Anna Houghton

As State Manager I am responsible for overseeing the operations, and performance of the recruitment business for the State of Victoria. My main responsibilities are managing a team of recruitment professional, ensuring the delivery of high-quality recruitment services to clients, driving business growth, and maintains strong relationships with both clients and candidates. I work closely with the senior leadership team to implement business plans, monitor performance metrics, and develop strategies that align with the companies goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
• Provide coaching, training & mentorship to develop skills of team
• Foster a positive, friendly, collaborative and results driven culture
• Operational & Financial Oversight
• Develop and manage budgets
• Monitor and report on financial performance, driving improvements
• Business Development & Client Relationship Management
• Work with clients and team for solution driven outcomes
• Build and maintain long term relationships with key decision makers & stakeholders
• Strategy & Performance Management
• Market & Industry Knowledge

I managed the temporary division for the Melbourne CBD office, overseeing both operational efficiency and team performance. I was responsible for supporting and enhancing systems and resources, while continuously implementing process improvements to drive productivity. A key part of my role involved identifying and addressing the training and development needs of staff to ensure ongoing capability growth. Alongside my leadership duties, I also managed a white-collar temporary desk, sourcing and placing high-quality candidates into suitable roles. I maintained a strong client-facing presence, actively identifying and securing new business opportunities to support the growth of the division.

Key Responsibilities:

• Built and maintained strong client relationships through regular calls and face-to-face meetings.
• Delivered tailored recruitment solutions, including unbundled services and outplacement support.
• Sourced talent via SEEK, LinkedIn Recruiter, social media, internal databases, and referrals.
• Took detailed job briefs and conducted behavioural interviews, testing, and reference checks.
• Ensured candidate compliance with ISO 9001:2008 standards and submitted high-quality profiles.
• Successfully placed candidates in temporary and permanent roles across multiple clients.
• Managed temporary division budgets, billing approvals, and P&L reviews.
• Calculated pay and charge rates in line with National Modern Awards.
• Led branch meetings, one-on-ones, and performance reviews.
• Met strict KPIs and utilised FastTrack360 recruitment software.
• Skilled in negotiation, stakeholder management, and candidate engagement.

Managed a fast-paced temporary desk, focusing on sourcing and securing high-quality candidates for meaningful employment opportunities. Maintained a strong client-facing presence, actively identifying and developing new business partnerships to drive growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developed and maintained strong client relationships through service calls, face-to-face meetings, and on-site visits, promoting Alliance Recruitment's full suite of services, including tailored and unbundled solutions such as outplacement.
• Proactively identified new business opportunities through cold calling, networking, referrals, and lead generation, including ad chasing and candidate marketing, to build a sustainable client base and support business growth.
• Conducted in-depth client meetings to understand organisational needs and provide recruitment solutions aligned with their workforce requirements.
• Managed a high-volume temporary desk, with a strong focus on job fit and turnaround efficiency.
• Attracted top talent through diverse sourcing strategies
• Conducted comprehensive screening, behavioural and competency-based interviews, psychometric and skills testing, and assessments where required to ensure candidate suitability.
• Maintained a robust talent pool, ensuring candidate availability across a range of skills and experience levels.
• Ensured 100% compliance with Alliance's ISO 9001:2008 standards,
• Accurately calculated pay and charge rates in line with the National Modern Awards, based on job duties and responsibilities.
• Maintained full compliance in all client dealings, including Terms of Business, OH&S inspections, credit checks, and rate agreements.
• Demonstrated strong negotiation and influencing skills to secure candidate placements and client agreements.

Managed a successful temporary desk specialising in commercial roles, engaging closely with both clients and candidates to deliver tailored recruitment solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactively sourced candidates through multiple channels, including national databases, SEEK, and referrals.
• Built and maintained strong client relationships through regular visits, service reviews, and consistent communication.
• Took detailed job briefs to match candidates based on skills, experience, and cultural fit.
• Developed new business opportunities
• Facilitated and led candidate Assessment Centres
• Increased revenue by expanding the number of active temps and promoting value-added services, such as skills testing and temp-to-perm transitions.
• Maintained market awareness through competitor analysis and staying informed on industry trends.
• Balanced competitive margin calculations that aligned with client budgets while optimising profitability.
• Ensured full compliance with Adecco's recruitment standards,
• Ensured data accuracy across all payroll, billing, and placement activities, with correct pay and charge rates aligned to role and candidate suitability.