Start your search to find your closest local or specialist agency
Trial Balance Consulting covers Accountancy and Finance in the South West and South Wales. The agency has been operating since 2008 and offers permanent or temporary placements for roles such as Purchase Ledger Clerk, Tax Senior or Semi Senior, Bookkeeper, Accounts Assistant, Finance Coordinator, Payroll Clerk, Accounts Senior, Finance Analyst, and Finance Manager.
Meridian House, Heron Way, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2XN
Jobline Staffing specialises in sectors including Construction & Trades, Secretarial & Administration, and Interpreting & Translation across the South West. They cover perm and temp vacancies for roles such as Plasterer, Electrician, Plumber, Gas Engineer, Human Resources, and more. Jobline Staffing is a REC member and has 25 years of experience.
Room 1/003 Truro Library, Union Place, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1EP
Based in Cornwall, Winners Recruitment is a multi-sector staffing agency that works with clients and candidates across the whole of the UK. They cover permanent and temporary roles.
8, Old Bridge Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2AQ
Concorde Recruitment is a firm that supplies professionals for different sectors including Construction, Finance and Accounting, Engineering, Industrial & Warehouse, Driving & Logistics, Information Technology, Sales & Marketing, and Office, Admin & Customer Service. They have been operating for over 20 years.
Chiltern House, City Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2JL
From senior director level to more junior within finance, HR, marketing, sales, customer service and administration our Office and Contact Centre service is geared towards matching candidates with opportunities which precisely suit their capabilities. We have an established pedigree within the sector and our specialist teams are well qualified to advise and assist your career development.
Office 1, First Floor, Charles House, Charles Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2PQ
+ 16 other offices
Acorn Recruitment is a multi-faceted consultancy established in 1992 for various areas including, but not limited to, Aerospace & Defence, Energy, and Life Sciences. With 600 branches worldwide, they have experience in supplying employees for permanent, temporary and contract jobs, in addition to confidential executive search services and international placements. In the UK, they have offices in Newport and nearly 20 other locations.
2A River Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2SQ
+ 20 other offices
Local pay varies by setting and qualification, with AAT assistants often at £23,000 to £28,000, bookkeepers around £25,000 to £32,000, and part qualified accountants from £30,000 to £38,000. Management accountants and financial accountants usually sit between £40,000 and £50,000, with senior roles in the public sector or larger groups reaching £55,000 and above. Temporary pay rates for finance assistants tend to fall at £12 to £16 per hour, part qualified cover at £18 to £25 per hour, and qualified interim assignments charged day rate. Agency costs differ by brief and scarcity, permanent recruitment fees typically land at £3,000 to £8,000 for mid level roles, or 15 percent to 22 percent of salary, with executive search higher. Temp agency charge rates reflect pay, holiday, pension, and margin, so ask recruiters to break out costs clearly.
Cornwall employers often ask for AAT for entry to mid level posts, with strong demand for ACCA and CIMA on management and financial accounting tracks. Practice firms look for ACA or ACCA, with training contracts tied to audit or accounts prep. Payroll roles benefit from CIPP study, and public bodies use CIPFA on senior finance pathways. Good Excel, cloud ledgers such as Xero or QuickBooks, and ERP exposure in manufacturing or healthcare carry weight in shortlisting.
Recruitment agencies cover accounts assistant, sales and purchase ledger, credit control, payroll, and bookkeeper posts, moving through assistant accountant and analyst paths into management accountant, financial accountant, and finance business partner. In practice, the path runs from trainee through senior, assistant manager, and manager, into senior manager and partner track. Group finance in multi site businesses offers routes into reporting, FP and A, and treasury. Candidates who register with an agency early gain access to temp projects that build month end and systems experience.
Cornwall’s job market mixes public services, tourism, manufacturing, food and drink, and marine. Finance teams sit in Cornwall Council, NHS providers in Truro, and education bodies in Penryn and Falmouth. Private sector hiring pulls from hospitality groups, engineering firms near the A30, and supply chains around the Aerohub business park at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Staffing agencies know which quarters are growing and which are holding, so local employers can find employees faster, and candidates can see roles that never hit boards.
Hiring clusters around Truro Business Park at Threemilestone, Redruth and Pool, St Austell, Bodmin, Falmouth, and Newquay. The A30 is the key commuter link, with a new connection easing St Austell routes, and the A38 serving south east Cornwall. These links matter for temp agencies arranging short notice cover, since drive times shape acceptance. Agencies close to Truro or St Austell often fill head office and shared service roles, with coastal towns heavier on hospitality finance.
Quarter end peaks, summer trade, and winter planning cycles tighten supply, so strong ledger and payroll candidates get snapped up fast. Practice firms compete with industry for part qualified staff, as hybrid roles in larger employers promise broader experience. Recruitment consultants can widen reach across candidates open to relocation into Cornwall, yet agency shortlists often turn on housing and commute questions, so early clarity on on site days and parking helps retention.
Cornwall businesses lean on temporary support during audits, year end, and system changes, with contract work common for implementations and backlogs. Permanent moves pick up after April and again in September. Jobseekers who want steady hours can bank reliable month end temp work, then step into fixed term contracts, while employers can trial a worker on temp to perm before committing. Employment firms will register candidates, check right to work, and match availability to rota needs.
Right to work checks, references, and where relevant a basic DBS for roles handling client funds are standard. Public sector finance uses Banding structures and procurement rules, so documentation and IR35 calls must be clear for interims. Practice roles follow audit independence rules and money laundering training, with AML procedures in place. Good agencies brief both sides, so onboarding runs smoothly and audit trails stand up.
Tourism and events create summer volume for hospitality finance, then ledger tidy up follows in early autumn. Manufacturing, marine, and engineering plan maintenance and stock counts in quieter months. January brings payroll and tax peaks, and April brings budget changes, so demand for temps rises. Agencies that plan starts two to three weeks ahead protect workflow, and reduce overtime pressure on the core workforce.
How quickly can accounting recruitment agencies fill a finance assistant in Cornwall
Many temp bookings fill within a week, permanent roles with notice periods tend to complete in four to six weeks depending on interviews and checks.
What information should local employers share at briefing
Team structure, software, on site days, parking, salary or pay rate, and where you can flex, help recruitment consultants reach the right candidates.
Can jobseekers register with more than one recruiter
Yes, though keeping a short list avoids crossed applications, agree target employers and roles, and keep everyone updated.
Do agencies cover executive search for heads of finance in Cornwall
Yes, executive search is used for controller, head of finance, and CFO posts, often with retained terms and staged fees.
How do recruitment fees compare with agency costs on temp cover
Permanent fees are one off, temps spread cost across the assignment, with charge rates showing pay, holiday, pension, and margin.
Local employers can brief staffing agencies on scope, budget, and start date, then choose a shortlist route that suits the team. Candidates and jobseekers can register with an agency, bring proof of ID and qualifications, and set preferences for temporary, permanent, or contract work. Using Cornwall based accounting recruitment agencies keeps the search focused, saves time on travel, and matches pay rates to the local labour market.