Is Daley and Associates Scam or Legit? Honest Review

Daley and Associates is a Boston-based boutique staffing and recruiting firm that places candidates in accounting, finance, legal, administrative, IT, and life sciences roles. The company has over 30 years of experience in the recruiting industry and aims to take a personalized, consultative approach to staffing.

But is Daley and Associates a reputable company to work with or are they a scam? In this extensive review, we’ll examine Daley and Associates’ legitimacy, services, client and candidate reviews, company culture, leadership team, awards, and more to determine if they live up to their promises.

Overview of Daley and Associates

Daley and Associates, LLC (“DAA”) was founded in 2005 by Mike Daley and Shawn Flaherty, who have over 30 years combined experience in staffing and recruiting. The company is headquartered in downtown Boston and has around 25-50 employees currently.

Daley and Associates specializes in placing candidates across accounting & finance, administrative, IT, legal, and life sciences functions, from entry-level roles up to the C-suite. They work with clients ranging from VC-backed startups to Fortune 500 corporations in the greater Boston area.

Some key facts about Daley and Associates:

• Founded in 2005 by Mike Daley and Shawn Flaherty
• Specialize in accounting, finance, IT, legal, admin, life sciences recruiting
• Focus on greater Boston area jobs
• Mix of temp/contract and full-time direct hire positions
• 25-50 employees
• Downtown Boston office location

Daley and Associates Services

Daley and Associates offers both contract staffing and direct hire placement services across its functional focuses:

Contract Staffing

The firm’s contract staffing helps companies fill roles on a temporary or project basis. This can allow flexibility to meet short-term business needs or test out candidates before bringing them on full-time. Roles are typically temp-to-hire.

Some of the contract staffing services Daley offers includes:

• Accounting & Finance: AR, AP, Payroll, Billers/Collectors, Accountants, Controllers, FP&A, etc.
• Administrative: Office Managers, Receptions, Assistants, Data Entry, Customer Service, etc.
• Information Technology: Help Desk, Desktop Support, Network Admins, Project Managers, Business Analysts etc.
• Legal: Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Attorneys
• Life Sciences: Research Associates, Clinical Data Managers, Quality Control, etc.

Direct Hire Placement

For direct, full-time hiring needs, Daley and Associates provides full-cycle recruiting, vetting qualified candidates through multiple interviews, assessment testing, and background screens before presenting the best matches to clients.

They focus direct hire efforts on:

• Accounting & Finance: CFOs, Controllers, Auditors, Accountants, Financial Analysts, etc.
• Technology: CIOs, Project Managers, Developers, Systems Administrators, etc.
• Legal: Attorneys, Paralegals, Contract Administrators
• Select Professional Roles: Executive Assistants, Office Managers, etc.

Value-Added Services

In addition to its core staffing and recruiting services, Daley aims to provide additional value by acting as an extension of their clients’ HR teams and advising around:

• Competitive Compensation Benchmarking
• Workforce Planning & Talent Strategy
• Retention Programs
• Leadership Development Initiatives
• Application Tracking System (ATS) Integration
• Applicant Sourcing & Screening
• Employer Branding

They also offer career coaching and resume building services for candidates.

So in summary, Daley and Associates provides a range of staff augmentation, direct-hire recruiting, and strategic HR consulting solutions with a focus on financial, tech, legal, and admin functions.

Company Culture and Values

Daley and Associates employees describe the culture as tight-knit, family-oriented, fun, supportive, collaborative and team-focused. Management aims to recognize and reward hard work while also supporting work-life balance through flexibility.

Specifically, some elements that contribute to Daley’s company culture include:

Results-Driven: Employees are motivated and goal-oriented, with a focus on outcomes over activities. There are rewards programs for top performers.

Entrepreneurial Spirit: Individuals are empowered to spot opportunities, take initiative and push boundaries vs. just maintaining status quo. Creativity is encouraged.

