Finance and Strategy Branch
Strategic Business Transformation
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Candidate sourcing
Proactive outreach
Leveraged deep market insights and specialist networks to identify and engage high-calibre candidates in a competitive, talent-scarce market
Delivered strong shortlists through targeted headhunting and direct outreach
Talent attraction strategy
Targeted advertising campaign
Developed and executed a targeted attraction campaign to position Icon Water as an employer of choice
Delivered high-impact content to engage both active and passive candidates
Recruitment process design
End-to-end delivery
Appointed as the exclusive partner to manage the full outsourcing of recruitment services
Designed and delivered a tailored, high-volume recruitment solution
Solution in numbers
Together we have achieved an excellent outcome. At the same time as securing strong candidates, we have continued to bolster Icon Water’s brand and reputation in the market, and this is testament to how well you understand and represent us.
I love that our teams work so well together and have shared values and integrity.
Background
HorizonOne supported Icon Water’s internal transformation by recruiting key roles for their new Finance and Strategy Branch.
A critical service provider undergoing strategic change
Icon Water, wholly owned by the ACT Government, is responsible for delivering essential water and sewerage services to Canberra and the surrounding region. With over $3.2 billion in assets and around $490 million in annual revenue, the organisation plays a vital role in the region’s infrastructure. As part of a broader transformation, Icon Water made the strategic decision to bring previously outsourced corporate service functions back in-house
Significant recruitment demand in a key business area
The decision to internalise these services created over 15 critical vacancies within the newly established Finance and Strategy Branch. These roles were essential to the successful operation of the branch and included senior and specialist positions such as: Financial Accountants, Finance Business Partners, Finance Systems Analysts, Financial Planning & Analysis Manager, Payroll Manager, Accounts Payable and Receivable Officers, Project Accountants, Economic Regulations and Financial Operations Leaders.
Trusted partnership for end-to-end delivery
To support this major recruitment effort, HorizonOne was appointed as the exclusive recruitment partner. We were entrusted with managing the complete end-to-end outsourcing of recruitment services for this important project, drawing on our expertise in high-volume, business-critical recruitment and deep market knowledge.
Challenge
Icon Water faced the complex task of building a new finance function from the ground up in a highly competitive talent short market.
Brand positioning and perception management
With over 15 finance roles going to market at once, a key challenge was managing how this scale of recruitment was perceived. Large hiring drives can sometimes raise concerns about instability or turnover, so it was essential to clearly communicate the strategic reason for the new roles and ensure Icon Water’s employer brand remained strong, stable, and appealing to top talent.
Cultural and capability alignment
Icon Water needed to recruit highly skilled professionals who not only met technical and functional requirements, but who also aligned with the organisation’s values and culture. These individuals had to be capable of navigating change, contributing to the setup of a new function, and helping to embed new processes and systems in a dynamic and evolving environment.
Market challenges and talent engagement
The Canberra market for finance professionals is tight, with strong demand and limited supply of high-calibre candidates. Great people are well-known, highly sought after, and often not actively looking. Securing top talent in this environment required a sharp, strategic approach, proactive sourcing, strong engagement, and a clear, compelling narrative that positioned Icon Water as an employer of choice.
Solution
We combined deep local market expertise, established finance talent networks, proactive sourcing strategies, and targeted marketing campaigns to secure high-quality candidates.
Targeted marketing and attraction campaign
To position Icon Water as an employer of choice during a large-scale recruitment drive, we developed a clear narrative highlighting the organisation’s stability, purpose, and transformation goals. We ran a highly targeted LinkedIn campaign to engage passive finance professionals in Canberra, using audience segmentation to reach top-tier talent. The campaign was backed by a suite of custom assets, including a dedicated candidate information page, video content, and role-specific messaging, all designed to bring the opportunity to life and showcase the vision for the new Finance and Strategy Branch.
Deep networks and proactive search
With deep expertise in Canberra’s finance and accounting market, we tapped into our established candidate networks and specialist knowledge to identify the right people quickly. Our team leveraged an active community of finance professionals built over years of consistent engagement, referrals, and long-term relationships. Alongside this, we conducted targeted search campaigns and proactive outreach to passive candidates, engaging individuals who weren’t actively looking but were open to the right opportunity.
Full lifecycle support from search to start
Beyond sourcing, we provided end-to-end support through every phase of recruitment. From shortlisting to interviews and offer management, our consultants worked as an extension of Icon Water’s team, helping ensure a smooth candidate experience and strong hiring outcomes across all roles.
Targeted LinkedIn boosting
We ran targeted LinkedIn boosting using sophisticated audience segmentation to reach finance professionals who weren’t actively job searching. This ensured the opportunity appeared directly in the feeds of high-quality candidates who wouldn’t have seen it on traditional job boards.
Candidate information page
We created a dedicated candidate information page that formed the bedrock of all sourcing and advertising efforts. It clearly articulated Icon Water’s transformation story, helping candidates connect with the purpose behind the recruitment drive and the opportunities on offer.
Video content
We produced custom video content to bring the opportunities to life and showcase the real people behind Icon Water’s transformation. The videos added a layer of human, authentic storytelling that helped build trust and connection with prospective candidates.
Meet the team
Senior Business Manager
Accounting and Finance Recruitment
General Manager
Marketing and Brand Experience
Manager
Accounting and Finance Recruitment
Marketing Consultant
Talent Attraction
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