Case Study - AKAM
Director of Systems & Technology, VP of Transfers and Closings, Client Payroll Manager and VP of Finance Operations for AKAM.
The Challenge
AKAM is a property management specialist, priding itself on its first-class service and unique philosophy to property management.
AKAM realized that across a number of roles in their organisation, processes needed to be rebuilt, new technology implemented and new leadership was required. They needed not only candidates with strong, yet niche property management experience, but also experience within technical transformation.
Each role had its own hiring manager and unique requirements:
- Director of Systems & Technology - Needed to be a Yardi expert, well-versed in project management and mass Yardi implementation.
- VP of Transfers and Closings - Would be managing a team of 12 and be responsible for the creation of network infrastructure, internal protocols and general technology advancement.
- VP of Finance Operations - Required significant experience in overseeing a shared service function, with the aim of increasing efficiency through introducing new procedures.
The Solution
Cobalt was chosen as AKAM’s search partner, following an unsuccessful attempt by the Client to source for their VP of Finance Operations role.
Michael at Cobalt primarily used a combination of existing and new connections LinkedIn to identify appropriate candidates - the majority of which were passive in their job search, meaning that they weren’t active on any of the standard industry job boards.
The process included phone screening, in-person meetings with all candidates, the creation of a shortlist for each role (varying from 3-6 candidates across the roles) and the management of 3 interview stages with the client, before they were offered the role.
The Results
We were delighted to fill all 4 roles in the transformation of AKAM’s processes within 6 weeks of receiving the mandate.
The Feedback
“While I often receive emails about job opportunities, Mike's genuine and friendly approach stood out. After delving into the details and bombarding him with questions, I decided to pursue the opportunity. Having stayed with my current (amazing) company for years, I hadn't navigated the job market in quite some time, but Mike was there every step of the way, offering guidance and support. He demonstrated exceptional communication skills, always keeping me informed and providing valuable feedback.”
- Emily Crouch - Successful Candidate, Director of Systems & Technology
A core area of the Cobalt business since 2001, our finance & accounting recruitment has grown from beginnings in real estate to working with SMEs, start-ups and Fortune 500 businesses in several sectors across the US.
The Finance & Accounting team has a long-proven track record with over 25 years of experience in recruiting commercial finance & accounting professionals across the US into roles at all different levels. Our ability to understand the bespoke requirements of organizations we partner with ensures that we work only with the most top-tier finance professionals that the market has to offer.
