Hargreaves Lansdown Secures Top CASS Talent With Specialist Help

Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK’s largest investment platform for private investors. Founded in 1981, it has 1.8 million clients and £140+ bn in assets. It is a FTSE-listed company headquartered in Bristol and employs over 2,000 people.

The CASS Talent Challenge for Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown needed help finding a suitable candidate for a Senior CASS Analyst role in Bristol. Few talent options were available locally for this highly specialised role. Also, the candidate needed broad experience in CASS regulations. The company needed help finding quality candidates for this position.

The compliance team at Hargreaves Lansdown was functioning and delivering everything it needed daily. However, the vacant role was straining resources, especially for additional projects and tasks. In the interim, everybody on the team undertook extra duties to cover gaps.

The company was also experiencing the recruitment pain of a limited talent pool for CASS. Hargreaves Lansdown initially tried to fill the role internally and interviewed a few people. However, the recruiters internally were generalist recruiters. Also, nobody internally had the necessary skill set for the Senior CASS Analyst position.

Hargreaves Lansdown then decided to try the external market and work with a few recruiters. However, finding suitable candidates was still proving to be challenging. The Senior CASS Oversight Manager, Tony Jacobs, from Hargreaves Lansdown, contacted Gareth at Kohort Recruitment to utilise his specialist skills.

The Expert CASS Solution from Kohort Recruitment

Tony has used Kohort Recruitment’s specialist services for several years. They always have an initial conversation so Tony can outline the ideal candidate. Tony enjoys working with Gareth as he has direct experience working in the CASS space for a long time. Consequently, Gareth understands CASS as a subject.

This knowledge means Gareth can talk with candidates and identify whether they fit the role. As a result, when Gareth presents clients to Tony, he is confident that they will match the role. This unique skillset from Kohort Recruitment saves time and speeds up recruitment.

A Customised Approach to Sourcing Candidates

For the Seniors CASS Analyst role, Kohort Recruitment searched the local markets and opened up to London afterwards. The idea was to find suitable candidates based in London who were willing to relocate to Bristol.

After a deep search in the London region, Gareth found Laura Galley, a CASS specialist. Laura was originally from Bristol and was open to returning as she had roots in the area. She also possessed the broad knowledge that Hargreaves Lansdown wanted for this role.

Open Communication with a Personal Touch

Tony can let Kohort Recruitment arrange everything between the candidates and the company. Also, because Gareth is friendly and approachable, he can always have an open and honest conversation with him about the candidates and interviews.

Tony said, “Gareth always goes the extra mile and offers that personal touch. I feel he genuinely cares about his candidates and those he works for.”

(Picture of Tony)

For example, if there were issues or the company wanted to find a slightly different candidate. Gareth would take everything on board. In contrast, Tony has different experiences working with other recruiters. These recruiters have no direct conversations and conduct everything through LinkedIn or email.

Dealing with an Extended Notice Period

In this particular case, once Laura confirmed acceptance, the process took six months. This lengthy process was due to Laura’s notice period and relocation to Bristol. The extended notice and relocation were potentially risky. Therefore, regular communication between Gareth and Laura was critical.

Likewise, Tony spoke monthly with Laura to update her about the team. These organised periodic check-ins from Gareth and Tony helped bridge the long duration. This coordinated and collaborative approach helped to satisfy everyone’s expectations.

The Welcome Results for Hargreaves Lansdown

Finding the right candidate was critical for this specialised CASS position. Hargreaves Lansdown was thrilled to find a solution to their recruitment challenge. Working with a specialist recruiter in the CASS space helped them find the right person for the Senior CASS Analyst role.

Gareth utilised his extensive connections and network in the CASS recruitment market. As a result, Kohort Recruitment presented several candidates for the role. Hargreaves Lansdown employed a strong candidate in Laura, who ticked all their boxes for the CASS position.

Tony Jacobs said, “Laura was a stand-out candidate due to her qualifications and fit for the Senior CASS Analyst role. She was worth the wait to secure such a high-calibre candidate. ”

Genuinely Caring for Candidates and Clients

It was also evident to Hargreaves Lansdown that Kohort Recruitment prides itself on understanding the needs of its candidates and clients. Tony always feels Gareth genuinely cares for the candidates and their company. This attention to detail and people’s feelings is part of what makes Kohort Recruitment stand out.

Hargreaves Lansdown was grateful to work with a dedicated recruitment partner. For example, Gareth took time to build a relationship with Laura, so she felt comfortable during the lengthy process. This attention to detail also meant they did not have to worry about Laura changing her mind or accepting counteroffers.

The Impact of the Positive Experience

The coordinated communication during the recruitment process ensured Laura had a positive onboarding experience. Before she started, Laura met with Gareth and Tony and also met the compliance team. This smooth transition helped the company get up to speed quickly and maximise its CASS capabilities.

Due to the positive recruitment experiences, Hargreaves Lansdown will continue to contact Gareth first for their recruitment needs, especially for niche roles like CASS and compliance. Tony said, “Compared to other recruiters, Gareth would be my go-to person if I tried recruiting anyone in the CASS space.”