JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S07-A-perplexity-r2 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-21T12:14:42.691Z Product: Perplexity Observation: 2 Collection country: UK Access: Dedicated signed-in / Free Model label: Search; automatic/default Model; underlying model not disclosed Mode: Free Search; native Incognito; default Model undisclosed; no preview or upgrade notice observed EXACT QUESTION Our Payroll Manager has resigned. We are a medium-sized UK employer and need a permanent replacement to run our UK payroll. Which recruitment agencies should we speak to? FULL SAVED ANSWER For a permanent UK Payroll Manager, start with specialist payroll recruiters rather than generalist agencies: they will have the strongest active candidate pool and understand PAYE, HMRC, pensions, RTI, payroll systems and compliance. The two strongest first conversations are Portfolio Payroll and Frazer Jones . theportfoliogroup +1 Agencies to approach | Agency | Why consider them | Best fit | | --- | --- | --- | | Portfolio Payroll | Positions itself as the UK’s largest specialist payroll recruiter, with dedicated permanent, executive and interim payroll consultants; recruits from payroll administrators through Heads of Payroll and Directors. theportfoliogroup +1 | Best first choice for a dedicated UK payroll manager; useful if you also need interim cover during the notice period. | | Frazer Jones | Specialist HR and payroll recruiter offering permanent payroll recruitment and executive search; explicitly recruits roles such as UK Payroll Manager and EMEA Payroll Manager. [frazerjones](https://www.frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/) | Strong option if the role is senior, strategic, or involves managing a payroll team and payroll transformation. | | Ashdown Group | UK HR recruitment specialist with permanent recruitment services and payroll-specialist roles; cites a large UK HR candidate network. [ashdowngroup](https://www.ashdowngroup.com/hr-recruitment) | Good second-tier option, especially for a hands-on Payroll Manager in a medium-sized employer. | | Tiger HR | HR-only recruiter with permanent recruitment capability and UK coverage from London, Bristol and Manchester. [tiger-recruitment](https://tiger-recruitment.com/looking-to-recruit/hr/) | Worth approaching if payroll reports into HR and cultural/leadership fit is a major priority. | | Hays | Broad-scale recruiter with strong professional and finance/HR coverage across the UK. ins-globalconsulting +1 | Useful for wider market reach, particularly if you are outside London or need a multi-site payroll leader. | | Robert Walters / Michael Page | Mid-to-senior specialist recruitment across finance, HR and related functions. [avomind](https://www.avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk) | Consider if you want competitive benchmarking and access to candidates who may move between finance and HR-led payroll roles. | Recommended approach 1. Brief Portfolio Payroll and Frazer Jones first. Ask each for a shortlist of permanent UK Payroll Manager candidates, salary benchmarks, current availability, and their process for testing UK payroll technical knowledge. theportfoliogroup +1 2. Add one regional or generalist agency —such as Hays, Robert Walters or Ashdown—only if the specialist agencies cannot produce sufficient quality within two to three weeks. ashdowngroup +1 3. Arrange interim cover now. Portfolio Payroll and Frazer Jones both offer interim or temporary payroll recruitment, which can protect month-end, year-end and HMRC deadlines while you hire permanently. frazerjones +1 4. Screen for the right profile. For a medium-sized UK employer, prioritise end-to-end UK payroll ownership: PAYE, NI, statutory payments, pension auto-enrolment, RTI submissions, P60s/P11Ds, year-end, payroll software, HMRC queries, and managing payroll staff or outsourced providers. Brief to give agencies Tell them you need a permanent Payroll Manager who can: • Run UK payroll end to end with minimal supervision. • Manage the payroll calendar, month-end, year-end and compliance deadlines. • Supervise payroll staff and/or oversee a payroll bureau. • Handle pensions, benefits, statutory payments, HMRC correspondence and audits. • Improve controls, documentation and payroll-system processes. • Partner with HR and Finance on reporting, cost analysis and employee queries. I’d begin with Portfolio Payroll for depth of payroll-only candidates, and Frazer Jones for a more senior or leadership-oriented search; use one broader agency as a parallel market test rather than your primary route. theportfoliogroup +1 SOURCES S07-A-perplexity-r2-G01-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G01-2 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G02-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G02-2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G03-1 | supporting_citation | https://ins-globalconsulting.com/news-post/recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G03-2 | supporting_citation | https://avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk S07-A-perplexity-r2-G04-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G04-2 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G05-1 | supporting_citation | https://ashdowngroup.com/hr-recruitment S07-A-perplexity-r2-G05-2 | supporting_citation | https://avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk S07-A-perplexity-r2-G06-1 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G06-2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G07-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-G07-2 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-D1 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-D2 | supporting_citation | https://ashdowngroup.com/hr-recruitment S07-A-perplexity-r2-D3 | supporting_citation | https://tiger-recruitment.com/looking-to-recruit/hr/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-D4 | supporting_citation | https://avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk S07-A-perplexity-r2-R1 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R2 | retrieved_result | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R3 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R4 | retrieved_result | https://ashdowngroup.com/hr-recruitment S07-A-perplexity-r2-R5 | retrieved_result | https://tiger-recruitment.com/looking-to-recruit/hr/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R6 | retrieved_result | https://ins-globalconsulting.com/news-post/recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R7 | retrieved_result | https://avomind.com/post/top-recruitment-agencies-in-the-uk S07-A-perplexity-r2-R8 | retrieved_result | https://morganmckinley.com/uk/employers/recruitment-solutions/hr-recruitment S07-A-perplexity-r2-R9 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/register-a-vacancy/ S07-A-perplexity-r2-R10 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/