Hydrogen has been at the forefront of the Finance recruitment since 1997. Back then, the main problem for our clients was a saturated market, lacking qualified commercial talent, and one-size-fits-all recruitment agencies that didn’t understand the world of Finance and the candidates required. The only other options were internal recruiters or HR functions, who equally had a lack of specialist knowledge to find the right talent. Many Finance functions were also finding it difficult to mobilise resources to cover busy periods and their permanent workforce lacked specialist expertise to deliver finance change effectively. We entered the market with a team of consultants with direct experience, many being part or qualified accountants, passionate about the space, and ready to dispel the stereotypes associated with recruitment and do things better, faster and from an informed perspective.
More than two decades later, Finance is no longer a back-office function, but the breeding ground for future business leaders. Accountants now act as business partners, driving revenue, analysing Big Data, embracing technology, and focusing on the commercial side of their businesses. Candidates can aim for the CEO role and, as such, demand varied challenges to keep their career on track, making retention tough for our clients. Digital transformation and AI have brought new skillsets to the role, with the best candidates highly sought after.
With Finance roles becoming more complex and Finance professionals moving frequently to achieve their career aspirations, it has become much harder to retain permanent staff. Demand for interim talent has increased to ensure strategy and growth remains on track, particularly for those candidates with technical skill sets who can embrace digital advances in areas such as AI or Big Data.
By giving companies access to interim Finance change specialists with niche industry skills and cross-functional capability, we help our clients deliver change more effectively.
We know that hiring the right commercially minded people in Finance is business critical and leaves a lasting impression in today’s evolving workplace. Over the years, we have built long-term relationships with our clients, acting as an extension to their brand, to fully understand their needs and their Finance function structure, sell their proposition, and to partner with them to help drive their growth plans and increase their competitive footprint. We are never complacent in our service levels and use Net Promoter Score to drive customer satisfaction.