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At ABPM we are seeing a steady rise in overseas assignments – on a permanent and interim basis - for UK qualified finance directors, internal financial management consultants and project managers.
Within the last six months alone we have handled recruitment assignments in East and West Africa, mainland Europe and Argentina, with the mining, rail, security and food trading industries being most active.
In the past it was typical to second a current employee to an overseas post, but with teams leaner than ever, the pool of suitable candidates for any hiring organisation is enhanced by casting a net further afield. And for a senior finance professional, the right level job overseas may just give them the edge when they return to compete in our domestic jobs market.
For those seeking to fulfil interim assignments, there is some strong talent in the market already committed to a professional working life beyond UK shores. Being familiar with the challenges that come with working in multi-cultural business environments can be invaluable for a successful outcome to an overseas assignment.
The UK has attracted many ethnic groups for professional training and career development and the opportunity for them to use their skills in their country of origin under the auspices of a well regarded international business makes perfect sense. Sense too for employers: cultural adaptability and family support are the two biggest hurdles to working successfully overseas.
The interviewing and selection process is arguably more convoluted, but with video hook ups and Skype used widely, this is easily overcome. There is the additional administrative burden around right to work legislation, remuneration structures and taxation and ABPM are well practiced in supporting clients and candidates on these issues. The majority of our overseas candidates are payrolled by us, but this is something that is discussed on a case by case basis with each client and candidate.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of overseas recruitment, please contact Rej Abraham in the first instance 01509 678200
Rej Abraham, Owner and MD of ABPM, gives us his view of the present business situation
Focusing solely on the appointment of accountants across the Midlands, we can be a reasonable barometer for economic confidence across different sectors represented in our region. The last two years have seen the reduction of headcount in many finance functions and professional services teams with the odd exception - these being driven typically by a change of ownership or relocation.
This year, a desire to see renewed confidence in the business community has to be the goal. This continues to be challenging with creeping inflation, increase in VAT and the rising cost of utilities which impacts upon the individual consumer and the business sector.
In light of these challenges, we are managing and maintaining excellent service levels for existing clients, focusing on the provision of flexible staffing arrangements to our clients by providing an increasing number of temporary accountants, giving free advice to clients thinking of recruiting and discussing how best to execute a need and finally, flexing our offering to reach clients that need our services outside our traditional geographical boundaries - for example in Switzerland, Argentina, Kenya and the Cameroon.
Closer to home, we are noticing the impact of the consistent reduction in hiring volumes at graduate entry over the past decade. This has created significant demand at the middle management/finance controller level where across the region businesses are seeking additional resource to be able to provide more than the transactional accounting processes.
While some businesses are still struggling with the aftermath of recession, many are now turning attention to business growth. This cautious optimism requires a fine balancing act between cash flow management and investment. Those businesses that have kept their house in order, retained their key people, continued to develop the capabilities of their employees and have a clear vision for the future are now in the position to attract the best talent in the market.
Candidate enquiry has remained high with finance directors and finance controllers actively coming to market - perhaps indicative of the renewed confidence in the markets. Many large corporates in the region have used the last three years to restructure and exist with lean teams. Whilst very efficient, there is little capacity to cope with expanding workloads and there is immediate demand at the junior and middle management level in particular.
Whilst recruitment is back on the agenda, it pays to be patient. The process is still fairly protracted as clients hold out for their perfect hire, yet we find few candidates out of work if they are prepared to consider interim or temporary roles. Indeed, our finance candidates can be as picky as the hiring organisations when considering their next career move and an organisation who is recruiting needs to ensure their commercial due diligence stands up to scrutiny. A word of caution here: the war for top talent has never ceased. Those organisations who are in good shape now and looking to build for the future will have the advantage on securing the best candidates. Making sure your recruitment processes are up to date, robust and competency driven will help position you well in the recruitment market.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of finance recruitment in the Midlands, please contact Rej Abraham on 01509 678200 or email him at rej.abraham@abpm-mids.co.uk
While vacancy levels have not increased year on year, we are noticing an uplift in permanent vacancies so far in 2011, particularly for recently qualified/finalist level where candidates can be considered for junior management positions. More senior candidates, who can demonstrate strong experience in cash management and working capital management with clear commercial input, are certainly in demand in the manufacturing and retail sectors. Unsurprisingly, financial services professionals across most finance disciplines – audit, risk, treasury, ICAAP and Basel II - are also in demand. The extensive reorganisation of many institutions means that those with integration experience are particularly sought after.
