JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S06-A-perplexity-r1 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-19T18:03:12.232Z 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 Our UK-headquartered business has recurring payroll errors across several countries, and a review has found weak controls and unclear ownership. We need to hire a permanent Global Payroll Director in the UK to rebuild the function. Which recruiters should we speak to? FULL SAVED ANSWER For a permanent UK-based Global Payroll Director to fix recurring multi-country payroll errors, prioritise specialist payroll executive-search firms rather than generalist HR recruiters. The strongest first conversations are Middlemore, Frazer Jones, Oakleaf Partnership, The Portfolio Group, and JGA Recruitment ; add Page Executive if you want a broader transformation-and-governance lens. gpa +5 Recommended recruiters | Recruiter | Why they fit this mandate | Best use | | --- | --- | --- | | Middlemore | Specialist executive search across Global Payroll, HR, HRIS and finance; explicitly covers payroll transformation, governance, compliance, vendor management and post-implementation optimisation. [Trusted domain gpa](https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore) | First choice for a rebuild mandate spanning operations, controls and transformation. | | Frazer Jones | Has a dedicated payroll team led by an executive payroll/benefits specialist recruiting UK, EMEA and global-remit leaders; offers executive search and interim options. frazerjones +1 | Strong for senior global payroll leadership and access to a broad international network. | | Oakleaf Partnership | Dedicated payroll consultancy placing permanent and interim roles up to Global Payroll Director level, with UK and international sourcing capability. [oakleafpartnership](https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | Good for both the permanent Director and any interim stabilisation resource. | | The Portfolio Group / Portfolio Payroll | Runs a dedicated payroll executive-search practice for Global Heads of Payroll, Payroll Directors and transformation leads across the UK. theportfoliogroup +1 | Useful for director-level payroll leadership and transformation-focused searches. | | JGA Recruitment | UK payroll recruitment specialist sourcing permanent, contract and interim payroll talent; advertises Global Payroll Director and transformation roles. [jgarecruitment](https://jgarecruitment.com/recruitment-test/) | Good complement for market mapping, salary benchmarking and a wider candidate pool. | | Page Executive | Its People and Pay Governance practice covers payroll transformation, reward, global mobility, employment tax and governance, serving listed, PE-backed and multinational organisations. [Trusted domain pageexecutive](https://pageexecutive.com/recruitment-expertise/consultant/location/uk) | Best if the role must sit alongside reward, mobility, tax and broader people-function transformation. | | Hays | Has recent Global Payroll Director mandates involving multi-region payroll operations, including EMEA and APAC. jobs +1 | Useful for volume, market reach and benchmarking, though less niche than the specialists above. | How to run the search • Use 2–3 firms, not 6–8. A retained or exclusive search with Middlemore or Frazer Jones, plus one specialist contingent firm such as Oakleaf or Portfolio, usually gives better focus than a broad multi-agency brief. gpa +3 • Make control ownership explicit. Ask candidates to evidence ownership of payroll control frameworks, error root-cause analysis, vendor governance, country compliance, data controls, escalation and post-implementation assurance—not merely payroll delivery. • Test transformation credibility. The ideal profile should have led a multi-country payroll remediation or transformation, ideally including HCM/payroll system integration, vendor consolidation, standardised processes and controls. gpa +1 • Define the reporting line before briefing. For an error-and-control problem, the role should usually report into CFO, COO, or a senior People Operations leader with direct authority over payroll vendors, finance interfaces and internal audit remediation. • Ask for a 90-day plan. Require candidates to explain how they would stabilise recurring errors, establish a global control owner per process, and create a country-by-country risk and compliance register. Suggested shortlist approach 1. Retained search: Middlemore or Frazer Jones. 2. Specialist contingent support: Oakleaf Partnership or Portfolio Payroll. 3. Optional market-intelligence/benchmarking: JGA or Hays. 4. Broader transformation search: Page Executive, particularly if the appointment will also own reward, mobility, HRIS or pay-governance interfaces. gpa +5 For this specific situation, I would begin with Middlemore and Frazer Jones , then add Oakleaf if you also need an interim Global Payroll Transformation or Controls lead while the permanent Director is recruited. gpa +2 SOURCES S06-A-perplexity-r1-C1 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C2 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S06-A-perplexity-r1-C3 | supporting_citation | https://jgarecruitment.com/recruitment-test/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C4 | supporting_citation | https://pageexecutive.com/recruitment-expertise/consultant/location/uk S06-A-perplexity-r1-R1 | retrieved_result | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-R2 | retrieved_result | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R3 | retrieved_result | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S06-A-perplexity-r1-R4 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R5 | retrieved_result | https://jgarecruitment.com/recruitment-test/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R6 | retrieved_result | https://pageexecutive.com/recruitment-expertise/consultant/location/uk S06-A-perplexity-r1-R7 | retrieved_result | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R8 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R9 | retrieved_result | https://jobs.service.gov.uk/jobs/6a7a68b19fdcdb9986294160 S06-A-perplexity-r1-R10 | retrieved_result | https://bebee.com/gb/jobs/global-payroll-director-hays-specialist-recruitment-limited-london--techmap_gb_57254268 S06-A-perplexity-r1-R11 | retrieved_result | https://talents.studysmarter.co.uk/companies/waters-corporation/wilmslow/director-global-payroll-16504575/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R12 | retrieved_result | https://executiveheadhunters.co.uk/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-R13 | retrieved_result | https://linkedin.com/in/abuchoudhury S06-A-perplexity-r1-R14 | retrieved_result | https://jobsearchplace.co.uk/jobs/global-payroll-director--strategy-and-transformation-3157610234 S06-A-perplexity-r1-R15 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/jobs/director-of-payroll-4/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C5 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C6 | supporting_citation | https://pageexecutive.com/recruitment-expertise/consultant/location/uk S06-A-perplexity-r1-C7 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C8 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S06-A-perplexity-r1-C9 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C10 | supporting_citation | https://jgarecruitment.com/recruitment-test/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C11 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C12 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C13 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C14 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C15 | supporting_citation | https://jobs.service.gov.uk/jobs/6a7a68b19fdcdb9986294160 S06-A-perplexity-r1-C16 | supporting_citation | https://bebee.com/gb/jobs/global-payroll-director-hays-specialist-recruitment-limited-london--techmap_gb_57254268 S06-A-perplexity-r1-C17 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C18 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C19 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S06-A-perplexity-r1-C20 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C21 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C22 | supporting_citation | https://talents.studysmarter.co.uk/companies/waters-corporation/wilmslow/director-global-payroll-16504575/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C23 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C24 | supporting_citation | https://pageexecutive.com/recruitment-expertise/consultant/location/uk S06-A-perplexity-r1-C25 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C26 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S06-A-perplexity-r1-C27 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/executive-search/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C28 | supporting_citation | https://jgarecruitment.com/recruitment-test/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C29 | supporting_citation | https://gpa.net/blogs/directory/middlemore S06-A-perplexity-r1-C30 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/consultants/john-obrien/ S06-A-perplexity-r1-C31 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities