When it comes to hiring finance or business support professionals, the recruitment partner you choose will reflect in the candidates you end up with. In a crowded market filled with transactional recruiters and KPI-driven firms, it can be challenging to separate those who are just there to ‘fill vacancies’ from those who truly understand your business and deliver strategic hiring solutions.

At Howett Thorpe, we believe that identifying a true recruitment finance and business support specialist requires a clear focus on values, process, and long-term partnership, not just placements. Here’s what to look for when choosing the right recruitment partner.

1. Expertise Within the Finance Sector

Not all recruiters are created equal. A genuine recruitment specialist will possess deep industry knowledge, a strong network of finance or business support professionals, and insight into market trends, salary expectations, and emerging skills.

At Howett Thorpe, our consultants are experts in their chosen divisions, which means they speak your language, whether you’re looking for a Financial Controller, a Management Accountant, or an interim Finance Director. This level of expertise allows us to add value beyond the CV, advising you on role design, benchmarking, and hiring strategy.

2. A Consultant, Not a Salesperson

The stereotype of the KPI-chasing recruiter who focuses solely on numbers still lingers, you can detect this with some of the following:

  • A high volume of CV’s are fired across in a short time period
  • Candidates are not fully briefed on the company and remit of the position when you then come to talk to them.
  • The CV’s that are sent are not in line with the initial brief or JD
  • Great promises are made at the point of engagement with little follow up
  • Most importantly you feel that no time has been taken to get to know the business, industry, your requirements from this role and you’ll often find in this case that the consultant speaks more than question and listen

We are driven by service solutions, not sales metrics. Our approach is consultative, not transactional and this is rooted in how we recruit staff ourselves, through to how we run our organisation. The process we go through with clients is unique and therefore how we treat our candidates and clients.

We take the time to understand your business, culture, and future plans to ensure we’re not just filling a role, but helping you build a stronger finance or business support function… we build long lasting relationships and as a result of this, have often recruited entire finance teams from junior through to senior roles in the businesses we work with.

We recently recruited the full finance team at the FSE group from senior through to more junior and have built a long-term relationship with the client.

‘’I was extremely impressed with Howett Thorpe’s professionalism and expertise. They went above and beyond to understand our specific requirements and find the right candidates. Their collaborative approach and personalised service made the entire recruitment process seamless.”

Paul Marston

Read more about our success with FSE group here

3. Tenure That Reflects Stability and Trust

One of the most telling indicators of a trustworthy recruitment firm is the tenure of its consultants. At Howett Thorpe, our consultant retention far exceeds industry norms for example it is known most recruitment firms have a staff turnover range between 25% – 40%. Driven predominantly on the KPI matrix that is driven as a management tool. This stability benefits our clients immensely — you’re not passed from one junior recruiter to another, and you gain a consistent, long-term partner who knows your business inside out.

4. Quality-Controlled Candidate Process

In today’s competitive hiring environment, you need candidates who are not only qualified but also well-prepared and aligned with your values. This is why every candidate we put forward is:

  • Fully briefed on your business and the role in detail and we will be sure of their understanding candidates are not represented by Howett Thorpe without their approval and consent for their CV’s to be sent to a client. Ensuring that the candidate’s natural career aspirations are in line with the role available and the company’s goals. Ensuring that longevity will be achieved in our placements
  • Interviewed in depth by an experienced consultant before we pass them on.
  • Screened in line with GDPR best practices and data privacy regulations.

This ensures a streamlined, respectful, and compliant hiring experience for both clients and candidates.

5. A Values-Driven Approach

At our core, Howett Thorpe is a people-first business. While we use data and performance insights to inform our decisions, we never allow metrics to override the quality of our service. Our clients return to us and refer others, because they know we stand for integrity, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to finding the right fit, not just the fastest.

Our advice when choosing your recruitment agency – Choose Partnership Over Placement

Partnering with a true finance and business support recruitment specialist means working with a team that takes the time to understand your business, treats your hiring needs as a strategic priority, and represents your brand with care and professionalism.

At Howett Thorpe, we’re proud to offer more than just recruitment. We deliver consultancy, market insight, and lasting partnerships all backed by a team whose experience, ethics, and expertise are second to none.