About AFR Consulting

My role

I deal with senior industry placements in West Lancashire, Cheshire and the North Merseyside region. Internally I help my colleagues attract and retain new business and I monitor current clients ensuring they receive an excellent service and benefit from our added value processes.

Background

I graduated from the Universityof Leeds with a degree in Psychology & Management studies, then did some traveling and worked a ski season before deciding it was time to get a real job.

I knew I wanted a career where my own hard work would be rewarded. I enjoy understanding and learning about different businesses and I liked working with different types of people and clients so recruitment seemed an obvious choice.

Why AFR?

I had been working for a large North West recruiter for 6 years focusing on practice and industry placements in Lancashire. Then an opportunity came along to set up a recruitment business where I could be my own boss and add a lot of value, building on everything I had already learned.

Outside of work

I am married and have three young children who keep me very busy. I am a keen snowboarder and when possible I like to play squash and go out on my mountain bike, I also enjoy cooking and gardening.

Top recruitment tip

Always be honest when discussing your skills and experience, you never know who knows who…..

My role

Since starting my financial recruitment career in January 2000, I have always focused on transactional level placements for Accounts Assistants and Clerks, Purchase Leger Managers and Clerks, Credit Controllers of all levels and Payroll.  Over the past few years, I have moved to also cover Assistant Accountants and Accounts Managers, covering any recruitment below £30K.  I specialise in Lancashire and the surrounding areas.

Background

I completed a degree at the University of Central Lancashire and then like many people fell into recruitment. Upon graduating, I registered with a Recruitment Agency hoping to find a role that would give me office experience and they offered me a temporary position working within their office.  I then caught the recruitment bug and have now been within the industry for 16 years!

Why AFR?

I previously worked with Simon and he approached me in 2008 to set up a Junior Division within AFR Consulting as at the time they only specialised in placing Qualified and Part Qualified candidates and didn’t have anyone that covered the level I did.  I knew AFR as a competitor and they had a great reputation in the market place and seemed to work in the same way as I did so I jumped at the opportunity and I’m so glad I did.  After being in recruitment for 16 years, I can honestly say I still love my job and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Outside of work

Me, my fiancé and our lovely dog moved into a 300 year old cottage 18 months ago so a lot of our spare time is spent working on that.  I am from a very large family and I love spending time with them.  I am also still very close to my school friends and my uni friends and socialise a lot with those.  We love holidaying in the UK and have spent a number of summers with our dog in North Cornwall.  We love Padstow and have sampled some of the most amazing sea food there at Rik Steins Seafood Restaurant as well as Jamie Olivers restaurant in Watergate bay.  I haven’t tried surfing yet but never say never! Maybe this year….

Top recruitment tip

Always go with your gut instinct.  If there is something that doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t!

My role

My position is Office Manager covering a wide range of duties including all of the administration side of recruitment; formatting CVs and placing adverts together with compiling the accounts for the office, payroll, invoicing, credit control and management accounts.

Background

I grew up in the Chorley area and having left school at 16, have spent the last 18 years working in an administration or accounting environment.

Why AFR?

I applied for a position with AFR in 2005 when the business was less than a year old and was excited at the prospect of working for a young, growing company with big plans for the future. I had the opportunity to take a position where I could make the role my own, establishing procedures and assisting in the growth of the business.

Outside of work

The majority of my spare time is spent with my husband and two daughters. We love to travel when possible, particularly the GreekIslands, having been married on Santorini in 2008. I also love food, both cooking it and eating it – I am often trying out new recipes on my family.