Across all our sectors we find that line managers are required to provide a comprehensive business case before initiating a recruitment process. With the workforce leaner, employers are better focussed on developing the potential of the staff they have – a very positive outcome of the recessionary years - choosing in many cases to promote internally and, where necessary, recruit at the more junior levels.
Pay rates across the region have remained fairly static over the past three years. An increasing number of businesses are approaching us for salary guidance and advice - perhaps suggesting that more pay reviews are taking place this year. Top talent has continued to command a premium and remains as challenging to recruit as ever. That said, we are seeing candidates show greater interest in career moves as economic confidence returns. We remain cautiously optimistic about 2011 with the expectation that 2012 will see renewed growth.
To discuss finance recruitment in the North, please contact Jonathan Barber, Director, on 01924 572992 or email him at jonathan.barber@abpm-north.co.uk
ABPM Recruitment Ltd, the longest established independent financial recruitment company in the North & Midlands, has this week relocated its Leeds operation to new office premises in Wakefield. The move sees the firm take space in the prestigious St John’s Business Centre on St John’s North in the city centre.
The relocation was prompted by the geographical spread of ABPM’s client base and Wakefield was the ideal choice thanks to its unrivalled rail and road links. The whole team is now based at the new office site and continue to specialise in the placement of accounting staff at all levels within the professional & financial services, commerce & industry, not-for-profit & public sectors.
The move will also see the creation of new positions both on the administration and recruitment teams over the coming months.
Tim Morgan, managing director of ABPM, commented; ‘As a business, we’ve had a presence in Leeds for many, many years but as time has passed our core client base has grown and now covers the whole region so we need to be able to access them quickly and easily. Wakefield is seeing a drive in business activity so it’s great to be part of that and I’m sure it’s going to be an ideal home for ABPM.’
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For further media information and imagery, please contact: Matt Neary @ Conker PR T: 0161 902 9472 E: matt@conkerpr.com
Leeds based ABPM Financial Recruitment, the longest established financial recruitment company in the North & Midlands, has strengthened its core team with the appointments of Lindsay Fawdington and Nicky Moores who will be focused on developing the business’ presence within both the temporary and permanent markets for positions under £25,000 p/a.
Nicky, 34, boasts 15 years experience within in the accountancy sector as well as knowledge of the sales industry. Whilst Lindsay, 24, has a strong background both in accountancy and recruitment - she is also an AAT finalist.
Jonathan Barber, director of ABPM Leeds, commented; ‘The last year has been a really exciting time for ABPM – especially in terms of growth and company evolution. We’re all excited about these two fantastic appointments and I’m sure they will bring enthusiasm, contacts and drive to an already dynamic team.’
In her spare time Nicky, who lives in Bradford, enjoys crafting, reading and spending time with friends. And Leeds resident Lindsay loves keeping fit.
Nicky said of her new position; ‘I’m immensely looking forward to the challenge of my new role as ABPM is a forward thinking, innovative organisation which hits the market head on. The next year is set to be a very exciting and progressive period for both the Yorkshire team and the business as a whole.’
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For further media information and imagery, please contact: Matt Neary @ Conker PR - T: 0161 902 9472 or E: matt@conkerpr.com
Notes to editor:
ABPM Financial Recruitment, the longest established financial recruitment consultancy in the North & Midlands, deals with the placement of accountants and finance staff at all levels within the professional & financial services, commerce & industry, not-for-profit & public sectors.
Thanks to the so called ‘credit crunch crisis’, it seems that today’s work place is a mixed bag of both confidence and unease for workers and job seekers in both the Midlands and the North as the findings from ABPM Recruitment’s latest survey show.
On a positive note, some 68% in the Midlands and 74% in the North said that the credit crunch hasn’t affected their drive and determination to switch positions to further their career. However, on the gloomier side, 55% and 54% respectively said their employers have had to realign business strategies to cope with the downturn whilst 44% and 55% stated that internal promotions had been cut meaning career advancement has been directly affected.
Job security is obviously another big issue and a staggering 55% of respondents in the Midlands confirmed that they feel their roles aren’t as secure as this time last year and in the North it was 49%. These figures mirror the 60% and 67% of people who now feel unable to approach their employer about pay rises and benefits that were taken for granted just a few months ago.
