---
title: How strong recruitment leaders use the P&L to drive performance
description: Digital hiring platforms are no longer an emerging trend - they’re rapidly becoming the new standard for how recruitment is bought, measured, and delivered. AI-powered matching, instant onboarding, and 24/7 visibility are shifting client expectations - putting pressure on traditional margins, processes, and service models.
---

[Latest News ](https://au.apsco.org/latest-news)

# [How strong recruitment leaders use the P&L to drive performance](https://au.apsco.org/latest-news/how-strong-recruitment-leaders-use-the-pl-to-drive-performance)

 Written by [Carly Fordred](https://au.apsco.org/latest-news/author/carly-fordred) | 9 February 2026

In recruitment, a P&L isn’t just a set of numbers - it’s a strategic tool. Strong leaders use it to make informed decisions that drive performance, clarity, and confidence across their business.

At **ELEVATE 2026**, Phil Allen, former Finance Director of Hays APAC, will join Lesley Horsburgh to share how top leaders maintain a **recruitment P&L** that truly supports business growth.

 

 

### The mindset behind a high-performing recruitment P&L

 

### Discipline beats drama

The most effective P&Ls aren’t flashy - they’re consistent. Clean accruals, meaningful commentary, and normalised data allow leaders to spot trends early, make proactive decisions, and act with confidence.

 

 

### Clarity creates focus

High-performing leaders are deliberate about what financial information is shared - and with whom.  
Operations leaders focus on what they can control: fees, productivity, and the true cost of the teams they lead.

 

 

### The people P&L comes first

Outstanding leaders look beyond headline productivity. They assess individual contributions after total employment costs, set clear performance expectations, and make people decisions based on current realities - not past success. 

 

 

Phil Allen will unpack this thinking live at ELEVATE - practical, commercial, and grounded in decades of recruitment leadership experience.

 

## Join us at ELEVATE 2026

**Date:** Tuesday, February 24  
**Location:** Sydney

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to leverage your P&L for **strategic recruitment leadership**. Discounts are available for group bookings.

[View full post](https://au.apsco.org/latest-news/how-strong-recruitment-leaders-use-the-pl-to-drive-performance)

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