The Recruiters View: Permanent payroll hiring in the North – what employers need to know now

With Payroll LIVE just around the corner in Manchester, it’s the perfect time to take stock of the Northern payroll market. We recently caught up with Lily Gibbons to talk about the rising demand for interim and contract payroll professionals. But what about the permanent side?

From changing expectations to growing competition for talent, things are moving fast. We spoke to Liam Nally, Senior Recruitment Consultant at Portfolio Payroll, about what he’s seeing across permanent hiring and what employers should be thinking about right now.

A Clear Career Path – and a Natural Fit

Originally from Cork, Liam moved to Manchester to study for a postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management & Development. But it was recruitment that gave him the direction and progression he was looking for.

“I wanted something long-term, where I could build real relationships and help people find work that matters. Payroll made sense straight away. It’s essential, it’s evolving, and it’s always in demand.”

Now based in Manchester, Liam has been with Portfolio Payroll for over two and a half years and focuses on permanent payroll recruitment across the North. From entry-level administrators to senior leadership roles, he supports clients at every level with a blend of practical insight and commercial understanding.

What’s Happening in the North?

“The market’s busy. Clients are hiring, candidates are open to moving, and expectations have shifted.”

Liam has seen a steady rise in demand from accountancy practices and payroll bureaus, while implementation and project roles have slowed slightly. The pressure to hire quickly and get the right experience is as strong as ever.

Right now, the most sought-after candidates tend to have:

• Client payroll experience, often valued for their pace and precision
• Bureau backgrounds, especially with team leadership or systems exposure
• International knowledge, with language skills a definite bonus

Employers who’ve kept pace with salary trends and offer flexibility are hiring well. Those who haven’t? They’re finding it tougher to attract quality.

Flexibility Isn’t Just a Nice-to-Have

In places like Manchester and Liverpool, flexibility is no longer just a perk – it’s expected.

“It’s not about fully remote or fully office-based anymore. It’s about trust and about giving people some control over their working day.”

Hybrid models, earlier start and finish times, and better support around commuting are all things candidates are asking about early in the process. In more rural parts of the North, candidates are often more open to office-based roles, but expectations have definitely moved on.

Why Employers Miss Out

Liam regularly sees three mistakes that stop employers from securing the talent they need:

1. Leaving it too late.

“The best candidates don’t hang around. If you wait until it’s urgent, you’re already on the back foot.”

2. Relying too heavily on aptitude or personality tests.

“Unless it directly relates to the role, it’s often just a barrier. Payroll professionals want interviews that reflect the job.”

3. Offering salaries that no longer match the market.

“Salaries have shifted. If you haven’t reviewed yours in the past year, you could be missing out.”

Keeping Payroll Talent for the Long Term

Retention is still a major talking point – and for good reason. For Liam, it comes down to one thing: recognition.

“Most payroll professionals genuinely enjoy what they do. But they want to feel appreciated. A simple annual salary review can make a huge difference.”

Alongside that, clients who offer development, clear progression, and meaningful bonuses are seeing stronger engagement and lower turnover.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Liam sees a few trends set to shape the market over the coming months.

Redundancies are changing the candidate pool.

Restructuring in other industries has brought experienced payroll professionals back onto the market. That’s creating new opportunities for employers who are ready to move quickly.

“Some of the best candidates I’ve met this year have come from unexpected places. If you’re hiring, now’s a great time to bring someone excellent into the team.”

Technology is shifting what employers need.

AI and automation aren’t replacing payroll professionals, but they are changing the nature of some roles. Data entry, basic checks and manual tasks are being automated – and the value is shifting to systems knowledge, process improvement, and compliance.

“It’s not about removing people. It’s about making space for higher-level work – and hiring for that.”

Minimum wage changes are impacting early careers.

The gap between junior and experienced payroll salaries is narrowing. That’s leading many employers to skip entry-level hires and go straight for candidates with a few years under their belt.

“If you’re paying nearly the same for someone with experience, that’s who you’ll choose. It’s also putting pressure on junior candidates to upskill early.”

All of this points to a more dynamic, fast-paced and candidate-led market. The employers who will succeed are those who act quickly, offer flexibility, and know how to tell their story.

Liam’s Advice to Employers

“Don’t wait for the gap to open up. If you know you’ll need someone in the next few months, start now.”

“And work with a specialist. Payroll recruitment is too complex and too competitive to take chances with. It’s worth getting it right.”

About Liam

Liam Nally is a Senior Recruitment Consultant at Portfolio Payroll, specialising in permanent payroll recruitment across the North of England. Based in Manchester and part of the team for over two and a half years, he brings hands-on insight into the region’s talent landscape and a clear, commercial view of what today’s payroll market demands.

Holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management & Development from the University of Salford, Liam combines academic grounding with recruitment expertise – making him a reliable partner to employers and candidates alike.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.