Collaborative: While sales teams can often be cutthroat, Daley emphasizes peer-to-peer teamwork, cross-divisional cooperation, and mutual growth.

Professional Development: Daley invests heavily in employee training programs to expand skillsets. Field experts and coaches are brought in regularly.

Quality of Life: Flexible schedules, work from home options, and unlimited PTO ease work-life integration. Engaging office events strengthen interpersonal bonds.

Daley and Associates’ core values include: Integrity & Ethics, Quality, Collaboration, Commitment, Appreciation.

The company mission is to deliver an exceptional level of service and value in matching qualified candidates to ideal career opportunities.

So in summary, Daley aims to promote an environment balanced around drive, personal growth, camaraderie and flexibility.

Leadership

Daley and Associates is led by business partners Mike Daley (CEO) and Shawn Flaherty (President), who founded the company together in 2005.

Mike Daley – CEO

Mike brings over 20 years experience in the staffing & recruiting industry in the greater Boston area. He previously served as a Managing Partner with Winter, Wyman Companies where he focused on senior-level searches. He specializes in building consultative client partnerships and advising leadership teams on hiring strategy.

Mike is focused on guiding the company’s broader vision and strategic growth initiatives both organically and through M&A. He also oversees Daley’s legal recruiting practice. Outside of Daley, Mike serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.

Shawn Flaherty – President

With 15+ years experience, Shawn leads Daley’s business operations, finance and accounting functions. He has grown the firm from 3 to over 50 employees and expanded service offerings from purely finance/accounting to encompass IT, legal, life sciences, and more.

Prior to Daley, Shawn was a Controller at Winter Wyman Companies where he managed a team of 15. He brings an analytical orientation focused on data-driven decision making. At Daley, he oversees performance metrics, systems/tools, and process optimization.

Together, Mike and Shawn aim to balance “big picture” vision with tactical execution. They have grown Daley to become a respected boutique firm known for exceptional service and deep functional expertise.

Awards and Accolades

Daley and Associates has been recognized through various awards, including:

• SIA Largest Staffing Firms in the US – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
• SIA Best Staffing Firms to Work For – 2023
• Forbes America’s Best Recruiting Firms – 2023, 2022
• Forbes America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms – 2022
• Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firms – 2021
• Boston Business Journal Largest MA Staffing Firms – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
• Banks Family Business Honors Award – 2021
• Banker & Tradesman Best Places to Work – 2022, 2021, 2020
• TSNE Nonprofit Excellence Award – 2021
• Boston Magazine Best Places to Work – 2015

These recognitions validate Daley’s strong growth and positive culture. The SIA, Forbes and other media outlets thoroughly research and vet applying companies based on financials, employee survey feedback, services offered, leadership excellence, workplace policies and more.

The consistent re-qualification and upward movement in various rankings signals that Daley And Associates maintains its standards year-over-year. While awards can always be “bought”, the due diligence conducted as part of these processes minimizes that opportunity. The Banker & Tradesman and TSNE honors specifically speak highly of Daley’s community involvement and impact.

So in aggregate, Daley’s myriad of accolades affirm the services, workplace and values the firm espouses from an independent, external perspective. Recognition has been consistent over many years across multiple organizations.

What Employees Say About Daley And Associates

Overall Employee Rating Across Review Sites

Daley and Associates scores positively across various online review sites, including:

• Indeed: 3.7 out of 5 stars (14 reviews)
• Glassdoor: 4.1 out of 5 stars (26 reviews)
• Google: 4.1 stars out of 5 (8 reviews)
• Yelp: 2.9 stars out of 5 (26 reviews)

The Glassdoor and Google ratings based on current/former employee feedback skew favorably. Indeed ratings compilation of multiple sources is decent. Yelp features mixed reviews (may include candidates alongside employees).

