EP281: Kath Reynolds, Co-Founder & Director of Balance Recruitment - Why every recruiter should be running their desk as a business

Welcome Kath Reynolds, Director and Co-founder of Balance Recruitment, with a career spanning over 35 years in finance - 25 of which have been dedicated to recruitment finance, including senior leadership roles at Robert Walters in Sydney and New Zealand.

Kath brings a depth of experience and insight into the financial foundations of the recruitment industry.

The episode explored the vital role that financial understanding plays in effective leadership and business development. Kath emphasises that without a strong grasp of the numbers, a business lacks a reliable foundation. She explains that leaders must be aligned with individuals who not only understand financial data but can also communicate it clearly, enabling better strategy and decision making.

Throughout the discussion, Kath and Lysha highlight the importance of treating individual recruiters as mini businesses, each responsible for their own margins, costs and commercial outcomes. This mindset fosters greater ownership and transparency, which in turn can lead to improved profitability. They also touch on the benefits of involving recruiters in back office processes to strengthen collaboration and drive efficiency.

A key theme touched on is the structure of commission schemes. Both explore how incentive models should be aligned with market realities and payment terms. They advocate for systems where payments are made only after clients have paid, to avoid legal complications and encourage long term thinking. Kath shares her experience designing commission schemes that offer flexibility such as monthly or quarterly payments adjusted to invoice timelines whilst maintaining focus on the bigger picture.

Kath addresses the growing need for commercial awareness within the industry. Recruiters should understand the financial implications of their work, including the cost of their desks and the revenue they generate. By equipping recruiters with this knowledge, businesses can cultivate a more strategic and financially literate workforce.

Connect with Kath here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathreynolds1/

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