In the fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, finding the right people for critical roles can be a challenging task. Talent shortages and the time gaps between hiring key individuals and their actual start date can further exacerbate this issue, leaving businesses vulnerable and struggling to maintain operations.
As a professional services business, we know first-hand the pain points faced by our clients, which is why we’ve developed a powerful solution – outsourcing interim cover for key personnel. In this article, we share some success stories of how our expertise (and our amazing people) has helped businesses navigate through challenging hires and ensure seamless continuity in their operations.
The Cost of ‘Desperation Hires’: A Valuable Lesson Learned
During the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw enduring talent shortages and the so-called ‘Great Resignation’, businesses have been under pressure to fill key positions quickly. This has led to ‘desperation hires’, where new hires were wrongly appointed to crucial roles like CFO or Finance Manager.
These hasty decisions can have severe repercussions, consuming valuable time and resources, creating tension among existing staff (especially high performers) and impacting overall performance of the business. One of our clients experienced this firsthand when their CFO departed without a suitable replacement in sight. After the CFO’s departure, the company’s Finance Manager was unable to plug the gaps and didn’t have the right support, so they also left the business.
Not wanting our client to suffer from another desperation hire, BlueRock stepped in to provide interim cover. One of our CA-qualified Accounting Supervisors (who knew the client’s business inside out) did a detailed handover with the outgoing Finance Manager and stepped into the role, allowing them to take the time they needed to find the right candidate without compromising business operations.
The result? A new CFO has been appointed and BlueRock is providing value with a seamless and thorough handover process.
Bridging the Gap with Interim CFOs and CEOs
We often advise our clients that it’s better to play 1 short until you find the right person, but in some cases you just can’t. When it comes to key roles, you need to bridge the gap, even for a short period of time
In times of CEO transitions, the period between the outgoing and incoming executive can be challenging for any organisation. Securing a CEO from overseas adds complexity due to visa and relocation requirements. We recently assisted another client, Aviso Group, by plugging our expertise into their business in the form of an Acting CEO, with BlueRock Director Rhys Lambert seamlessly stepping into the role until their new CEO arrived from the UK.
Because Rhys was so familiar with Aviso’s business, and had the support of BlueRock advisors who had been working with Aviso for years, he was able to ensure the business continued running smoothly.
A Tailored Approach: Flexibility and Support
We recognise that every business and situation is unique, which is why we offer a tailored approach to interim personnel outsourcing. Whether it's project-based work or covering a crucial leadership role, we can provide the expertise needed to keep operations running smoothly. Our day-rate model allows businesses to have the right people in place without committing to long-term contracts, adding a layer of flexibility to suit their specific needs.
Knowing Your Business: Our Unique Value Proposition
Outsourcing interim cover might be perceived as an expensive option, but the benefits of continuity and having our business acumen on-hand are invaluable. Obviously, we’re well-versed in the operations of our clients, but having worked with over 7,000 SME businesses, we can hit the ground running, minimising downtime and maximising efficiency. Paying a premium for services like this means keeping the business functioning at an optimal level, even during times of key personnel transitions.
Talk to Our Business Advisors About Your Personnel Requirements
Navigating through challenging hires and maintaining continuity during key personnel transitions is a daunting task for any business. BlueRock is dedicated to providing the support and expertise needed to tackle these challenges head-on. By offering interim personnel outsourcing, we've helped numerous clients overcome these obstacles successfully. With our experienced professionals and tailored approach, we empower businesses to thrive and stay ahead in the ever-changing corporate landscape.