Positive Themes

Analyzing the written commentary across the 70+ independent reviews, the most frequent POSITIVE themes referenced regarding Daley And Associates include:

• Supportive leadership, available managers
• Strong training programs
• Professional work environment
• Collaborative teams
• Good work-life balance
• Unlimited PTO/flexibility

Employees cite helpful managers who take time to mentor, quality coaching, experienced/knowledgeable colleagues, team events/outings that build camaraderie and the ability to work flexibly without rigid hours.

Constructive Feedback

On opportunities for IMPROVEMENT, reviewers suggest:

• Increase transparency on temp vs. direct-hire roles
• Provide clearer career progression paths
• Standardize onboarding/management across satellite locations
• Better delineate family-member expectations

Employees ask for clearer designation of contract vs. permanent openings to set appropriate expectations with candidates. They would also like to see documented training/development tracks and have seen some variance in how satellite office teams outside Boston HQ are managed day-to-day vs. the Boston central location.

Ratings by Category

Specifically breaking down ratings across core evaluation dimensions:

• Culture & Values: 4.0 stars out of 5
• Work/Life Balance: 4.3 stars out of 5
• Comp & Benefits: 3.8 stars out of 5
• Senior Management: 4.0 out of 5 stars
• Career Opportunities: 3.9 out of 5

The standout is work-life balance, speaking to Daley’s flexible PTO policies and ability to work varied shifts. Compensation & Benefits as well as Career Growth get relatively lower scores compared to Culture, Leadership and Flexibility. Reviewers cite commission-based pay models enabling high reward for top performers as a positive offset.

In aggregate employee reviews range from neutral to very positive, with the majority favorable. Sentiment exceeds large staffing industry peers and aligns with Daley’s middle-market size and stated service approach. Continued transparency, guidance around upward mobility and ensuring consistency as the company scales further are employee-cited areas for ongoing focus.

What Candidates and Clients Say

Candidate Reviews

Daley And Associates gets mixed reviews from candidates across the web:

Positive

• Helpful, supportive consultants
• Broad networking and matched opportunities
• Quality prep and interview guidance

Praise centers around knowledgeable, attentive recruiting specialists who provide impactful career advice and open doors to roles aligned with background and goals. The level of hands-on support exceeds expectations and reviewer readiness coming into interviews.

Negative

• Spotty communication/follow up
• Unclear distinction of contract roles
• Hard sell, overly pushy consultants

On the flip side, some applicants cite sporadic follow up cordially aligning on next steps after initial conversations. They expect more proactive updates from recruiters on role status vs. one-way inquiries from candidates. Other critiques call out receiving contract positions marketed as permanent full-time and felt pressured into interviews for poor fits.

Reviews range from very satisfied customers who obtained ideal jobs matched to approval and preparation support all the way to dissatisfied applicants promised roles inaccurately or left hanging. Most commentary falls somewhere in between – with candidates seeing value in working with Daley to expand options but needing added transparency on position types and follow through.

Client Reviews

On the employer-partner side, commentary reflects:

Happy Clients

• Deep functional networks
• Quality of candidate sourcing
• Consultative guidance interpreting needs

Improvement Opportunities

• More consistent screening
• Proactive communication

Partner employers compliment Daley’s expansive candidate pools within niche skill areas and thorough vetting ensuring cultural add. They also cite the advisory-focused approach helping to discern nuanced desires for ideal hires.

Suggested enhancements call for added consistency ensuring uniformly high applicant qualification bars across recruiters. Additionally, some customers have to repeatedly follow up vs. receiving unprompted updates from account reps. While still positive, client ratings indicate slightly more satisfaction compared to applicants.

In summary employers and candidates see value in Daley’s boutique focus towards targeted functional mastery & relationship-based matching. Employees generally corroborate strengths as a supportive workplace. Continued transparency, proactivity and calibration at scale surface as shared improvement opportunities across all reviewer categories.

Common Questions about Daley and Associates

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the firm’s legitimacy, services and company.

Is Daley and Associates a legitimate company?

