JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S07-C-claude-r2 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-21T12:48:07.760Z Product: Claude Observation: 2 Collection country: UK Access: Dedicated signed-in / Free Model label: Sonnet 5.5 Medium; Manual Mode: Free; native Incognito; Manual EXACT QUESTION We need to replace our Payroll Manager at a medium-sized UK company. Which recruitment agencies would you shortlist for this permanent UK payroll role, and what public evidence supports their relevant experience? FULL SAVED ANSWER I’d shortlist five agencies, in two tiers. The evidence below comes mostly from the agencies’ own marketing and job ads. I found no independent performance data such as placement volumes or client satisfaction scores. Core shortlist: payroll specialists 1. Portfolio Payroll (The Portfolio Group) • Its listing in the CIPP’s magazine says it was founded in 1988 and focuses solely on recruiting payroll professionals, across all sectors and levels, on permanent, temporary and contract terms. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/) • It describes itself as an official corporate partner of the CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals), with a payroll test written exclusively for it by the CIPP for candidate testing. [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb) • It also cites two Fast Track 100 placings and a Recruiter Hot 100 listing. [a-leads](https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb) • A recent brochure shows live roles such as a Payroll Manager at a Leatherhead bureau (£35–40k) and a Senior Payroll Operations Manager in Dublin. That shows current activity at manager level, though the examples skew towards bureaus and international roles. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/478805754/54/) 2. James Gray Associates (JGA Recruitment) • It specialises in payroll, HR and reward recruitment, claims 12 years’ average payroll recruitment experience per consultant, and offers CIPP members a 20% discount on standard terms. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/) • It lists Payroll Manager among its specialist areas and cites two awards: Best Small Permanent Agency (RDLC Awards, 2020) and Best Payroll & HR Recruitment Specialists (2019). Both awards are several years old, so ask about more recent results. [jgarecruitment](https://jgarecruitment.com/?p=413823) • One of its live adverts is for a bureau payroll specialist role in Manchester, so its focus may lean towards bureau and outsourcing hires. [aicpa-cima](https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/3875383/payroll-specialist/) 3. Frazer Jones • It is a global HR executive search and recruitment firm with a dedicated payroll recruitment function. It says it has been mapping the global HR market since 1996. [frazerjones](https://www.frazerjones.com/de/market-insight/payroll/why-your-business-needs-skilled-payroll-professionals/) [gulftalent](https://www.gulftalent.com/mobile/uae/jobs/hr-payroll-officer-159855) • Its site currently shows a Payroll & Rewards Manager search for an operationally driven organisation. [frazerjones](https://www.frazerjones.com/de/market-insight/payroll/why-your-business-needs-skilled-payroll-professionals/) • This is a good fit if the role has a reward, HR operations or multi-country element. It is probably less suited to a purely transactional UK payroll hire. Its payroll content that I found is mostly global or Asia-Pacific, so confirm the UK payroll team’s depth. Broader-reach options 4. Michael Page (Finance and HR) • It lists payroll under its AP, AR, credit control and payroll finance recruitment, and describes itself as the longest-established finance recruiter in the UK. [michaelpage](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/recruitment-expertise/finance) • Its live payroll listings include permanent Payroll Specialist roles and a Payroll Manager role in industrial/manufacturing. Its payroll roles are a small part of a much larger finance offering, so ask who in the team actually handles payroll. [michaelpage](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll?page=1) 5. Hays • The CIPP magazine’s agency listing says Hays Payroll Management recruits across UK industries and specialises in placing experts into payroll jobs. That is all the public evidence I found. It’s worth a conversation for national reach, but I’d want more from them before shortlisting. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/) Caveats and how to verify • Paid listings. The CIPP magazine entries I relied on carry an invitation to advertise in the magazine, so they are probably paid placements rather than endorsements. [flippingbook](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/) • Dated evidence. Some of the job-board examples are from 2017 to 2019, so I’ve weighted current listings more heavily. • What to ask each agency: ◦ Three Payroll Manager placements from the last 12 months, in companies of a similar size and sector. ◦ Their fee structure, rebate terms and candidate guarantee. ◦ Their time-to-shortlist. ◦ Client references. ◦ Their REC membership. ◦ Their experience with your payroll system, such as iTrent or ADP. If you tell me your sector, headcount and payroll software, I can narrow this to two or three agencies and draft a short brief to send them. SOURCES S07-C-claude-r2-D1 | supporting_citation | https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/ S07-C-claude-r2-D2 | supporting_citation | https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb S07-C-claude-r2-D3 | supporting_citation | https://a-leads.co/company/1310115_db8aecdb S07-C-claude-r2-D4 | supporting_citation | https://online.flippingbook.com/view/478805754/54/ S07-C-claude-r2-D5 | supporting_citation | https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/ S07-C-claude-r2-D6 | supporting_citation | https://jgarecruitment.com/?p=413823 S07-C-claude-r2-D7 | supporting_citation | https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/3875383/payroll-specialist/ S07-C-claude-r2-D8 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/de/market-insight/payroll/why-your-business-needs-skilled-payroll-professionals/ S07-C-claude-r2-D9 | supporting_citation | https://gulftalent.com/mobile/uae/jobs/hr-payroll-officer-159855 S07-C-claude-r2-D10 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/de/market-insight/payroll/why-your-business-needs-skilled-payroll-professionals/ S07-C-claude-r2-D11 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/recruitment-expertise/finance S07-C-claude-r2-D12 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll?page=1 S07-C-claude-r2-D13 | supporting_citation | https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/ S07-C-claude-r2-D14 | supporting_citation | https://online.flippingbook.com/view/234549040/57/