How a Strong EVP Helps You Attract and Retain Top Accountancy Talent

In a market where top professionals have a range of options, it's no longer enough to offer just a competitive salary and cross your fingers that the candidate will accept the role. Candidates are asking deeper, more insightful questions such as “What does this company stand for?” “Will I grow here?” “Do they value employee well-being?”

This is where your EVP (Employer Value Proposition) becomes your biggest asset! Your EVP tells candidates WHY they should choose you over another offer.  

So, what is EVP, I hear you ask...

Well, EVP is your unique set of benefits, values and experiences that set your company apart from the rest. Think of it as your internal brand promise. It answers the question:

“Why should someone work here instead of somewhere else?”

Strong EVP reflects your company culture, career development opportunities, work-life balance, leadership style and how you support people in and out of work.

Why it matters

Well, for starters, it increases offer acceptance rates. When candidates see an alignment between their values and yours, they are more likely to say yes. A study by Gartner explains that a compelling EVP can boost hiring by almost 30% and decrease annual turnover by nearly 70%.

What a great EVP looks like:

‘We’re a people-first finance team that balances high performance with flexibility. Whether you’re looking to grow and develop your experience or step into a leadership position, we support your journey with tailored development plans and hybrid working options.’

Why this works? It’s clear and specific. It portrays a people-first approach with a focus on culture and growth opportunities.

What a weak EVP looks like:

‘We offer a competitive salary, great team and opportunity for growth’.

Why it falls flat? It’s vague and generic, doesn’t differentiate the company and it’s what every company claims to offer🥱

How to strengthen your EVP

Speak directly to your team and ask them what they enjoy about the company and why they stay. What makes your culture unique? Their answers will surprise you and give you gold.

Get specifics! Provide examples of real growth within the company, real examples of flexibility, recognition and support.  

Promote it constantly! This is what your USP (unique selling point) is against your competitors. Reflect this in your job ads, interviews, social content and even in how you onboard employees.

A polished EVP isn’t fluff, it’s a powerful tool to attract, engage and retain talent in a competitive hiring market. At HireIQ we work with clients every day to refine how they show up to candidates and we’ve seen the difference an embedded EVP can make.

Want to make your EVP work harder for you? Let’s chat about how to showcase what makes your company stand out⬇️

📧finance@hireiq.co.uk

📧finance@hireiq.ie