When it comes to building finance teams in London, hiring managers often face the same dilemma: should you handle recruitment in-house or partner with a specialist finance recruitment agency?
Both approaches have their qualities, but the real question is, which delivers the best return on investment (ROI)? In this blog, we’ll break down the pros and cons of in-house hiring vs agency recruitment, with a focus on how specialist finance recruitment agencies in London can help businesses secure top talent.
Why In-House?
Many organisations prefer to keep recruitment in-house, especially if they already have a dedicated HR or talent acquisition team.
The potential benefits include:
Greater control over the hiring process and candidate experience
Cost savings on agency fees (though this isn’t always the full picture)
Direct alignment with company culture and values
However, in-house teams can also face limitations:
Time-intensive processes, especially when juggling multiple vacancies
Limited access to passive candidates who aren’t applying via job boards
Lack of specialised finance recruitment knowledge
According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Global Talent Trends, 70% of the global workforce are passive candidates, meaning they’re not actively job-hunting but could be open to the right offer.
This is where agencies often have the edge.
The Case for Finance Recruitment Agencies in London
Specialist finance recruitment agencies in London offer unique advantages that in-house teams may struggle to match.
Deep candidate networks: Agencies maintain databases of finance professionals, from credit controllers to CFOs.
Market expertise: Insight into salary benchmarks, hiring trends, and availability of talent.
Speed to hire: With pre-vetted candidates, agencies can reduce time-to-hire significantly.
Reduced risk: Many agencies offer guarantees or replacement policies if a hire doesn’t work out.
The ROI Debate: In-House vs Agency
The decision isn’t as straight forward as it may seem. Whilst upfront costs often form the highest factor, companies need to think about the long-term value they’ll receive.
Time-to-Hire
Every day a finance role sits vacant, your business could be losing productivity, missing deadlines, or falling behind on compliance. Agencies often fill roles weeks faster than in-house teams.
Quality of Hire
A poor hire can cost a business up to 3x the employee’s salary when you factor in training, lost productivity, and rehiring costs. Specialist agencies reduce this risk by screening candidates rigorously.
Scalability
In-house recruitment teams can quickly become overstretched when multiple roles need filling. Agencies provide immediate capacity and flexibility.
True Cost
While agencies charge a fee, the hidden costs of in-house hiring (advertising, software, HR resource time) often make the gap narrower than expected.
Example:
A mid-sized London firm estimated their in-house finance hire cost £9,500 (including time and overheads). Partnering with an agency cost £11,000. But the role was filled 5 weeks faster, saving more than £20,000 in lost productivity.
Why London Businesses Choose Get Recruited
At Get Recruited, we work with businesses across London to help them build high-performing finance teams.
Finance Expertise: From entry-level accountants to CFOs, we specialise in finance recruitment.
Proven ROI: Faster hires, reduced turnover, and access to hard-to-find candidates.
Tailored Support: We act as an extension of your HR team, providing flexibility and market insight.
Ready to compare the ROI of in-house vs agency for your business? Fill in the enquiry form below and we’ll provide tailored advice.
When it comes to in-house hiring vs agency recruitment, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But for finance roles in London, partnering with specialist finance recruitment agencies often delivers better ROI through faster hiring, higher quality candidates, and reduced risk.
At Get Recruited, we help businesses make smarter hiring decisions and secure finance professionals who drive results.
Contact us today or complete our quick enquiry form to discuss your finance recruitment needs.