Building Trust Through Transparency: A Lifelong Commitment to Ethics in Recruitment and Beyond
Having been born and raised in Reading, I’ve had the privilege of watching this community grow and evolve—and of serving it for over 25 years in senior finance recruitment. Throughout my career, I’ve held fast to the belief that transparency, trust, and ethics are essential to everything we do. These values aren’t just an add-on in recruitment; they’re the foundation.
This blog comes on the back of a recent experience that has reinforced my commitment to ethical recruitment. A candidate asked me to overlook a poor reference and “just get them through the process.” I immediately knew I couldn’t keep them in the process. It wouldn’t have been fair to the client, and I believe strongly in presenting candidates with honesty. When I withdrew the candidate, the client thanked me, saying they didn’t think many recruiters would have done the same. To me, that was telling. Recruitment shouldn’t be about pushing placements—it’s about building trust and making decisions that benefit both clients and candidates in the long run.
In finance, this is especially important. Businesses rely on finance professionals to make decisions with integrity, often in roles that impact their organisation’s financial health. Likewise, recruiters share in this responsibility. We owe it to clients and candidates to be honest, fair, and accurate with every placement we make, because a single misjudgment can have far-reaching consequences.
I was thrilled recently when Wade Macdonald aligned with Ethical Reading’s Ethical Recruitment programme. Ethical Reading’s commitment to raising standards in recruitment mirrors our own values, and it’s exciting to be part of a movement that prioritises fair, ethical hiring practices. This partnership underpins our belief that recruitment should enhance people’s lives, put integrity first, and ultimately improve our community.
Outside of work, many people know I’ve been a swimming coach since my late teens. Coaching has shaped my approach to working with people, as it demands patience, open communication, and a genuine commitment to helping others grow—a mindset I bring into recruitment. Whether I’m guiding young swimmers to achieve their goals or helping finance professionals find new opportunities, I’ve learned that people deserve honesty, respect, and clear guidance. When people place their trust in you, there’s no room for ambiguity.
Honestly, I couldn’t have lasted this long in recruitment without staying true to these principles. Ethics in both recruitment and finance aren’t just ideals—they’re essentials that define our relationships and shape the impact we have on others.