JGA STUDY · SAVED-TEXT EVIDENCE EXPORT Original answer wording and recorded date preserved. Answer ID: S10-A-perplexity-r1 Recorded UTC: 2026-10-20T01:36:19.187Z 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-based Global Head of Payroll is leaving before we can make a permanent replacement. We need an interim senior payroll leader for six months and support with the permanent search. Which specialist recruitment firms should we contact? FULL SAVED ANSWER For a six-month interim Global Head of Payroll plus a concurrent permanent search, I would first contact Portfolio Payroll , Oakleaf Partnership , and Frazer Jones . They are the strongest combination of dedicated payroll specialism, senior interim coverage, and global/permanent executive search capability. theportfoliogroup +5 Best firms to contact | Firm | Why contact them | Best use | | --- | --- | --- | | Portfolio Payroll | Positions itself as the UK’s largest specialist payroll recruiter and explicitly recruits interim Heads of Payroll, global/EMEA payroll specialists, project leads, and executive-level interim/contract talent. theportfoliogroup +3 | First call for the six-month interim leader ; also useful for permanent payroll leadership. | | Oakleaf Partnership | A dedicated payroll consultancy covering interim and permanent roles from payroll managers through Global Payroll Directors, with UK and international sourcing capability. [oakleafpartnership](https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities) | Strong for both the interim appointment and a global payroll leadership permanent search. | | Frazer Jones | A global HR recruitment and executive-search consultancy with a dedicated payroll practice, including named UK payroll leadership and interim specialists. It explicitly offers interim/fractional payroll professionals and executive search for global payroll managers. frazerjones +1 | Best for the permanent Global Head of Payroll search , especially if the role has international scope. | | Hays Accountancy & Finance | Recruits payroll from senior leaders to niche specialists across permanent, interim, and contract appointments, with a large UK office network. hays.co +1 | Good secondary/parallel search, particularly if you need rapid market coverage or regional options. | | The Leppington Group | Specialist payroll and payroll-technology talent firm covering Head of Payroll, Global Payroll Manager, and Payroll Operations Director roles; offers permanent, fixed-term, interim, and contract coverage. [theleppingtongroup](https://theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent) | Useful for a confidential, network-led senior search, especially where payroll technology/transformation matters. | | Resourcing4HR | Independent HR-specialist recruiter covering payroll, reward, and senior HR roles through permanent, contract, and interim routes. [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/company/resourcing4hr) | Worth including for a broader HR-leadership perspective, though less payroll-specialist than the first three. | Recommended approach Run two linked but separate mandates : • Interim mandate: Give Portfolio Payroll and Oakleaf a 48–72-hour brief for an experienced Global/International Payroll Director or Head of Payroll who can stabilise operations, vendor management, governance, compliance, and month-end/year-end controls. Portfolio explicitly markets interim Heads of Payroll and project leads for continuity and compliance. theportfoliogroup +2 • Permanent mandate: Brief Frazer Jones and Oakleaf on a confidential executive search for the permanent Global Head of Payroll. Frazer Jones combines payroll executive search with global reach and named UK payroll/interim specialists. frazerjones +1 • Market-check option: Add Hays as a contingent/parallel source if speed is critical or you want to benchmark the interim day-rate and permanent compensation market. hays.co +1 Brief to give recruiters Ask each firm to confirm: • Access to candidates with multi-country payroll , EOR/vendor oversight, payroll transformation, and global governance experience. • Whether they can provide an interim on a six-month fixed-term or day-rate contract , with a short-notice start. • Their process for avoiding conflicts between the interim and permanent searches. • References specifically from comparable global payroll leadership placements. • Fee structure, replacement guarantee, IR35/engagement-model handling, and whether the interim can transition into a permanent-role advisory capacity if appropriate. If you want the fastest practical shortlist, start with Portfolio Payroll for the interim and Frazer Jones for the permanent search , with Oakleaf engaged across both. theportfoliogroup +4 SOURCES S10-A-perplexity-r1-C1 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S10-A-perplexity-r1-C2 | supporting_citation | https://theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent S10-A-perplexity-r1-C3 | supporting_citation | https://linkedin.com/company/resourcing4hr S10-A-perplexity-r1-G1 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/contract-temporary-payroll-recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G2 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G3 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S10-A-perplexity-r1-G4 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G5 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/banking-and-financial-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G6 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/our-team/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G7 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/contract-temporary-payroll-recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G8 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G9 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G10 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/our-team/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G11 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G12 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/banking-and-financial-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G13 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance S10-A-perplexity-r1-G14 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S10-A-perplexity-r1-G15 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/contract-temporary-payroll-recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G16 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G17 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S10-A-perplexity-r1-G18 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G19 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/banking-and-financial-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G20 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance S10-A-perplexity-r1-G21 | supporting_citation | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S10-A-perplexity-r1-G22 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/contract-temporary-payroll-recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G23 | supporting_citation | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S10-A-perplexity-r1-G24 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G25 | supporting_citation | https://frazerjones.com/banking-and-financial-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-G26 | supporting_citation | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/our-team/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R1 | retrieved_source | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/contract-temporary-payroll-recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R2 | retrieved_source | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/recruitment-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R3 | retrieved_source | https://oakleafpartnership.com/business-areas/payroll/payroll-capabilities S10-A-perplexity-r1-R4 | retrieved_source | https://frazerjones.com/get-in-touch/book-a-consultation/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R5 | retrieved_source | https://frazerjones.com/banking-and-financial-services/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R6 | retrieved_source | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/our-team/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R7 | retrieved_source | https://theportfoliogroup.com/payroll/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R8 | retrieved_source | https://hays.co.uk/recruitment/accountancy-finance S10-A-perplexity-r1-R9 | retrieved_source | https://hays.co.uk/jobs/accountancy-finance/payroll S10-A-perplexity-r1-R10 | retrieved_source | https://theleppingtongroup.com/payroll-talent S10-A-perplexity-r1-R11 | retrieved_source | https://linkedin.com/company/resourcing4hr S10-A-perplexity-r1-R12 | retrieved_source | https://roberthalf.com/gb/en/jobs/all/payroll S10-A-perplexity-r1-R13 | retrieved_source | https://alliancerecruitmentagency.com/recruitment-agency-uk/ S10-A-perplexity-r1-R14 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/interim-head-of-payroll-transformation/57287734 S10-A-perplexity-r1-R15 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/remote-payroll-jobs?workingOption=remote S10-A-perplexity-r1-R16 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/head-of-payroll-jobs-in-greater-manchester S10-A-perplexity-r1-R17 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/global-payroll-jobs S10-A-perplexity-r1-R18 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/temporary-interim-payroll-manager-jobs S10-A-perplexity-r1-R19 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/interim-payroll-specialist/57328095 S10-A-perplexity-r1-R20 | retrieved_source | https://vida-cs.com/payroll S10-A-perplexity-r1-R21 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/remote-payroll-specialist-jobs?workingOption=remote S10-A-perplexity-r1-R22 | retrieved_source | https://reed.co.uk/jobs/remote-payroll-manager-jobs?workingOption=remote S10-A-perplexity-r1-R23 | retrieved_source | https://linkedin.com/in/lindseyvaughan