Successful recruitment in a virtual world
An overview of our recent appointment for Staffordshire Police
Told from the perspective of our client, the successfully appointed candidate and our consultant.
It has been a pleasure to support Staffordshire Police with their recent appointment of a Finance Business Partner and we were delighted to be able to fully utilise our virtual recruitment systems during the process. Managing a job at any time is a huge responsibility, but in the middle of a global pandemic it requires additional reliance on skills and technology. Thankfully at Westwood Harris Burns, being an advocate of agile working, we were well equipped to fully support our client and candidate.
After numerous conversations with Kirsten, the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, we had every confidence in our ability to provide a high quality shortlist of exceptional candidates looking to be considered for the role. We were able to gain a very clear understanding of the type of candidate that would fit well into the culture and team environment, alongside the necessary technical requirements.
We were inundated with candidates who were excited at the prospect of working with Staffordshire Police and through our extensive search and selection criteria, we were able to highlight Richard as an obvious contender because of his technical ability and confident personality.
Comment from Kirsten Courtney (Deputy Chief Finance Officer & Deputy Section 151 Officer - Staffordshire Police):
“Westwood Harris Burns have been a fantastic support with the recruitment of a Finance Business Partner into our organisation and were able to source some outstanding candidates for us. Sara really took the time to listen and understand our requirements and offered a modern and innovative approach to the selection process, a huge benefit in the current circumstances.”
Comment from Richard Astle (Candidate):
“Sara initially contacted me about a role that she was recruiting as she thought my background and experience would be a really good fit. Sara has been professional, courteous and a real pleasure to work with, giving prompt and positive feedback that I have found so helpful. I would thoroughly recommend Sara to anyone looking for a new role, particularly in public sector or not for profit organisations.”
Comment from Sara Phillips (Senior Consultant - Westwood Harris Burns):
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with both Richard and Kirsten at Staffordshire Police. Given that the recruitment process started in April, we were able to fully utilise our virtual recruitment systems offering a seamless recruitment process despite current restrictions. In building a strong relationship with the client, I was able to fully understand their requirements and secure the perfect candidate for them. I wish both Kirsten and Richard the best and I look forward to working with them both again in the future.”
Westwood Harris Burns are specialists in Executive Search and Senior Finance appointments within the Public Sector; with particular expertise in NHS, Housing and Charity Sectors. With over 60 years combined experience, we have extensive knowledge of the market, proven track records and established networks, allowing us to provide a wide range of services to both clients and candidates alike.
To learn more about how we can support you to either build your team or career, visit our Get In Touch page.
