How has the market been for your division over the past year?
Busy!! Busy!! Busy!! A variety of jobs from transactional accounting through to Senior Finance Management roles and specialist roles like Tax and FP&A. However, finding good candidates who are motivated to move has been tough, but in the last few months we have started to see more candidates coming to the market due to work conditions changing since the pandemic. Main motivators have been hybrid working or living closer due to the fuel costs, more holidays, more money etc so people really are starting to look around and see if anyone offers something better than they already have.
What trends do you see developing in your marketplace? What future roles do you think will be more in demand?
Candidates continually holding the power for what they want, study support, flexible working, the list goes on. Payroll and Credit Control, getting that money in is key, but also paying the staff to collect it, very few SME companies have more than 1 or 2 people who can run the payroll end to end so secure that talent and look after it. Also, a good Credit Controller who can build those relationships to collect your cash is worth their weight in gold, again, look after them and they will look after your business.
What are the biggest issues for candidates in your marketplace?
Too much choice, what a lovely position to be in.
What are the biggest issues for clients in your marketplace?
Learning to change and think outside the box and challenge yourself with the culture and benefits you offer to secure the best talent.
What advice would you give to candidates?
Be very clear about your main driver and motivation to move on, be honest with yourself and don’t just stay with your current employer if they counter-offer, think about why you are leaving and go for it. There really are some great companies out there who could change your life and what is important to you.
What advice would you give to clients?
Be quick, do not ask if there is anyone else for a comparison, sometimes you just need 1 CV and they could really be the best, trust your own judgement as well as taking advice from a reputable agency in your field like Bond Williams.
How long have you been in recruitment and why have you stayed in it for so long?
Wow, where do I start, as I enter my 21st year in recruitment and 10 within Accountancy and Finance I guess I would say all the interesting people I have met over the years. When that phone rings and a client says “can you come and see me” or a candidate says “I have lost my job, help”, you go on a journey. Some are long some short, but hopefully along the way you give good advice and ultimately just try to help someone in their hour of need. People buy from people and after 20 years in the business it’s so true as I still deal with people I met when they first started out in their career or who I recruited for when growing their teams. I helped them and we bonded and learnt to trust each other, to understand what each other wanted and expected and now years later have happy and healthy partnerships.
What do you like about working at Bond Williams?
Well for me personally, I love the freedom, the trust, being treated like an adult, no micro manging, support is there if and when I need it but free to flex and be a true consultant and help clients and candidates and not tick boxes to fulfil a KPI.
Having worked for all different types of agencies, Bond Williams truly does what it says and allows you to be an individual, able to advise and support people looking for a job or clients looking for staff rather than the being an average recruitment agency. All agencies have access to job boards and a database, but I truly believe it’s all about the relationships you make and how you go on to treat those people over time.
From a cultural perspective, Bond Williams recruit excellent like-minded people, with passion, tenacity, and grit to do a good job day after day. We have fun, we care, we help each other, teamwork means everything to me, if you can’t get along then it’s a lonely place when things get tough. I love the positivity and potential Bond Williams offers, it’s very much our business, we all help shape it with Claire and Rob at the top leading the way. It’s a real pleasure to come into work every day, be appreciated, and rewarded.
What do you do to relax?
Walking, cycling, kayaking, gardening, reading, I recently got into podcasts, travelling, eating and then dieting!!
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I hate anything mint, toothpaste is a challenge, I don’t drink coffee but love Tiramisu (I know go figure). I am a Radio Presenter at my local Hospital Radio and that I do sometimes stop talking!
