JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S07-C-perplexity-r2 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-21T12:48:08.172Z 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 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 For a medium-sized UK company replacing a permanent Payroll Manager , I would shortlist Portfolio Payroll, Hays, Michael Page, Reed Accountancy, and Oakleaf Partnership . The strongest specialist-first choice is Portfolio Payroll; the large generalists give broader reach and regional coverage; Oakleaf is best if the role overlaps materially with HR, reward, or payroll transformation. Shortlist and evidence | Agency | Why shortlist | Public evidence of payroll relevance | | --- | --- | --- | | Portfolio Payroll | Best first call for a dedicated payroll hire: specialist payroll brand, permanent-recruitment team, and payroll-specific screening. | Says it has supported the payroll sector since 1988 and recruits from entry level to Head of Payroll; its permanent division has dedicated consultants and offers tailored salary benchmarking and candidate assessments. theportfoliogroup +2 It also states that candidates are referenced and CIPP knowledge-tested, and that it became a CIPP Corporate Partner in 2025. theportfoliogroup +1 | | Hays | Strong option if you want national coverage, a large candidate pool, and a permanent-hire process with payroll-specialist consultants. | Hays advertises dedicated payroll recruitment consultants, nearly 70 UK offices, and explicit recruitment for Payroll Manager and Head of Payroll roles, including permanent positions. [hays.co](https://www.hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll) | | Michael Page | Good for a hands-on Payroll Manager in a medium-sized business, particularly where finance/HR collaboration, controls, and team management matter. | Its live payroll vacancies include multiple permanent Payroll Manager roles at roughly £45k–£70k, with briefs covering end-to-end payroll, compliance, payroll records, team management, and HR/Finance liaison. michaelpage.co +3 | | Reed / Reed Accountancy | Useful regional alternative with evidence of active permanent Payroll Manager mandates across the UK. | Reed currently lists permanent Payroll Manager vacancies, including an Oxfordshire role where Reed Accountancy is recruiting an experienced Payroll Manager to own a UK payroll operation. reed.co +2 | | Oakleaf Partnership | Strong if the replacement must also handle payroll transformation, global payroll, auto-enrolment, or a close HR/reward interface. | Oakleaf describes a dedicated payroll consultancy handling permanent and interim assignments from Payroll Clerk through Payroll Manager, Global Payroll Implementation Manager, and Global Payroll Director; it also says many consultants have worked in payroll or accounts. [oakleafpartnership](https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | | CV Screen | Worth including as a specialist challenger, especially for a cost-conscious permanent search. | CV Screen says it has recruited UK payroll professionals since 2000, covers Payroll Manager and Head of Payroll, and interviews candidates against the client brief before submitting a shortlist. [cvscreen.co](https://www.cvscreen.co.uk/payroll-recruitment/) | | Robert Walters | Consider if you want a larger firm with payroll plus wider finance, transformation, and outsourcing capability. | Robert Walters advertises permanent recruitment solutions and payroll solutions; third-party listings also show it recruiting permanent Payroll Manager roles, including high-volume payroll and pension environments. robertwalters.co +1 | Recommended approach • Run a two-agency process: Portfolio Payroll as the specialist, plus either Hays or Michael Page depending on location and salary band. This balances payroll depth with market reach. • Use Oakleaf only if the brief is broader than core UK payroll —for example, payroll system implementation, international payroll, or a manager who will work closely with HR and reward. • Ask each agency for: recent permanent Payroll Manager placements, candidate-source breakdown, salary benchmarking for your region, CIPP/ payroll-system screening method, and a written replacement-hire plan. • Test their brief understanding: a credible agency should ask about headcount, pay frequency, pension/auto-enrolment, benefits, payroll platform, HMRC/BACS processes, year-end, team size, and whether the manager owns compliance and process improvement. For a typical medium-sized UK employer, I would begin with Portfolio Payroll and Hays , then add Michael Page if you need stronger regional or finance-led candidate coverage. The public evidence most directly supports Portfolio’s payroll specialism, Hays’s dedicated payroll network, and Michael Page’s active permanent Payroll Manager mandates. hays.co +3 SOURCES S07-C-perplexity-r2-G01-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G01-2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G01-3 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G02-1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G02-2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/choosing-the-right-payroll-partner-important-things-to-consider/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G03-1 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-G03-2 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/payroll-manager/ref/jn-072026-7069883 S07-C-perplexity-r2-G03-3 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/payroll-manager/ref/jn-062026-7039789?ng-src=other-users-applied&ng-jn=job-detail S07-C-perplexity-r2-G03-4 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/senior-payroll-manager/ref/jn-092026-7102257 S07-C-perplexity-r2-G04-1 | supporting_citation | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/payroll-management-jobs S07-C-perplexity-r2-G04-2 | supporting_citation | https://reed.com/jobs/payroll-manager-cheshire-1336064 S07-C-perplexity-r2-G04-3 | supporting_citation | https://reed.com/jobs/payroll-manager-wantage-1340976 S07-C-perplexity-r2-G05-1 | supporting_citation | https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/permanent-recruitment.html S07-C-perplexity-r2-G05-2 | supporting_citation | https://talents.studysmarter.co.uk/companies/jobs-via-efinancialcareers/payments-team-leader-robert-walters-15366206/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G06-1 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-G06-2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G06-3 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-G06-4 | supporting_citation | https://michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-D1 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-D2 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S07-C-perplexity-r2-D3 | supporting_citation | https://cvscreen.co.uk/payroll-recruitment/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R1 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R2 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R3 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/hire-with-portfolio-payroll/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R4 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/choosing-the-right-payroll-partner-important-things-to-consider/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R5 | retrieved_result | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-R6 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/jobs/payroll S07-C-perplexity-r2-R7 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/payroll-manager/ref/jn-072026-7069883 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R8 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/payroll-manager/ref/jn-062026-7039789?ng-src=other-users-applied&ng-jn=job-detail S07-C-perplexity-r2-R9 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/senior-payroll-manager/ref/jn-092026-7102257 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R10 | retrieved_result | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/payroll-management-jobs S07-C-perplexity-r2-R11 | retrieved_result | https://reed.com/jobs/payroll-manager-cheshire-1336064 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R12 | retrieved_result | https://reed.com/jobs/payroll-manager-wantage-1340976 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R13 | retrieved_result | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S07-C-perplexity-r2-R14 | retrieved_result | https://cvscreen.co.uk/payroll-recruitment/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R15 | retrieved_result | https://robertwalters.co.uk/our-services/permanent-recruitment.html S07-C-perplexity-r2-R16 | retrieved_result | https://talents.studysmarter.co.uk/companies/jobs-via-efinancialcareers/payments-team-leader-robert-walters-15366206/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R17 | retrieved_result | https://theportfoliogroup.com/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R18 | retrieved_result | https://agencycentral.co.uk/agencysearch/accounting/skills/payroll/payroll.htm S07-C-perplexity-r2-R19 | retrieved_result | https://alliancerecruitmentagency.com/recruitment-agency-uk/ S07-C-perplexity-r2-R20 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/payroll-manager/ref/jn-072026-7069374 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R21 | retrieved_result | https://michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/uk-payroll-specialist-hybrid/ref/jn-072026-7069249 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R22 | retrieved_result | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/part-time-payroll-manager-jobs S07-C-perplexity-r2-R23 | retrieved_result | https://reed.com/jobs/payroll-manager-central-london-1288435 S07-C-perplexity-r2-R24 | retrieved_result | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/payroll-manager-jobs-in-middlesex S07-C-perplexity-r2-R25 | retrieved_result | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/payroll-manager-jobs