How to recruit candidates in the financial services industry

For any organization, accountants are part of a financial backbone, enabling operations, furnishing strategies, ensuring compliance, empowering leaders, and more. Accountants fall into a number of categories, including Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), auditors, tax accountants, and investment accountants. In a CPA or other accounting firm, these skilled professionals form part of the firm’s revenue center. In other organizations, accountants provide the skills needed for business leaders to understand their financial resources—and preserve, allocate, and grow them accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Gather all necessary reports and detailed support both periodically and on-demand, including balance sheets, profit and loss statements, revenue forecasts, budgets, and cash-flow statements
• Ensure the integrity of accounting information and reconcile any financial discrepancies by performing or directing forensic research of accounting issues for compliance, and establish quality over transactions and reporting
• Handle AP, verifying payment documentation, referencing outstanding bills, updating debt balance, and conducting disbursement
• Review and reconcile the general ledger, identifying and thoroughly investigating any discrepancies and taking the proper corrective actions to resolve them
• Conduct month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes to verify all entries have been created and posted, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and cohesiveness of information
• Manage administrative staff within department and transfer accounting/reporting knowledge to other departments

Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, business accounting, or finance
• 5+ years corporate accounting experience
• Personal integrity; ability to keep customer and company confidences
• Thorough knowledge of accounting and corporate finance principles and procedures
• Experience in audit and international accounting
  

As the leader of the accounting team, controllers are in charge of closely monitoring a company’s financial health. They typically maintain, manage, and analyze financial statements, payroll, budgets, tax compliance issues, and more. These financial experts work across a broad spectrum of industries, for companies both large and small. In a larger corporate setting, controllers often supervise a team of accountants and report directly to the chief financial officer (CFO). In smaller companies, the controller may be the only accountant, working with a team of clerks and reporting directly to the owner or CEO.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements as well as the requirements of private contributions, loans, and government contracts
• Maintain internal control safeguards for the receipt of revenue, costs and both team and organizational budgets and actual expenditures
• In conjunction with the CFO, establish financial and operating benchmarks, budgets, program monitoring, and reporting standards on a bi-weekly, monthly, and annual basis
• Implement consistent accounting policies, practices, and procedures across all programs, upholding federal, state, and local legal standards by remaining knowledgeable about existing, new, and future legislation
• Develop and enforce internal controls to maximize protection of company assets, policies, procedures, and workflow
• Oversee and support accounting team with dynamic leadership that creates an environment of trust and productivity

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or related field
• 10+ years proven accounting experience
• Professional accounting certification, including CMA, CGA, or CA
• Working knowledge of finance law and regulatory standards (GAAP)
• Strong understanding of economic and banking processes

Financial analysts are fundamental contributors to the fiscal health and success of many types of organizations. From banks and pension and mutual funds, to securities firms and insurance companies, these highly adept people evaluate economic data and trends, determine financial status and value, and help guide investment decisions. Financial analysts — sometimes referred to as securities or investment analysts — often specialize in specific industries, products, or geographic regions. On both the buy-side and sell-side of the financial landscape, they may work as portfolio or fund managers, ratings analysts, risk analysts, and more.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with the VP of finance with various planning exercises, such as forecast, budgets, profitability analysis, and reporting
• Assist in the monthly close process by analyzing trends and variances related to revenue, and compare and correct data to reconcile financial transactions
• Develop and maintain confidential, protected databases to monitor business performance, and provide management with insights into any risks or opportunities
• Coordinate requirements for efficient automated accounting to increase productivity and ensure verified information backups
• Uphold standards through consolidation of quarterly reporting packages and thorough internal reporting and analysis of financial data
• Strive to advance personal skill sets through continued engagement in networking, workshop, and advanced education opportunities

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field
• Proven experience working as a financial analyst
• Proficient with financial software application packages
• Working knowledge of statistical analysis processes and statistical packages
• Outstanding communication, reporting, and presentation skills

Bank tellers handle one of the most important assets in our culture—money. As with any consumer operation, banks rely on these individuals to deliver exceptional service, as they perform financial transactions for their customers. Day-to-day, they handle withdrawals, deposits, transfers, and other financial activities, all while delivering a positive customer experience. Because they have responsibility for the cash that flows in and out of their drawers, they’re often tasked with verifying identities, as well as promoting new products that may benefit the customer.

