Hire the best person, wherever they are: How iCatalyst built a global team without setting up a single entity
Months → ~1 week
to hire internationally, vs. doing it alone
3 countries
Netherlands, Fiji and Philippines, no entity setup required
16-20 hours saved
for growth instead of compliance research
Company
iCatalyst
Industry
Information Technology
Employees
80
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Favourite Features
About the candidate
iCatalyst is an Australian-owned Microsoft Business Applications partner specialising in the implementation, delivery and support of Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and Microsoft Power Platform.
Founded in Western Australia, iCatalyst has grown from three founding directors to nearly 80 employees in under five years, driven by a commitment to delivering high-quality project outcomes and securing highly skilled consultants in a competitive talent market.
Since its early days, iCatalyst opted to use Employment Hero to support its people management processes. Today, the organisation uses almost every part of the platform, including HeroForce to engage specialist talent where required.
The challenge
As a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, accessing highly skilled Microsoft Business Applications talent remains one of the most significant constraints to growth. While iCatalyst has built its foundation on local, senior, experienced consultants, there are times when engaging proven talent from global Microsoft Dynamics communities becomes necessary.
Andrew Devitt, Co-Founder and Director, revealed the challenge was not simply about geography, but how to engage the right people quickly, compliantly, and without introducing unnecessary operational complexity.
“After spending considerable time reviewing international employment requirements and compliance frameworks, it became clear that I could burn months on this and not get any traction.”
Setting up a legal entity in each target country was an option, but this would have caused considerable complexity and diverted focus from their core business. iCatalyst recognised the need to engage on the right candidates without committing to permanent infrastructure in every market.
The solution
As an existing Employment Hero customer, leveraging HeroForce seemed a natural extension to engage specialist talent outside of Australia. This enabled iCatalyst to hire and manage international employees while maintaining a consistent and centralised approach to people management.
“The compelling point about HeroForce is that you’re keeping it all within one platform. It removes the complexity of managing multiple systems and ensures we maintain a unified view of our team.”
Here’s how HeroForce works in practice:
- iCatalyst identifies a candidate anywhere in the world and initiates the hire directly in the platform
- HeroForce acts as the employer of record, handling local compliance, contracts, and payroll
- The HeroForce team manages country-specific requirements and guides the process end-to-end
- Multiple hires across different countries can be managed in parallel, each with tailored compliance support.
When iCatalyst hired in the Netherlands and the Philippines simultaneously, HeroForce managed both seamlessly. Later, when iCatalyst wanted to hire in Fiji, a market with limited international recruitment infrastructure, the team identified a solution.
“What stood out to me about HeroForce was the flexibility. When other recruitment providers said, ‘we don’t hire in Fiji,’ the HeroForce team found a way. That entrepreneurial mindset really resonates with a business owner like myself.”
In practice: three real hires
iCatalyst shared three examples that illustrate how HeroForce has worked in the field.
Senior Consultant · Netherlands → Perth, Australia
A senior consultant based in the Netherlands identified iCatalyst as a preferred Australian employer and approached the business directly.
Both parties were aligned on a long-term opportunity in Australia; however, visa and relocation requirements meant the consultant needed to remain in the Netherlands for a further 6–12 months while arrangements were finalised.
Rather than risk losing a high-quality candidate, iCatalyst utilised HeroForce to engage the consultant immediately ensuring continuity and securing key capability ahead of a seamless transition into a permanent Australian role.
Fiji team
iCatalyst has longstanding relationships with highly experienced Microsoft Dynamics professionals based in Fiji. As the business expanded, there was a strong desire to reconnect with this trusted talent and bring them into the team.
However, iCatalyst had no straightforward pathway to employ them directly, with employer-of-record arrangements in Fiji often complex and costly to establish.
The HeroForce team developed an in-country solution that did not previously exist, enabling iCatalyst to onboard these individuals efficiently, ensuring their expertise could contribute to customer outcomes from day one.
Philippines team
The Philippines represents another well-established community of skilled Microsoft Dynamics professionals; however, navigating employment requirements can be complex and time-consuming.
With HeroForce, iCatalyst was able to engage talent in days rather than months, with confidence that compliance requirements were being managed effectively. The business has since built a growing team in the Philippines across a range of engagement models.
The ROI
For iCatalyst, the impact extends beyond operations and directly supports sustainable growth.
“Access to the right capability at the right time is crucial. When we can engage skilled people quickly and integrate them into our team, it directly supports our ability to deliver for customers and continue growing the business.”
- Speed to hire: Reduced from months to ~1 week, bypassing lengthy compliance hurdles.
- Founder time saved: 16-20 hours per country, freed for growth instead of compliance research.
- Compliance risk eliminated: Safe hiring in markets like the Philippines and Fiji.
- Global talent unlocked: Hire the best candidates worldwide, regardless of location.
- Centralised hiring record: All international hires tracked alongside the Australian team.
Why it matters
For iCatalyst, the ability to access proven talent while maintaining a strong Australian delivery model represents a meaningful advantage in a competitive market.
HeroForce has enabled the business to maintain its focus on delivering for local customers, while selectively expanding its capability in a controlled and consistent way.
“Maintaining a single, consistent approach to managing our people is important to us. Having everything within one platform ensures we can scale with confidence while keeping our focus on our customers and our team.”
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