Sapphire welcomes strategic partnership manager to drive new Quartz platform

January 2025, Manchester – Sapphire, the employee-owned contracting and accounting firm based in Manchester, has announced the appointment of Ray McKeating as strategic partnerships manager for its innovative Quartz platform. 

Quartz is a secure, cloud-based platform that streamlines financial processes for recruitment agencies, simplifying invoicing, payroll, timesheet and compliance management. Acquired in a six-figure deal in 2024, Quartz represents Sapphire’s commitment to delivering advanced, technology-driven solutions that streamline operations and enhance productivity for recruitment agencies. 

Ray brings more than 20 years of expertise in recruitment software and employment solutions. Throughout his career, he has advised thousands of businesses of all sizes, delivering cutting-edge technology that has saved significant costs and generated millions in job advertising and placement fees. His deep understanding of agency needs will ensure Quartz continues to evolve as a market-leading solution. 

Commenting on his appointment, Ray said: “Joining Sapphire at such an exciting time is a fantastic opportunity for me. Quartz is not just about simplifying processes, but about offering a solution that redefines how recruitment agencies operate. My focus is on ensuring agencies can leverage Quartz to its full potential, eliminating complexities and creating a seamless experience for managing timesheets, expenses, invoices, and payments.” 

The addition of Ray to the Quartz team follows a successful 2024 for Sapphire, during which the company shared £350,000 in employee-ownership bonuses with long-serving contractors. The Quartz platform strengthens its suite of umbrella payroll and accountancy services, reaffirming the company’s reputation for delivering unparalleled client experiences. 

Alex Moore, sales operations director at Sapphire, added: “Ray’s extensive experience and consultative approach are the perfect fit for Quartz’s vision. His leadership will help us build on Quartz’s existing success, ensuring it becomes an indispensable tool for recruitment agencies across all sectors. With Ray on board, we’re confident that Quartz will continue to evolve and deliver the highest level of service to our clients.” 

Quartz offers advanced features including white-label branding, seamless integration with leading accounting and payroll systems such as Xero, and analytics powered by AWS Quicksight. Designed to reduce administrative overhead by up to 80%, its flexible pricing and adaptability makes it a versatile solution for agencies of different sizes.  

For more information about Sapphire and Quartz, please visit www.wearesapphire.co.uk.