Case studies
Tower Hamlets Homes
Roles
2 Management Accountants- permanent
2 Assistant Management Accountants- permanent
Trainee Accountant- permanent
Client profile
Tower Hamlets Homes is an award-winning ALMO (Arm’s Length Management Organisation) that provides housing services to the local community. The organisation has a powerful local presence, managing 21,000 properties comprising both leasehold and tenanted residences, which represents roughly 20% of all homes in the borough.
Assignment
In June 2018, Robertson Bell were retained by Tower Hamlets Homes’ Head of Finance to run a multi-vacancy campaign for five permanent positions.
- 2 x Management Accountants (£45k)
- 2 x Assistant Management Accountants (£35k)
- Trainee Accountant (£26k)
Key considerations and challenges
- Multiple vacancies to be filled within a tight timeframe – the target was to have all roles advertised, resourced, interviewed, offered, accepted and in post within 9 weeks.
- With a large proportion of their tenants coming from a BAME background, the client was keen to ensure that roles were promoted effectively within the local community – both to support diversity targets and to engage with appropriately skilled finance professionals possessing practical insights into the needs of local residents.
Solution
Our most productive resource is often our candidate database of almost 100K professionals in the Public and Not-for-Profit sectors. Our initial search is augmented by access to third-party databases, headhunting, targeted advertising, plus bespoke services aligned with the unique requirements of each assignment.
We built a dual-branded micro-site to showcase the new opportunities and drive response from carefully targeted audiences. Featuring a video interview between our lead consultant and the Head of Finance, the micro-site was designed to boost engagement and provide a deeper insight into the employer’s culture, and the exciting career development opportunities at Tower Hamlets Homes.
This multimedia approach was crucial to gaining traction on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, which strongly prioritises video content. The remarkable connectivity of Robertson Bell consultants was also key to gaining broad exposure.
We reached out to Tower Hamlets residents groups to gain support in promoting the vacancies to local people, and we were very successful in sharing the micro-site widely across a diverse range of online communities.
With a particular focus on recruiting a local school leaver/graduate for the Trainee Accountant position, we engaged with 12 local sixth forms and colleges who shared the micro-site with their graduating students and alumni.
Anticipating strong interest in the opportunities, we deployed our In-Sight video interviewing technology to expedite early-stage selection and quickly create high-quality candidate short-lists.
Outcomes
Management Accountants: We received a total of 120 applications, and submitted a shortlist of 13 high-calibre candidates across the two roles. 6 interviews were arranged, resulting in four appointable candidates and two successful appointments. The appointed candidates - one female, and one male from the BAME community - both had extensive housing sector experience.
Assistant Management Accountants: We received a total of 150 applications and submitted a shortlist of 12 very strong candidates across the two roles. 6 interviews were arranged, resulting in four appointable candidates and two successful appointments - one female, and one male from the BAME community.
Trainee Accountant: We received 380 applications, and due to the high volume of high-quality candidates, we invited 80 applicants to take part in a solo video interview, from which 12 were submitted to the shortlist. 6 progressed to full interview, resulting in three appointable candidates and one successful appointment.
The Head of Finance described his decision as “the most difficult recruiting decision I’ve ever had to make”. The appointed candidate was a female graduate from the local community and had been directed to the vacancy by a family member who had seen the link to the micro-site on LinkedIn.