Advice & Resources, Industry Insight
Last week, a client called me with a familiar opening line:
“We need someone yesterday.”
To be fair, they weren’t wrong.
A key member of their finance team had resigned, month-end was approaching, and a role that had been on the “we’ll sort it next quarter” list had suddenly become the top priority.
After more years in finance recruitment than I’d perhaps like to admit, I can say this situation is far from unusual. In fact, it happens regularly.
Most finance teams are lean by design. That works brilliantly while everything is running smoothly. It is less ideal when someone hands in their notice and walks out the door with years of knowledge, processes and relationships… sob!
When a key finance professional leaves, the impact can be felt immediately. Month-end reporting, forecasting, payroll, management accounts and business-critical decision-making can all come under pressure.
The challenge is that the strongest finance candidates are rarely sitting at home waiting for a recruiter to call. They are busy, usually employed, and often being approached by several businesses at once.
The businesses that hire successfully tend to move quickly. Not recklessly, just decisively.
In today’s finance recruitment market, a strong candidate can move from an initial conversation to accepting an offer surprisingly fast. A long or unclear hiring process can mean missing out on someone who could make a real difference to your team.
That is why it pays to have a clear process, prompt feedback and the confidence to act when the right person comes along.
My top piece of advice? If recruitment is on your horizon, start the conversation earlier than you think you need to.
Perhaps you know someone may retire, move on or take parental leave. Maybe the team is growing, workloads are increasing, or a future restructure is being discussed. Having an early conversation about your finance recruitment needs gives you more options, and more time to find the right person.
It may not feel urgent today, but future-you might be very grateful.
Those who know me will have heard me say this on repeat for the last 15 years or so. Why change the habit of a lifetime?
Zoe Sheen
Finance, Permanent & Temp
t: 07939854989
e: ZoeSheen@brosterbuchanan.com
