Case Study: Strategic Recruitment of Financial Accountants

Case Study: Strategic Recruitment of Financial Accountants for a National Catering Company

Consultant: Miles Gallagher

 

Background

A leading national catering company engaged Wade Macdonald to recruit two Financial Accountants as part of its long-term finance team development. The client had a specific requirement: first-time movers from Big 4 accountancy practices. These individuals needed to combine technical excellence with a cultural fit to thrive in the fast-paced, collaborative environment of the organisation.

With over a decade of experience recruiting for this client, Miles Gallagher’s deep understanding of the company’s culture and long-term needs played a pivotal role in delivering exceptional results.

 

Brief

The client’s focus on first-time movers meant the roles required newly qualified accountants with a grounding in audit and technical accounting, as well as the ambition to transition into a commercial setting. Equally important was the need for candidates to align with the organisation’s values and dynamic work culture.

 

Methodology

Miles Gallagher’s approach emphasised proactive and strategic planning, leveraging long-standing relationships and tailored searches to deliver candidates perfectly suited to the client’s needs:

• Pre-Planning and Relationship Building: Miles identifies potential candidates early in their careers, often when they first joined Big 4 practices. By engaging with them regularly, he builds trusted relationships, providing career advice long before they were ready to move into commerce. This proactive approach ensured a pipeline of highly relevant candidates.
• Targeted Search: In addition to direct approaches through LinkedIn Recruiter and job board advertising, candidates were identified through extensive market research and pre-existing networks, ensuring access to both active and passive talent.
• Thorough Screening: Every candidate was met personally to assess not only their technical capabilities but also their suitability for the client’s culture. This rigorous process was underpinned by Miles’s decade-long understanding of the organisation’s values.

 

Outcome

The two roles were filled with exceptional candidates who transitioned seamlessly from practice to commerce. Their technical expertise and alignment with the client’s culture have enabled them to make significant contributions to the finance team. If past track records are repeated there is a strong chance these two candidates will be part of the senior leadership teams in the next 5 years.