Accounting is a necessary part of every business, but many businesses find that they do not need to keep an accountant on staff full-time. As a result, these positions are a perfect fit for a contingent workforce staffing model, where the work is outsourced to contractors who can help on an as-needed basis.
Knowing how to find qualified contractors who can give you the help you need to manage your money is hard. How do you find an agency that can provide quality accountants?
If you are considering reaching out to an accounting staffing agency for your next contract hire, here is what you should know to find the perfect partner.
Prioritize Placement Approach
When placing accountants within your existing team, you should consider how a staffing agency makes recommendations and placements. Some will provide you with a skilled accountant, but it may not be the right fit. Does your staffing agency take the time to understand your real needs, as well as company culture?
Finding someone who meshes with your team is essential. Skill is only part of the equation when you need to bring on accounting help, especially when team synergy can affect retention and business productivity. Look for an agency with a placement approach that looks at your brand as holistically as possible so that you have less turnover in your new accounting department with a contractor.
Less turnover saves you time and money, so you should always consider the company fit with a new worker.
Ask about Network and Reach
Some companies might find that their local community does not have the people with the skills, talent, and compensation requirements that suit their business. Instead, you should search for a staffing agency that has a tremendous network and a far reach. Consider hiring someone from a location other than your direct area to get the skills you need.
The staffing agency should have a talent pool that attracts people to them, giving you the perfect worker for your unique position.
Of course, you may want to look for an agency that offers more than just one type of help. This can help you branch into other areas where flexible staffing services can be beneficial.
Investigate Agency Reputation
Does the accounting staffing agency have a history of successfully placing contractors within real businesses like yours? Their reputation and experience should play a pivotal role in whether you decide to go with them. A new staffing agency might not have the talent pool or the resources to give you what you need.
Look for an accounting staffing agency that has more experience and a positive reputation. This might be a good time to look for online reviews or ask for referrals from other business owners who used a staffing agency to meet their own internal needs. Go with a company that has experience with staffing like yours and maintains a positive reputation in the industry.
You may want to consider asking around to see who other business owners have used for their flex staff needs. This is also directly related to their customer service experience.
Consider Customer Service
How will you address any customer service complaints within the accounting staffing agency? In other words, will they listen to your requests and complaints closely while working to resolve the situation in a way that keeps your business moving forward? Knowing whether your accounting staffing agency offers excellent customer service should be a deciding factor before you bring on a contractor.
Of course, most staffing agencies will not be able to give you more than a cursory overview of their process to address customer complaints. They should instead refer you to their reviews or testimonials of clients who used their services before. Look online to see what the consensus is about how they handle their accounts.
Alternatively, you may ask for references that put you in touch with someone who has used their services in the past. This gives you honest feedback from someone who was in a similar position and can give you even greater insight into how they operate.
Understand their Range of Services
Accounting might be the first place you think of to dip your toes in the water of flex staffing, which is the process of bringing on flexible contractors only when you need them. You may fall in love with a new business model that keeps you from having to hire full-time workers for only seasonal positions or busy times of the year.
Because of this, you should look for a staffing agency that can fill other positions beyond just accounting.
There are some powerful benefits to contract staffing, such as the ability to handle unpredictable business challenges and to make calculated growth in a more cost-efficient way. If you can work with the same agency for all of your staffing needs, you can simplify the logistics of hiring. They will already know your company culture, how you prefer to hire, and who might be a great fit.
This minimizes the lead time between when you submit a request for a flex staff worker and when the perfect lead lands on your desk.
Find Your Next Rockstar with Alaska Executive Search
Identifying the perfect accountant for your team can absorb hours or even days of your precious time. Working with a recruiter for contingency staffing is a strategic approach to find that rockstar accountant that brings real value to your team – without costing you additional time, energy, or headache.
If you want to work with an accounting staffing agency with more than forty years of experience placing people in the perfect positions, reach out to us at AES FlexStaff Solutions. We help with everything from short-term placements to long-term hires to give your staffing the edge you need to reach your goals, ensuring flexibility and cost-efficiency. In addition to accountants, we have an extensive network of talented individuals who can fill the gaps in your current workforce.
We can help you find the flex staff you need in a unique market, bringing you closer to your goals of having accounting help without bringing on a new department. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!