Responsibilities

• Handle account transactions for customers, including check cashing, deposits, withdrawals, transfers, loan payments, cashier’s checks, and opening and closing accounts
• Identify customer needs, provide information on new products and services, and direct customers to branch representatives if interested
• Reconcile cash drawers at the end of your shift, count and package coins and currency, turn in any excess or damaged currency to head teller
• Track, record, report, and store transactional information and special requests
• Provide a high level of customer service, providing answers and assistance with a smile

Skills and Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic math and computer skills
• Cash-handling experience
• Excellent communication, customer service, and time-management skills
• Ability to pass a background check
• Strong dedication to accuracy and efficiency

As a company grows, it often needs more than accountants and controllers to manage finances. This is when the services of a chief financial officer (CFO) are required. These financial experts do much more than simply make sure the numbers add up at the end of the month. Whether it’s a 20-employee firm or a corporation of thousands, companies rely on the CFO for critical financial strategies and performance management, based on backward-looking analyses and forward-looking projections. A CFO’s day-to-day tasks may vary, but he or she is focused on the future, using the past to inform and guide his employer’s overall financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Work with the senior management to efficiently develop proposal budgets, provide access to project finance information, and manage contract/grant compliance and reporting
• Research revenue opportunities and economic trends, analyze internal operations, identify areas of cost reduction and process enhancement
• Perform risk management through analysis of company liabilities and investments, and evaluate and manage capital structure and fundraising initiatives
• Oversee HR function, coordinating with external service providers (payroll, benefits, and general HR) and internal staff responsible for various aspects of HR
• Monitor performance with tracking, establish corrective measures as needed, and prepare detailed reports, both current and forecasting for earnings calls, the management team, and the rest of the company
• Manage finance personnel and oversee financial IT systems, ensuring compliance with all applicable Financial Accounting Standards Board, Internal Revenue Service, State Attorney General, and other relevant regulations

Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, business accounting, or finance
• 5+ years experience in executive leadership positions
• Leadership skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity
• Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills
• Understanding of advanced accounting, regulatory issues, and tax planning
• Working knowledge of raising capital beyond traditional lines of credit
  

Many candidates love hearing about new opportunities, especially if your offer is promising. But great financial services candidates can receive lots of messages from recruiters, both on LinkedIn and via email. That means it’s important for your message to stand out.

General best practices when writing candidate emails:

• Make your subject lines short and impactful
  • All-star subject lines use keywords like “thanks,” “exclusive invitation,” “connect,” “job opportunity,” and “join us.”
• Don’t just draft a message – design a conversation starter
  • You won’t get far with candidates if your message is weak. Nix the “look at the job and tell me if you’re interested” messages – instead, start a dialogue about their career goals and encourage candidates to explore the opportunity.
• Keep your tone authentic and conversational
  • Opt for words that reflect your voice and express a genuine, enthusiastic interest in helping candidates accomplish their professional goals.

When you send messages on LinkedIn via InMail, keep in mind that the key is to establish a personal connection with candidates and spark their interest in the role. This doesn’t mean you can’t use a template, just that your template should be customized to match each candidate’s unique interests, as well as your own writing style. Here are a few examples of InMail messages that establish an immediate connection.

In the digital age, curating a powerful online brand is essential for attracting quality financial services talent. A strong online presence can help you dominate industry conversations (and increase your SEO), build rapport with passive and active candidates, and diversify your reach. Candidates will look at your LinkedIn page, careers site, and social media profiles – so make sure they show your credibility and industry expertise. Develop a voice, tone, and style that is uniquely your own, and carry it across multiple online channels. An expert online brand will stick with candidates who are looking for their next role, and may motivate passive candidates to reach out.

