Having spent my entire career recruiting exclusively in the contract finance market, I’ve seen first-hand what separates clients who secure high-calibre contractors quickly, from those who unintentionally slow the process and miss out. A large part of this comes down to treating contractor recruitment like a permanent hire with multi-stage interviews and long pauses between discussions.
Contract recruitment operates on a very different rhythm. It’s driven by speed, clarity and outcome-focused decision-making. This becomes even more important in East Anglia, where the supply of quality finance contractors is consistently lower than demand. Strong candidates often receive multiple approaches within hours, not days. In a region where talent is scarce, the way you run your hiring process directly determines the calibre of contractor you secure.
To stay in the fast lane of contractor hiring, you need five core pillars:
A Good Recruitment Partner
The most impactful decision is who represents your role in the market. A true recruitment partner understands your business, protects your brand, and only introduces contractors who genuinely fit. They refine the brief, challenge your thinking and act as an extension of your team.
I’ve been fortunate to work with clients who partner with me exclusively and trust my judgement. I’ve built long-standing relationships with my contractor network, many of whom I’ve known for years, taking time to understand their strengths and preferences. That level of partnership leads to fast, accurate hires. Working with one strong partner, or at most two, creates a consistent, prioritised process that drives better outcomes.
Speed Wins Every Time
In the East Anglia finance market, speed is everything. Contractors often secure their next assignment within 24 to 48 hours. A slow, permanent-style process is the biggest reason businesses lose good candidates. In the contractor world, momentum is your greatest advantage. A straightforward, decisive approach gives you a competitive edge. In most cases, one well-structured conversation is enough to assess suitability. Moving quickly from brief to interview to offer is what allows you to secure the contractor who can start delivering value immediately.
Understand the Deliverables
Contractors are brought in for impact. They fix a gap, stabilise a team, support reporting, deliver a project or resolve a problem. Before going to market, be clear about what you need from the in the short term. Understanding the immediate priorities, whether that’s getting month-end back on track, leading an audit, improving reporting or supporting BAU, makes it easier to select the right person and ensures they’re fully aligned from day one. A contractor who knows exactly what they’re walking into will always ramp up faster and deliver stronger results.
Have Internal Sign-Off Ready
One of the most common causes of delay in contractor hiring is internal sign-off. When budgets, day rates or stakeholder approvals aren’t fully aligned, the process stalls and in a tight market, even short delays can mean losing a contractor to another organisation.
Being ready to move with budget confirmed, day rate agreed and stakeholders aligned is one of the simplest ways to ensure you don’t lose momentum. When everything is prepared internally, the hiring decision becomes faster, smoother and far more effective.
Keep the Process Simple
The most effective contractor recruitment processes are the simplest. A single interview focused on capability, communication and deliverables is almost always sufficient for an interim hire. Tasks, presentations and multiple stages only slow things down and increase the risk of missing out. Contractors value clarity and efficiency because their work is built around delivering outcomes quickly. A streamlined, professional process shows that you understand the interim market and respect the urgency that comes with it.
Successfully recruiting finance contractors in East Anglia requires a different approach from permanent hiring. The market is competitive; the talent pool is limited and delays come at a cost. Clients who succeed move with purpose, keep the process simple, know what they need and partner with a recruiter who understands the market. Focus on clarity, speed and trust to secure the best talent.