After a high-profile acquisition by a private equity firm, this leading fintech company (known for its specialized lending solutions for home improvement companies) prepared for a divestiture from a global financial giant. The transition required rebuilding its talent infrastructure to support standalone operations while remaining compliant with strict hiring protocols set by its former parent organization.

While preparing for the transition, the organization quickly realized they were embarking into uncharted territory…

Challenge

The fintech company faced restrictions on hiring directly under its own name or the parent organization’s during the transition period. This constraint put the fintech company in a tight spot, unable to hire through traditional channels, extend formal offer letters or provide standard onboarding.

What’s more, this separation meant swiftly filling critical roles, from human resources business partners to niche specialists in risk analytics and capital markets, under tight deadlines – before the Head of HR could officially start her role at the company.

Additionally, the fintech company required a recruitment strategy that went beyond simply meeting technical requirements; they needed candidates who would fit into their unique and fast-paced culture

Solution

Faced with the daunting task of securing top talent under such unusual conditions, the prospective Head of HR turned to Wasserman Talent Solutions (“WTS”) to help her solve this unimaginable hiring conundrum.

Wasserman Talent Solutions’ dedication to understanding the culture and complexity of the fintech company set the stage for smooth, high-quality placements. Their method went beyond simply filling roles; they took the time to carefully vet each candidate to ensure each brought the right mix of technical skill and cultural fit, aligning perfectly with the demanding, fast-paced environment. As the Head of HR notes, “They really ingrain themselves in understanding the culture of the company, almost as if they’re going to work there themselves.”

Furthermore, WTS played a crucial role in building trust with candidates, who were asked to join without formal commitments from the fintech company itself and work with an executive who was being onboarded with them. The Head of HR describes the team’s unique ability to instill confidence, stating, “Wasserman has an uncanny ability to build credibility with candidates, so they felt comfortable trusting the process, even when we couldn’t provide traditional offer letters right away.” This trust and transparency was the key to securing top-tier talent, even in uncertain times.

Additionally, to navigate the complex hiring constraints, Wasserman Talent Solutions devised an ingenious solution: furnishing offer letters on WTS letterhead and temporarily onboarding candidates through WTS’ payroll. This unconventional approach allowed new hires to start immediately, even without formal offer letters, keeping the fintech company compliant with policies from its former parent organization and providing a bridge for recruitment during the divestiture. The Head of HR described it as “totally not normal” and emphasized how imperative the solution was.

Results

• High-Quality Hires: WTS’ immersion in the company’s culture ensured that each candidate wasn’t just technically skilled but also a seamless cultural fit. “Wasserman doesn’t flood you with resumes. They send three to four ‘A-level’ candidates, and those are usually the ones I end up hiring. It’s about quality, not quantity – and that’s what sets them apart from other agencies,” the Head of HR affirmed.
• Unconventional Solutions: By using WTS’ payroll to temporarily onboard new hires, the fintech company was able to fill critical positions immediately and overcome procedural obstacles, allowing them to maintain momentum during the divestiture.
• Trust and Credibility: The team’s transparent and personalized approach fostered trust with candidates, leading to successful placements in an unusual situation. “The level of professionalism they bring to everything they do, and how deeply engaged they are, shows they truly care about finding the right fit.”

Conclusion

Navigating a divestiture is always arduous. And for this fintech company, that was magnified by an inconceivable hiring scenario. Wasserman Talent Solutions was instrumental in helping the fintech company conquer the challenges it faced while separating from the global financial giant. Their creativity, commitment, and tailored approach turned an unprecedented hiring dilemma into a seamless experience for the candidates and ensured the fintech company could build the teams they needed to thrive as an independent company.

As the Head of HR summed it up, “I have full trust and faith in the work the WTS team do, and that’s what matters most to me. I will always go to Wasserman Talent Solutions when I’m able to work with an outside recruiting partner!”