In the financial services industry, where people are dedicated to finding efficiencies and staying ahead of the competition, an innovation-focused brand can be highly effective. You want to show that your organization believes in a sophisticated, trustworthy approach to finance, and show candidates that your team is replete with industry experts. If your mission resonates with candidates, they’ll want to connect with your recruiters and learn more about your work.

Here are a few things you can do right away to boost your online brand

• Share company insights with clear, concise articles
  • Your annual report
  • Your executives’ takes on hot-button industry topics
  • Recent innovations or partnerships
  • What makes your company culture unique
• Share real testimonials from your staff
  • Provide clear details about the role and the workplace
  • Show a personal experience that candidates can relate to
  • Demonstrate that you are an employer that values its staff
• Include authentic pictures and videos on your pages
  • Avoid stock photos!
  • Highlight your employees engaging in real work, and supporting their team members
  • Showcase your office, so candidates can visualize working in your space

LinkedIn Groups offers an online space for like-minded professionals to connect, discuss industry topics, and gain insight into new companies and opportunities. With hundreds of groups on LinkedIn focused on the financial services industry, recruiters can use these spaces to connect with and discover new talent.

Before driving outreach, though, it’s important to explore the rules of each group. Some prohibit solicitation or posting job openings on their page, so be sure to do your research so you can stay respectful. Here are a few groups to explore that are designed with recruitment in mind:

• Finance & Accounting Jobs

  With nearly 85,000 members, this group was created to connect candidates with new opportunities in the finance and accounting industries.

• Finance Club

  Established over five years ago, the Finance Club is a tried-and-true group for candidates and recruiters in the financial services industry. With nearly 900,000 members to date, posting in this group can optimize the reach of your post.

• Finance Professionals Worldwide

  This international group has over 82,000 members who are interested in networking, sharing insights, and exploring job opportunities.

How to join LinkedIn Groups

You can find groups in two ways:

1. By name or keyword: Type keywords or group names in the search bar at the top of the LinkedIn homepage. Click the Groups tab on the Search Results page.
2. By browsing groups recommended for you by LinkedIn: Click the Work icon in the top right of the LinkedIn homepage and select Groups from the menu.

There are two ways you can join a group:

1. Click “Request to join” on the group Discussions page, or anywhere you see the button.
2. Respond to an invitation from a group member or manager. Joining a LinkedIn Group is easy. After finding a group that’s relevant to your needs and clicking its page, click the button to join the group.
   

How to post a message in LinkedIn Groups
 

• After joining a group, you’ll see a box called “Start a new conversation in this group.” Here, you can type your message, post links, and even upload images or video. You can type up to 1,300 characters in total, including spaces, so keep it short and sweet!
• When you’re happy with your message, simply click “Post” and you’re done.

How to start a discussion and engage group members

• Share stories and post other relevant content in a group to encourage other members to comment on your post. This is a great way to start a conversation, get guidance and feedback, and to know more about the group’s members.
• Respond to members’ comments and ask respectful, interesting follow-up questions or comments.

How to reach out to a candidate in LinkedIn Groups

• If someone catches your attention in the group, click on their profile to learn more about them and to connect with them. Once you’re connected, you can message them clicking the “Message” button on their page and reach out to them in an InMail (a direct message on LinkedIn).
• Mention that you enjoyed chatting with them in the group and would like to connect, and give them some enticing details about the job you’re hiring for. If they’ve interacted with you in the group, you already have a personal connection that they will respond to!

It’s not always easy to get started recruiting high-quality financial services talent. But by using LinkedIn and following these simple tips, you can leverage your posts and connect more effectively with talent. To stand out from similar companies on LinkedIn, share your company’s mission in your job descriptions, messages, and across your employer brand. When candidates feel more connected to your company and mission, you’re already on your way to making your next great hire!