Tim Morgan, managing director of ABPM Recruitment, said; ‘There’s been so much speculation about the bigger picture when it comes to the credit crunch, so it’s fascinating to see how the people at the coal face of the business community have been affected by what’s going on.
He concluded; It seems from these results, and from conversations with our candidates, that there is concern but people are still positive about the future and realise that strong and well structured businesses will get through these challenging times.’
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For further media information, please contact:
Matt Neary @ Conker PR - T: 0161 902 9472 or E: matt@conkerpr.com
Notes to editor:
ABPM Financial Recruitment, the longest established financial recruitment consultancy in the North & Midlands, deals solely with the placement of accountants and financial staff at all levels within the professional & financial services, commerce & industry, not-for-profit & public sectors.
Source – ABPM Recruitment Ltd
Email survey sent to approx 2,000 people in the Midlands & Yorkshire
asks Tim Morgan, ABPM's managing director
There’s no doubting that the last 10 years has been good to Britain and much of the rest of the world; our economies have boomed, we’ve got low unemployment and stable(ish) interest rates so shouldn’t we be confident in our own position and be able to ride out any blip that comes our way? Maybe.. but the signs are showing that we’re probably not!
For me, the key question is whether we are, in fact, talking ourselves into a recession by worrying about the so-called ‘credit crunch’ and by not focusing on new business possibilities. Today’s world economy is a very different beast to that of say 20, or even 10, years ago. The power base is clearly shifting from West to East but instead of moaning about how good it was yesterday we should be trying to limit any ill-effects by pulling on our own (rational) self-belief, by looking for synergies and by grasping the vast array of opportunities that are in front of us.
It seems to me that the UK Government is not necessarily being helped by the opposition parties who seem to be cynically using the current economic state to score cheap political points. It could also be argued that many national media commentators are worrying householders about their mortgages and house values to sell more papers, so if the world economy is partly based on confidence then surely we are talking ourselves into trouble!
Since Labour came to power in 1997, the UK has seen an explosion in entrepreneurial drive with thousands of businesses being set up in every sector. This has been fantastic for the country but none have had to weather bad times so it could be argued a balanced view is substituted for knee jerk reactions; again fuelled by speculation and panic.
The UK is in a great position to come through the current ‘crisis’ but only if the Government, the business community, the media and the public don’t panic and take a considered view.
Rej Abraham, director of ABPM Financial Recruitment, recently discussed career choices & resolutions in the Derby Evening Telegraph:
Imagine, it’s a gloomy January day and you’ve made that all important decision to move onto your next career challenge, then fast forward….and suddenly you’re now in April and nothing’s changed! You’re still sitting at the same desk feeling uninspired; sound familiar? As a recruitment consultant I regularly meet people in this situation, and do understand how one month of boredom and frustration turns into the next.
As we approach Christmas, getting a new job seems like the right decision on every level; our confidence is high, hopefully targets have been hit, the much anticipated bonus is on its way and two weeks off seems like a natural break in work proceedings. However, once the New Year kicks in, the weeks soon turn into months and career plans begin to be forgotten. It's not a case of New Year resolutions, it suddenly becomes Easte Resolutions!
I understand that work loads, personal commitments and other factors come into play, but there is a real need to stay focused on what you want out of your career. We spend most of our waking hours at work and often more time with our colleagues than our families, so a person’s career is a dominating factor in his or her life. I firmly believe that if you want to be happy in life then you must be happy at work – period.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a manual labourer or the boss of a multi national company, the principle is exactly the same. Work should never be a chore and no-one should have that dreaded Sunday night feeling. We’ve probably all experienced it…the clock hits 6pm; Songs of Praise is humming in the background and then bam…the dulcet tones of this week’s choir is accompanied by a chorus of worry and anxiety in our minds as the prospect of another 5 days of feeling uninspired and unfulfilled kicks in.
It’s also important to realise that this kind of situation is no better for the employer than the employee. Every business owner, manager or director wants to drive their organisation forward but this can only be achieved if they’ve got the right team on board. This group of people is on the front line of winning and maintaining business so are the very essence of success or failure. Everyone must be committed to, and believe in, where they’re working.
The onus should be on both sides to ensure that two way communication and support happens. This equal responsibility will make for a better working environment that inspires productivity and commitment. By making definite career decisions, sticking to them and not compromising then we can all progress our own careers and morale as well as the bottom line for the company we work for!