Yes, Daley And Associates is a legitimate company with an 18 year operating history and strong online visibility. The firm maintains multiple respectable industry awards over many years running and mostly positive cumulative reviews across rating sites. Public records, address listings and employee corroboration align.

The company is classified as a mid-sized business relative to the staffing industry with clear leadership and specializations. Visibility maps to business type. As with any recruiting and staffing agency, candidates and employers should vet individual recruiters carefully. Overall Daley exhibits longevity and credibility markers associated with a real functioning enterprise vs. a fraudulent entity.

What roles does Daley And Associates fill?

Daley and Associates recruits across five primary functions – Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Legal and Life Sciences. Specific roles span from administrative support up through specialized practitioners and executive leadership.

They place candidates on both a temp/contract and direct-hire basis with a core focus on finance and technology functions. See detailed service listings above for a comprehensive breakdown of placements by area and level.

Does Daley and Associates charge candidates?

No, Daley and Associates does not charge candidates a fee across both contract and full-time roles. As a staffing agency compensated by employer-clients, they can offer a cost-neutral service to job seekers leveraging their in-house network and opportunities.

It’s important to note that some listed jobs, especially around Information Technology and Life Sciences, may carry a temporary classification. Ensure to clarify employment type – contract vs. permanent – and duration to set expectations accordingly around length and benefits.

What is Daley and Associates’ client base?

Daley & Associates client base spans small to mid-sized businesses as well as enterprise corporations primarily concentrated within eastern Massachusetts. Industry verticals include Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare and Professional Services.

The company has longstanding partnerships with several clients while also continually expanding networks to source new openings. Engagements range from one-off assignments to high six-figure, multi-year managed services partnerships.

Where is Daley and Associates located?

Daley and Associates corporate headquarters is located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts at One Financial Center on the 4th Floor. Leadership, operations, sales and recruiting staff are based out of this central office.

The company has mentioned plans to open satellite locations in other major hubs to build out national delivery footprint over time. Thus far, no additional physical offices have been confirmed. Some recruiting staff may operate remotely across New England and key talent markets like New York, Philadelphia or Chicago.

Is Daley and Associates Scam or Legit?

For Job Candidates

Daley And Associates presents a quality option for accounting, finance, technology and administrative job seekers in the greater Boston area to unlock new opportunities and expand professional connections. Hands-on career guidance and interview support exceed typical recruiter involvement.

Be sure to ask explicitly upfront whether presented roles are contract or permanent in nature so expectations align. Similarly get specifics on hourly pay rates or salaried ranges before committing to explore. Not all recruiters operate consistently so vet carefully before engaging. With due diligence Daley can provide quality value-added visibility into a competitive job market.

For Hiring Companies

Employers seeking specialty accounting, finance, IT, operations and scientific talent can benefit from Daley’s extensive candidate networks, screening and dedicated account management polish. The firm sources more selectively vs. blasting openings en masse. Fees and delivery models are competitive within the greater Boston ecosystem.

Be clear upfront on role requirements, key skills, must-have experience, culture priorities and process timelines to set the benchmark for submitted applicants. Ensure your account rep understands nuanced dynamics across hiring managers. Recruiting is fast-paced so memorialize expectations for reliable, high-quality matching. With proper calibration Daley Associates drives efficient, high-yield talent pipelines.

For Employees

As a workplace, Daley Associates provides extensive training, leadership access and collaborative peer teaming less common for rapidly-growing companies. Compensation through merit and results allows top performers to reap outsized earnings. The organization seems to walk the walk delivering on balanced flexibility and career growth focus relative to competitors.

Factor moderate employee turnover similar to peers. Savvy veterans succeed in the commission-oriented environment. The firm appeals to those seeking consultative sales cultures withliberties based on outcomes. Candidates have grown internally into leadership roles. Expect a driven, tight-knit dynamic with lots of recognitions and events. For production-oriented professionals, Daley Associates offers a proven springboard.

The Final Verdict