A role that was hard to profile: neither too junior, nor too stability-dependent
The initial brief was clear in broad terms: recruit an accountant. But behind this apparent simplicity lay an equation with several unknowns. The company was going through a period of reorganisation, and the role was structurally fluid - particularly around working hours, which could not be guaranteed in the long term.
Two obvious profiles came to mind, and both presented risks. Hiring a junior candidate looking to start on a part-time basis, with no guarantee of a full-time transition, exposed the company to the risk of a quick resignation the moment a more stable opportunity came along. Conversely, someone actively seeking a part-time arrangement, with no assurance that this would remain the case over time, created a different but equally real source of tension.
What the CFO wanted was someone capable of working through change without being destabilised by it - but with enough experience to operate independently from day one.
The unexpected option: thinking beyond the standard profile
This is where Annie's creativity changed everything. Rather than trying to tick the boxes of a conventional job description, she asked a different question: what kind of person would genuinely be comfortable with this situation - the uncertainty around working hours, the ongoing reorganisation, the need for experience without rigidity?
The answer presented itself clearly: a candidate nearing the end of her career, two years away from retirement. She was looking to wind down her professional life on a part-time basis, within a stable structure where she could settle in peacefully. After years spent in large international groups, this local SME undergoing reorganisation offered her not a stressful challenge, but a well-managed environment - almost a career farewell gift. The changes underway? She had seen it all before. Nothing could throw her off balance.
The variable working hours were no longer a problem: that was exactly what she was looking for. The absence of a long-term guarantee was not an issue either: she simply did not need one.
Convincing a sceptical client: the real challenge of the assignment
One of the most significant obstacles in this assignment was not the sourcing - it was the client relationship itself. The CFO held a firm conviction: recruitment firms do not understand real business needs. They put forward standardised profiles, disconnected from operational realities.
Annie did not challenge this head-on. She listened, asked the right questions, and above all proposed a solution the client had not considered. This approach - stepping away from the catalogue, reasoning in terms of situation rather than profile - is precisely what shifted the perception. The result did the rest.
The outcome: a successful assignment and an exclusive mandate as a bonus
The candidate took up her post. The client, won over, not only expressed his satisfaction - he also gave Fed Finance Switzerland the exclusive mandate to recruit her replacement, scheduled for a year later when the accountant retires. A rare mark of trust, and the most eloquent sign of a truly successful placement.
Hiring in finance or accounting in the canton of Vaud?
Fed Finance Switzerland supports companies in the Lausanne area and across the canton of Vaud in their finance and accounting recruitment: accountants, chief accountants, CFOs, management controllers, auditors and more. Our consultants know the specificities of the local market, including in restructuring or transformation contexts.
Facing a complex recruitment challenge? Let's talk.
Frequently asked questions about accountant recruitment in French-speaking Switzerland
How long does it take to recruit an accountant in Lausanne?
The average timeframe for an accountant recruitment in Lausanne or the canton of Vaud is 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the level of experience required and the specifics of the role. In particular contexts - evolving scope, part-time arrangements, restructuring - working with a specialist firm such as Fed Finance Switzerland makes it possible to target the right profiles from the outset and significantly reduce this timeframe.
Can a recruitment firm help define the exact profile when a role is still unclear?
Yes - and this is in fact one of the most valuable contributions a specialist firm can make. Before searching for candidates, Fed Finance Switzerland takes the time to analyse the company's context, the real constraints of the role, and the risks associated with each type of profile - in order to propose a tailored solution, including options the client may not have considered.
Does Fed Finance Switzerland recruit part-time accounting profiles?
Yes. Fed Finance Switzerland supports Swiss companies in recruiting part-time accountants, on both permanent and interim contracts, and maintains a network of candidates suited to these specific configurations.
What accounting profiles does Fed Finance Switzerland recruit in the Lausanne area?
Fed Finance Switzerland recruits across the full range of accounting and finance profiles in the canton of Vaud: standalone accountants, assistant accountants, chief accountants, fractional CFOs, management controllers, and transition profiles for periods of organisational change.
Who told us this story ?
Annie Pichon, Country Manager Switzerland, specialized in Finance and Accounting recruitment. You may take a look at her LinkedIn profile here.
