Are You Too Busy Doing the Job to Fix the Root Cause of Hiring Challenges?
Finance leaders across Ireland are often so focused on day-to-day operations, such as month-end closes, payroll, and reporting, that recruitment gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Yet failing to address the underlying causes of slow hiring can create hidden costs that ripple across the business.
“Filling a vacancy is not just ticking a box. It stabilises your team and drives better outcomes for the business.”
The Hidden Costs of Unfilled Roles
When finance roles remain vacant or recruitment drags on, the impact is rarely obvious but always significant:
Increased pressure on existing staff. Workloads are redistributed, creating stress and inefficiencies.
Delayed reporting and decision-making. Critical financial insights take longer to reach the business.
Burnout among high performers. Overstretched teams risk losing talent, creating a cycle of vacancies.
Missed opportunities for improvement. Without time to step back, leaders struggle to refine processes or upskill teams.
The Root Cause Is Not Always the Market
While talent availability is a factor, the problem often lies in the recruitment process itself:
Job descriptions focus on tasks rather than outcomes.
Roles are not clearly defined, making it hard to attract the right candidates.
Slow or overly complex hiring processes lose high-calibre professionals.
Addressing these issues requires stepping back and taking a strategic approach to recruitment.
How to Fix the Root Cause
Clarify the role and expectations. Define outcomes rather than just tasks.
Streamline your recruitment process. Efficient processes show candidates that you value their time.
Partner with specialist recruiters. A focused recruitment partner can help reduce the burden on your team.
Plan ahead. Anticipate future team needs and build talent pipelines for critical roles.
At Downey Osborne, we work closely with finance leaders to address these challenges. Our support goes beyond filling vacancies. We ensure that:
Only fully qualified and relevant candidates are presented, saving time and reducing hiring risk.
Candidates are pre-screened and aligned with both the role and company culture, improving retention.
We provide market insights, benchmarking, and advice on role specifications, helping clients attract the best talent efficiently.
We streamline the process from first approach to offer, taking pressure off busy finance teams so they can focus on what they do best.
Investing time in the recruitment process and partnering with a specialist like Downey Osborne is not extra work. It is an investment in the long-term health of your finance team and your business.
