • Knowledge of UK payroll plus practical oversight of European payroll through in-house teams, shared services or local providers. • Experience with payroll systems/HRIS selection or migration, automation and standardisation. • Strong compliance, internal-controls and audit experience. • Credibility reporting to a Group CFO and partnering with HR, tax, legal, treasury and country leadership. • A track record of leading transformation while maintaining business-as-usual payroll delivery. Engagement approach For a role this strategic, ask Portfolio and Frazer Jones to quote a retained executive-search mandate ; use JGA and Hays initially for market mapping, salary calibration and contingent coverage. Portfolio explicitly offers senior/executive payroll search and salary benchmarking, while Hays can support permanent and interim appointments across its UK network. hays.co +1 A practical sequence would be: brief Portfolio this week; ask JGA and Frazer Jones for a one-page candidate-market map within five working days; then decide whether to run one retained search or a limited two-agency contingent process. 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