Executive Recruiter - Partner/Lateral Hires

Company 

Nichols Cauley is a private equity-backed financial services platform dedicated to the small and midsize businesses—and the owners—that keep our local economies moving. We show up for the builders and the doers, providing the practical guidance needed to manage, protect, and grow what they’ve worked hard to build. We are a team of people who make big thinking and sophisticated business acumen accessible, practical, and human. 

The Role 

Nichols Cauley is seeking an experienced and proactive Experienced Hire Recruiter specializing in Partner and Lateral Hires to join our HR team. This role is responsible for sourcing high-level candidates and developing and executing strategies to attract and recruit top-tier talent across all service lines within our growing financial services company. Based primarily out of our greater Atlanta office locations, this is a hybrid position offering flexibility to work both onsite and remotely. 

Key Responsibilities  

You will be a strategic partner to the executive team and a key driver in building the foundation of a high-performing organization. This is a hands-on, high-impact role suited for someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments and understands how to find top-tier talent to drive business growth. 

 

Talent Sourcing+ Hiring 

• Partner with company leadership to identify talent needs for growth and operational goals 

• Proactively identify, engage, and build relationships with partner‑level and senior lateral candidates, including passive talent 

• Lead confidential and sensitive searches with professionalism and discretion 

• Collaborate on thorough vetting of lateral candidates, including evaluating fit and expertise  

• Own the experienced hire search process, including sourcing, vetting, and helping to onboard executive-level hires. 

• Manage full recruitment cycle, from job posting through offer negotiation.  

 

Stakeholder Collaboration 

• Work with CHRO and company leadership to scale a talent roadmap that supports the company’s rapid expansion. 

• Stay up to date on industry trends and compensation structures to advise leadership on hiring strategies 

• Act as primary liaison between firm leadership and candidates 

• Align with leadership to build scalable recruiting frameworks that support rapid growth while maintaining quality and cultural alignment 

 

Processes & Systems 

• Establish scalable recruiting infrastructure, including recruiting processes and candidate feedback systems. 

• Continuously evaluate and improve sourcing and selection processes for efficiency and effectiveness. 

• Maintain accurate recruitment data and metrics to inform decision-making. 

 

Engagement 

• Shape and promote a performance-driven company aligned with company values. 

• Deliver a positive, professional candidate experience at every stage of the recruitment process. 

• Support the development and communication of the Nichols Cauley employer brand to attract high-quality candidates. 

 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• 7+ years of experience in executive search, with a strong track record of managing end-to-end search processes. Demonstrated ability to successfully handle 5+ searches simultaneously while maintaining high quality. 

• Demonstrated success in sourcing and recruiting experienced professionals, especially in professional services or accounting firm environments. 

• Experience working in or closely with private equity or in an M&A driven environment a plus. 

• Comfortable operating in both strategic and hands‑on execution roles 

• Willing and able to take ownership and drive execution. 

• Proven experience in optimizing processes, technology, and workflows, with a continuous drive for improvement. 

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and engage; ability to act as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to all levels of leadership. 

• Deep commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within all aspects of talent acquisition