Whether you’re one of the newly qualified accountants across the country or have a bit more experience, competition in the market place is self evident at every level; but then you probably already know that!
So, we at ABPM Financial Recruitment have pulled together a few useful dos and don’ts on how you can take charge of your own career and achieve your goals!
The simple fact is that decisions made early on can make all the difference. It may seem that your working life is stretched out in front of you, but with the right support, you’ll be able to make informed choices that will direct and dictate what path you take. Sound good? Well…here are a few pointers from ABPM on how to do just that!
Research is Key
A particular sector or position may sound appealing but how much do you really know about it? Take time to do your research by talking to contacts or consultants who have first hand knowledge and experience. Perceptions are often different to the reality!
Why Are You Special?
As we’ve said, competition is real so work out how you stand out from the crowd. Look at your skill sets and hone them to meet the demands and expectations of your desired position. Employers want motivated forward thinkers who have their finger on the pulse!
Planning is the Name of the Game
It’s a fact of life that most people don’t land their ideal position first time. However, it’s crucial that you look long term and apply for jobs that will provide relevant experience to get you to where you want to be. Also, stick with it as jumping ship too often can be frowned upon by many employers!
Look Further Afield:
If you can’t find the right job where you live, or if you feel that you’re stuck in rut, why not expand your horizons and look at a possible relocation either here in the UK or abroad. The right job for you will be out there!
If all of this sounds interesting and you feel that you may need some assistance in making your next move, then why not drop us a line or give one of our offices a call for an informal chat. We’ve got a team of experienced professionals in place who are able to guide you to where you want to be!
Also, take a look at our brand new website at - www.abpm.co.uk - which uses the very latest in cutting edge browser technology. You can simply browse the site and register for emails or there’s the option of signing up for the full service which allows you to specify your preferred region, job type or salary bracket. You’ll then be contacted by a consultant and start to receive up to date and automatic email alerts on the very latest positions in your requested field. Plus, the site also boasts a whole host of other useful information such as salary guides.
North: 0113 389 9500 or email: north@abpm.co.uk
Midlands: 01509 678200 or email: midlands@abpm.co.uk
ABPM understands that the decision to leave any position is a big step and normally involves lengthy research, so it has developed a site that enables candidates to browse or register for email alerts without being directly contacted by a member of the team.
There is also the option of signing up for the full service where candidates can now specify their preferred region, job type or salary bracket. They will then be directly contacted by a consultant as well as start to receive up to date and automatic email alerts on the very latest positions in their requested field. The site also boasts a whole host of other useful information such as salary guides.
There are also added benefits for ABPM clients as they can now register a vacancy directly and all positions are posted automatically onto leading job boards as well as appearing on the new site itself. In addition, a featured Client Area provides additional background information on those companies that the business recruits for on a regular basis
Rej Abraham, director of ABPM, commented; ‘The last couple of years has been a real evolutionary period for us. We understand the focus and importance that the Internet now plays in the recruitment sector and the new website is our response to that. We have spent a long time listening to what both our candidates and clients want and are already seeing an upturn in both usage and positive feedback!’
The site was created by Staffordshire based Trinity Design – www.trinitydesign.co.uk
ABPM Financial Recruitment, the longest established financial recruitment consultancy in the North & Midlands, is celebrating after being recognised as an Investor in People. The much respected Investors in People organisation work with companies of all sizes to provide straightforward, proven frameworks for delivering business improvement through their people.
The assessment process was conducted over two days by the West Midlands Quality Centre and included interviews with both full and part-time staff as well as the senior management team. A number of pre-agreed key areas were reviewed including; the business planning process, the strategy for improving performance and how the development of people has impacted the organisation’s performance. ABPM first received the accolade in 2004.
Particular ‘good practice’ actions identified included; an effective communications strategy that encourages and allows all members of staff to contribute and a supportive team culture that facilitates sharing of good practice and knowledge.
Rej Abraham, director of ABPM, commented; ‘As a business, we recognise the important role our staff play in developing and growing our organisation. Our team is made up of some of the most talented recruiters I’ve ever worked with, so this recognition is testament everyone’s hard work. We see this as an important milestone and we are all determined to carry on delivering the best service possible to both clients and candidates.’
For further information on ABPM Financial Recruitment, please contact:
Matt Neary @ Conker PR T: 0161 902 9472 E: matt@conkerpr.com
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