Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist - Finance

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary + bonus

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Growth opportunities

Advanced recruitment technology

Team collaboration

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct is seeking a seasoned Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist to head recruitment for key financial services clients in Cape Town. Based full-time in our Western Cape office, you will shape recruiting strategies, build candidate pipelines, and drive executive search initiatives.

You will lead a small team, partner with hiring managers, and optimize the end-to-end candidate experience, ensuring high-quality placements that support our clients' business goals.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in talent acquisition with focus on financial services.
• Proven experience leading recruitment teams and managing complex hiring initiatives.
• In-depth knowledge of financial markets, instruments, and regulatory environments.
• Expertise in executive search and headhunting across multiple platforms.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Based in or willing to relocate to Cape Town, on-site.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead full recruitment lifecycle for senior/executive finance roles.
• Develop innovative talent acquisition strategies to attract quality candidates.
• Build strong relationships with hiring managers and stakeholders across client organizations.
• Utilize advanced sourcing techniques to identify passive candidates and build pipelines.
• Oversee candidate experience from application to onboarding.
• Conduct competency-based interviews and assessments.
• Analyze recruitment metrics and provide data-driven insights.
• Mentor junior recruitment team members.

Skills

Talent acquisition

Executive search

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Sourcing

Interviewing

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Finance/Business

Tools

ATS systems

LinkedIn Recruiter

Boolean sourcing

Job description

About the Role

Our client, WhatJobs Direct, a prestigious recruitment consultancy, is actively seeking a seasoned Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist to enhance their team in the vibrant city of Cape Town, Western Cape . This critical role involves spearheading the recruitment efforts for key financial services clients, identifying and securing top-tier talent within this specialized sector. You will be instrumental in shaping recruitment strategies, building robust candidate pipelines, and ensuring the successful placement of professionals who drive success for our clients. The ideal candidate will possess an in-depth understanding of the financial services landscape and a proven aptitude for executive search and talent management. This position requires a dedicated individual to be based full-time in our Cape Town, Western Cape office, contributing to the collaborative and results-oriented atmosphere.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full recruitment lifecycle for senior and executive-level positions within the finance sector.
• Develop and execute innovative talent acquisition strategies to attract and engage high-quality candidates.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with hiring managers and key stakeholders across client organizations.
• Utilize advanced sourcing techniques to identify passive candidates and build a strong talent pipeline for current and future needs.
• Oversee the candidate experience, ensuring a professional, efficient, and positive journey from application to onboarding.
• Conduct in-depth competency-based interviews and assessments to evaluate candidate suitability.
• Analyze recruitment metrics and provide data-driven insights to optimize recruitment processes.
• Mentor and guide junior members of the recruitment team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high performance.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, with a significant focus on the financial services industry.
• Proven experience in leading recruitment teams and managing complex hiring initiatives.
• In-depth knowledge of financial markets, instruments, and regulatory environments.
• Expertise in executive search, headhunting, and utilizing various recruitment platforms and methodologies.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and nurture strong relationships with candidates and clients.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Cape Town, Western Cape , and work on-site.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

Benefits

• Attractive base salary with a lucrative bonus structure tied to performance.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement savings plan.
• Significant opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• A stimulating and professional work environment within a top-tier recruitment consultancy.
• Access to advanced recruitment technology and resources.
• Collaborative team culture focused on success and innovation in Cape Town, Western Cape .