15Oct

Welcome back to #WeAreGreenKey, where we shine a spotlight on our powerhouse recruiting team.   

Mariam Abdallah, Recruiter on our Accounting and Finance team, brings over three years of experience in recruiting, with a specialization in the accounting and finance sectors. Throughout her career, she has developed a keen understanding of the industry’s unique demands and challenges. Mariam’s journey in recruitment has been marked by a dedication to helping professionals find their ideal roles and supporting businesses in building strong, effective teams. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting support/financial services recruitment? 

Originally, I was a health major, but a friend pointed out that I had a great personality for recruiting. At the time, I had no idea what recruiting even was, but I decided to give it a try. I eventually found myself in the field of accounting and finance recruiting, discovering a passion for helping people navigate these complex areas. Working with accounting and finance professionals, I realized how crucial their roles are in running a business. This experience allowed me to learn about their work and appreciate the intricacies of their field. I fell in love with the process and decided to stick with accounting and finance. It’s incredibly rewarding to support these professionals and contribute to the success of businesses. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

What I enjoy most about my job is definitely the relationship aspect. Helping people and creating meaningful connections is incredibly rewarding because, at the end of the day, you’re assisting them in providing for their families or themselves. It’s a feel-good moment for both parties. These relationships often lead to referrals and continued support, whether from friends or family. Being there for them, listening, and supporting them from day one is the best feeling ever. It’s all about being able to say thank you and knowing you’ve made a positive impact. 

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and changes in the industry? 

I find online resources incredibly helpful, especially ChatGPT. Despite some mixed feelings about it, ChatGPT provides valuable assistance. Additionally, talking to people in the industry is crucial. They offer the latest information on salaries and market trends. Engaging with people in the market is the best way to get accurate and reliable information. 

What strategies do you use to find and attract top talent in the accounting and financial services sectors? 

To find and attract top talent within the accounting and finance sectors, it’s crucial to understand what candidates are looking for. Even during the initial call, gathering insights from candidates, even if they aren’t a fit for the current role, is valuable for future placements. Many accounting and finance professionals experience burnout, so understanding their needs and providing what they seek is key. Flexibility, work-life balance, and career growth opportunities are often top priorities. While many are returning to on-site work, focusing on the benefits that matter to them can make a significant difference. By addressing these needs, we can better attract and retain top talent who are looking to advance their careers. 

How do you balance the needs of your clients with the career aspirations of the candidates you work with? 

Balancing the needs of clients with the aspirations of candidates often involves educating the client about the current market. Clients sometimes seek very niche skills, so it’s important to provide them with realistic expectations. We present multiple candidates for the same role and gather feedback to understand why a candidate may not be a fit, even if they seem ideal. This feedback helps us advise the client on potential flexibility, such as considering hybrid roles. Educating clients about market realities and available talent helps in finding the right fit, even if it takes longer. 

What trends are you currently seeing in the accounting support/financial services job market? 

Besides the return to the office trend, another significant trend in the accounting and finance industry is the preference for remote work. Many professionals feel they can effectively perform their roles from home since their work primarily involves numbers. Additionally, candidates are seeking higher salary ranges, aiming to maximize their earnings in a competitive market. 

Feb 26, 2024

The Essence of Marketing Strategy: Driving Business Success

In the intricate world of business, a marketing strategy serves as the cornerstone upon which companies build their path to success. But what exactly is the marketing strategy, what are the different types of marketing strategies, and how does it work? In this article we’ll explore these questions and delve into the essence of effective marketing strategies.

What is Marketing Strategy?

According to Investopedia.com, “A marketing strategy refers to a business’s overall game plan to facilitate the buying and selling of its products or services. A marketing strategy determines how to reach prospective consumers and turn them into customers. It contains the company’s value proposition, key brand messaging, data on target customer demographics, and other high-level elements. A thorough marketing strategy covers the four Ps of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion.”

Types of Marketing Strategy

Types of marketing strategies include:

  • Social Media Marketing
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Pay Per Click (PPC)
  • Email Marketing
  • Content Marketing

How Does it Work?

A marketing strategy functions as a road map that guides all marketing activities and initiatives. It begins with a thorough understanding of the target market – their needs, preferences, and pain points. Based on this understanding, the strategy defines the positioning of the company’s offerings and determines the most effective channels and messages to reach the target audience.

Key components of a marketing strategy include:

Market Segmentation: Identifying and segmenting the target market based on demographics, psychographics, and behavior.

Value proposition: Articulating the unique value that the company offers to its customers and differentiating itself from competitors.

Channel selection: Choosing the most appropriate marketing channels to reach the target audience, such as social media, e-mail marketing, content marketing, or traditional advertising.

Messaging and Creative: Crafting compelling messages and creative assets that resonate with their target audience and communicate the value proposition effectively.

Measurement and Analysis: Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of marketing efforts and continuously analyzing data to optimize performance.

