October with Mansfield & Co
Melanie Mansfield • November 9, 2026
October was an interesting month for us on the recruitment front!
This month, we saw a slowdown in permanent recruitment activity as businesses adjusted to shifting market conditions. However, it was a very different story on our temp desk, with Jacqui run off her feet placing temporary staff across finance, HR and administration!
The good news is that things started picking up again towards the end of the month, and we're heading into November with a great mix of new opportunities (finance is definitely the flavour of the month!).
Recruitment Insights: SA's Finance Market
Mel shared what we're seeing in South Australia's finance market, from candidate availability, salary expectations through to the impact of AI and automation in finance teams. Read the report here.
Event highlights
The M&Co team enjoyed getting out and about in October, with some fantastic opportunities to connect with our clients and the wider local business community.
InDaily's South Australian Business Index (SABI) luncheon is always a favourite on our calendar and this year was no exception! A highlight was Simon Kuestenmacher's keynote, who shared an insightful yet optimistic outlook on South Australia's economic future.
The annual AHRI State Conference was buzzing with activity, as we joined hundreds of professionals for two days of interesting conversations, shared insights and new connections across the local HR community.
We’re talking about: Conversation Kits
One of our highlights at the recent AHRI SA Conference was getting to know Jess, the founder of Conversation Kits. We absolutely loved her product and approach!
Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in HR, leadership and coaching, Jess has developed a range of practical, easy-to-use tools to help people leaders feel more confident having meaningful conversations with their teams.
The range includes nine Conversation Kits covering performance management, difficult conversations, feedback, employee wellbeing, career development, workplace culture, connection, flexible working arrangements and the employee lifecycle.
We think they're a fantastic resource for HR professionals and people leaders looking to build stronger relationships, improve communication and create better workplaces.
It's great to see some renewed activity in the market, and we're looking forward to a busy finish to the year!
Finance Recruitment Market Trends: what we're seeing in South Australia's finance recruitment market, including candidate availability, salary expectations and the impact of AI and automation.
Flexibility has been a major part of workplace conversation in the last few years, but now the discussion is starting to move beyond simply whether businesses offer flexible work. Instead, the focus is shifting towards what flexible arrangements can look like for different people, and whether there should be a one-size-fits-all approach.
Thank you to everyone who attended our fantastic breakfast event and celebrated 10 years of Mansfield & Co with us. Our keynote speaker Rebecca Christianson presented “The New Leadership Paradigm – Why the Old Rules No Longer Work” , exploring nine elements of this new leadership paradigm, and how this framework can fundamentally shift how we lead, influence and deliver outcomes in an increasingly complex world. We were also joined by a panel of exceptional leaders who shared their perspectives and experiences. A special thank you to: Kathryn Keenihan, Junction Australia Matthew Evans, Agilex Biolabs Shari Dayton, CMV Group We were thrilled to have so many South Australian leaders and familiar faces join us for a morning of networking, inspiration and insightful conversation.