Company: Vaco Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
Entry Submitted By: Strategies
Company Description: Vaco Los Angeles is a leading consulting and staffing firm for accounting, finance and technology professionals.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year – Business Services – More Than 10 Employees

Nomination Title: Vaco Los Angeles

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated organization since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Vaco Los Angeles LLC is deserving of the Company of the Year award for its unique vision and work/life balance business model, its support of women in business, its significant contribution to the local economy by placing people in employment, and for its phenomenal market growth. Vaco Los Angeles challenged the traditional corporate environment with a new business vision. One in which professionals can attain optimal productivity and career satisfaction, while meeting personal responsibilities and goals – a real work/life balance.

Vaco is a consulting and executive search firm that places finance and technology professionals in both contract and direct-hire positions, enabling them to advance in their professions, while maintaining a flexible schedule and control over their careers. Vaco’s unique vision has led to remarkable success in terms of revenue growth, market expansion and employee engagement and retention, and by achieving this within the rigorous finance, accounting and technology fields, the company serves as a model for others and demonstrates that Vaco is truly the Best Company of the Year.

Vaco was built on the principle that by providing employees with flexibility and accountability, they’d achieve success. The Vaco mission is that trust, commitment and results go hand in hand. Vaco offers employees a variety of options including flexible work schedules, telecommuting and part-time and full-time positions. The contract positions Vaco fills also provide work/life balance opportunities for the consultants they place. Contract consulting employment allows professionals to secure consulting positions that provide them career flexibility. For example, a consultant may take only full-time positions, or part-time positions, or only to work during the school year and take the summer off.

Vaco’s key accomplishments over the last year include:

• The only COMPANY to ever to be a three-time #1 Best Place to Work in Los Angeles, and in the Top 10 for five consecutive years by the Best Companies Group

• Gold Stevie Awards for Employer of the Year and Fastest-Growing Company in the 2012 Women in Business Awards

• An industry thought leader featured on Fox Studio 11, CBS MoneyWatch, the Los Angeles Business Journal, eFinancialCareers.com and CalCPA Magazine. Executives have spoken at such prestigious industry associations as Financial Executives International.

• Revenue growth to over $23 million since inception in 2006

• Client and consultant base has increased by 35% percent over last year.

• Expanded staff by 20% percent.

• Over 300 corporate clients and accounting firms rely on Vaco for their hiring solutions

• Placed over 1,000 people in jobs since its inception.

Vaco has grown to over $23 million in revenue and ranked #15 Fastest-growing Privately Held Companies in L.A. by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Vaco plays a significant role in the growth of the economy by placing professionals in employment, pioneers a unique vision of work/life balance and employee empowerment, and achieved phenomenal growth and success in the process. Vaco Los Angeles is deserving of the Company of the Year award for its support of women in business, for finding jobs for talented executives, and for being the premier workplace award winner in its category.

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the nominated company (up to 125 words):

Anchor partner Frances Moreno founded Vaco Los Angeles in 2006. Vaco is a consulting and executive placement firm specializing in technology, accounting and finance professionals. Frances earned her CPA license after completing her Bachelor’s degree in accounting with a Spanish minor at Cal State University, San Diego. Frances is a former Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar to Madrid, Spain. Previously, she worked for Deloitte, the State of California, an ERP software company, and an S&P 500 staffing company. She’s a member of Vistage, Women’s Presidents Organization and Financial Executives International, and serves on the Kidsave board of directors.

The CEO (or other principal manager) of this company is a woman, and at least 40% of the management team is comprised of women.