In conclusion, understanding marketing strategies, its types, and how it works are vital for business success, enabling companies to drive growth and engagement effectively.  

Feb 27, 2024

The Essence of Marketing Strategy: Driving Business Success (Part II)

With a grasp of the fundamental concept of Marketing Strategy, let’s explore its advantages in more detail and uncover the steps to effectively craft one.

Benefits of Marketing Strategies

  • Clear Direction: A well-defined marketing strategy provides a clear roadmap for achieving business objectives. It aligns marketing efforts with overall goals, ensuring that every action contributes to the company’s success.
  • Customer Engagement and Loyalty: A strategic approach to marketing fosters deeper connections with customers. By understanding their needs and preferences, companies can tailor messages and experiences that resonate with their audience, leading to increased engagement and loyalty.

Marketing Stratego also highlights a few benefits including:

  • “Increased Brand Awareness: A strong marketing strategy helps increase brand awareness by promoting the business’s products or services to the target audience. This, in turn, leads to more recognition and recall of the brand, which ultimately leads to more sales and customer loyalty.”
  • “Increased Sales and Revenue: A well-designed marketing strategy leads to increased sales and revenue by attracting more customers to the business and increasing their willingness to purchase. This can be achieved through effective targeting, promotions, and other marketing efforts.”
  • “Better Customer Targeting: A good marketing strategy helps businesses understand their target audience and create campaigns that are relevant to them. This leads to more effective and efficient marketing, as businesses are able to reach their target customers more effectively and achieve better results.”
  • “Competitive Advantage: A strong marketing strategy can give a business a competitive advantage by differentiating it from its competitors. By creating unique and effective campaigns, businesses can stand out in their market and attract more customers.”
  • ‘Improved Lead Generation: A good marketing strategy helps businesses generate more leads by promoting the business’s products or services to the target audience. This leads to more opportunities for businesses to convert those leads into customers and increase their revenue.”
  • “Improved Brand Image and Reputation: A well-designed marketing strategy helps improve a business’s brand image and reputation by creating positive associations with the brand. This, in turn, leads to increased customer loyalty, as customers are more likely to do business with a brand they view positively.”
  • “Increased Market Share: A strong marketing strategy helps businesses increase their market share by attracting more customers and retaining existing ones. This, in turn, leads to increased revenue and growth for the business.”
  • “More Effective Use of Resources: A good marketing strategy helps businesses make the most of their marketing budget and resources. By identifying the most effective channels and campaigns, businesses can maximize their return on investment and achieve better results.”
  • “Better Return on Investment (ROI): A well-designed marketing strategy helps businesses achieve a better return on investment by increasing sales and revenue and maximizing the use of resources. This, in turn, leads to increased profitability and growth for the business.”

Now that we’ve highlighted the benefits of a marketing strategy, lets’ explore the process of creating an effective one.

According to Hubspot.com, here are the eight steps a company should take during the marketing strategy process:

  • Conduct market research: “…you need to gather useful data for making informed decisions. Market research is like playing detective, but instead of solving crimes, you’re uncovering juicy details about your customers. Market research will help your businesses make data-driven decisions for your marketing strategy. It also makes it easier to understand your target market, find gaps, and make the most of your resources.”
  • Define your goals: What do you want to achieve through your marketing efforts? Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or diversifying your customer base, well-defined goals will guide your marketing strategy.”
  • Identify your target audience and create buyer personas: To create an effective marketing strategy, you need to understand who your ideal customers are. Take a look at your market research to understand your target audience and market landscape. Accurate customer data is especially important for this step…”
  • Conduct competitive analysis: To begin your competitive analysis, start with your top competitors. Reviewing their websites, content, ads, and pricing can help you understand how to differentiate your brand. It’s also a useful way to find opportunities for growth.”
  • Develop key messaging: Craft compelling massages and creative assets that effectively communicate your value proposition and resonate with your audience. Ensure consistency in messaging across all channels to build brand recognition and trust.
  • Choose your marketing channels: You know what you have to say, now decide on the best marketing channels for your message. Your top goal for this stage of your strategy is to align your channel choices with your target persona’s media consumption habits. Start with media channels you’re already using. Then, consider a mix of traditional and digital channels such as social media, TV, email marketing, podcast ads, SEO, content marketing, and influencer partnerships. To streamline this process, think of your assets in three categories — paid, owned, and earned media.”
  • Create, track, and analyze KPIs: At this stage, you’ll shift from marketing detective to numbers nerd. With a little planning and prep, your analytics can unveil the mysteries of marketing performance and unlock super insights. Review your strategy and choose measurable KPIs to track the effectiveness of your strategy. Create a system that works for your team to collect and measure your data.”
  • Present your marketing strategy: A finished marketing strategy will pull together the sections and components above. It may also include: Executive Summary, Brand Identity, and a Marketing Plan and Tactics”