A global renewable energy company needed to establish a new Shared Services Center (SSC) in Costa Rica to support its international operations. However, before launching locally, the organization had not yet established its legal entity in Costa Rica, creating a significant challenge in hiring and onboarding employees.
To meet aggressive implementation timelines, the company required an experienced workforce partner capable of rapidly building leadership and operational teams while also providing an Employer of Record (EOR) solution during the transition.
SPECTRAFORCE delivered a combined recruitment and Employer of Record strategy that enabled the client to launch operations on schedule, complete the legal entity setup, and build a high-performing Shared Services organization.
Results at a Glance
Through SPECTRAFORCE’s recruitment and Employer of Record support, the client was able to:
- Launch its Costa Rica Shared Services Center on schedule
- Hire approximately 30 professionals across Finance, HR, Procurement, Payroll, and SAP
- Build leadership and operational teams before establishing a local legal entity
- Transition seamlessly from Employer of Record services to direct hiring
- Continue scaling operations with SPECTRAFORCE as its staffing partner
Challenge: Building a Shared Services Center Before Establishing a Local Entity
The client selected Costa Rica as the location for a new Shared Services Center supporting global operations.
However, the organization needed to begin hiring before completing the legal process required to establish its local entity.
At the same time, business functions were transitioning from Spain to Costa Rica, creating the need for experienced professionals capable of supporting knowledge transfer while maintaining operational continuity.
The company required talent with previous Shared Services experience, strong English proficiency, and expertise across Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Payroll, and SAP functions. Leadership roles also needed to be filled first to support the phased migration of operations.
Solution: Employer of Record and Specialized Shared Services Recruitment
SPECTRAFORCE partnered closely with stakeholders in both Spain and Costa Rica to develop a phased hiring strategy aligned with the client’s implementation timeline.
To eliminate hiring delays, SPECTRAFORCE provided Employer of Record (EOR) services, allowing employees to be hired and onboarded immediately while the client completed its legal entity registration.
Simultaneously, dedicated recruiters sourced professionals with expertise in:
- Finance and Accounting
- Human Resources
- Procurement
- Payroll
- SAP SD/MM
- Shared Services leadership
The recruitment strategy prioritized managers and supervisors during the first hiring phase, followed by senior and mid-level professionals who supported the operational launch.
Results: Launching a Shared Services Operation on Schedule
Through specialized recruitment and Employer of Record services, SPECTRAFORCE helped the client establish its Costa Rica Shared Services Center within the planned implementation timeline.
Workforce established on schedule
Approximately 30 professionals were hired across Finance, HR, Procurement, Payroll, SAP, and leadership functions, providing the workforce needed to launch operations successfully.
Business continuity during expansion
The Employer of Record solution enabled the client to hire employees before establishing its Costa Rica legal entity, ensuring operational timelines remained on track while facilitating seamless knowledge transfer from Spain.
Long-term workforce partnership
Following the successful establishment of the local entity, SPECTRAFORCE continued supporting the client as its staffing partner, helping sustain the organization’s long-term growth in Costa Rica.
Strong client partnership
The successful execution of the project strengthened the relationship between both organizations. Following the launch, the client’s executive leadership formally recognized the contributions of SPECTRAFORCE’s Recruitment, Client Services, and Operations teams for their role in establishing the new Shared Services Center.
Challenge | SPECTRAFORCE Approach | Outcome |
No legal entity established in Costa Rica | Employer of Record (EOR) solution | Immediate hiring and onboarding |
Aggressive implementation timeline | Phased recruitment strategy | Shared Services Center launched on schedule |
Need for experienced Shared Services talent | Specialized recruitment across Finance, HR, Procurement, Payroll, and SAP | Approximately 30 critical positions filled |
Migration of operations from Spain | Close collaboration with leadership teams and strategic workforce planning | Smooth knowledge transfer and operational continuity |
Conclusion
Launching a Shared Services Center requires requires building the right workforce while minimizing operational risk.
By combining Employer of Record services with specialized recruitment expertise, SPECTRAFORCE helped a global renewable energy company establish its Costa Rica Shared Services Center, transition key business functions from Spain, and build a strong operational foundation for future growth.
Today, SPECTRAFORCE continues supporting the organization as a trusted staffing partner, helping scale its workforce as business needs evolve.
