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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Marketable Securities
Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities consist of available-for-sale debt securities with original maturities exceeding three months.
Concentration of Risk
Concentration of Risk

The Company is potentially exposed to concentrations of risk associated with its accounts receivable. However, this risk is limited due to the Company’s large number of clients and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no significant concentrations of risk.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable

The Company’s accounts receivable consists of trade receivables. The Company’s expected credit loss allowance methodology for accounts receivable is developed using historical collection experience, current and future economic and market conditions, and a review of the current status of customers' trade accounts receivables. These factors may change over time, impacting the allowance level. See Note 4, Credit Losses.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The carrying value for receivables from clients, accounts payable, deferred revenue and other accrued liabilities reasonably approximates fair value due to the nature of the financial instruments and the short-term nature of the items.
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset or, for leasehold improvements, the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset, as follows:    
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment
5–10 years
Computer equipment and software
3–7 years

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the lease term or life of the asset improvement, which typically range from three to ten years.

Depreciation is calculated for tax purposes using accelerated methods, where applicable.
Other Intangible Assets and Long Lived Assets
Other Intangible Assets and Long Lived Assets

The Company reviews its other intangible assets and long-lived assets, including property and equipment and right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of asset groups to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge, equal to the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group, is recognized.
Leases
Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, Current liabilities - Operating lease liabilities and Non-current liabilities - Operating lease liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company does not have any leases that meet the finance lease criteria.

Right-of-use assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date is used in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease right-of-use asset also includes any lease payments made in advance and any accrued rent expense balances. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. For office leases, the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. For equipment leases, such as vehicles and office equipment, the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components separately.
Investments
Investments

The Company’s investments consist primarily of available-for-sale investments within the U.S. non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”).

Available-for-sale investments are reported at fair value with changes in unrealized gains (losses) and realized gains (losses) recorded as a non-operating expense in Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Goodwill
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price of acquired companies and the related fair value of the net assets acquired, which is accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting. The Company performs assessments of the carrying value of goodwill at least annually and whenever events occur or circumstances indicate that a carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. These circumstances include a significant change in business climate, attrition of key personnel, changes in financial condition or results of operations, a prolonged decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, competition, and other factors.

The goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company operates five reporting units: Americas, Europe (which includes Africa), Asia Pacific (which includes the Middle East), On-Demand Talent and Heidrick Consulting. The goodwill impairment test is completed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units is determined using a discounted cash flow methodology. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the
reporting unit exceeds its fair value; however, the loss recognized is not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

On October 31, 2022, the Company conducted its annual goodwill impairment evaluation, which indicated that the carrying value of the Heidrick Consulting reporting unit was less than its fair value. During the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company acquired businessfourzero and recorded approximately $7.1 million of goodwill in the Heidrick Consulting reporting unit. Due to the inclusion of goodwill in a reporting unit with a pre-existing fair value shortfall, the Company evaluated the recent and anticipated future financial performance of the Heidrick Consulting reporting unit and determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying value. As a result, the Company identified a triggering event and performed an interim goodwill impairment evaluation during the three months ended June 30, 2023.

During the impairment evaluation process, the Company used a discounted cash flow methodology to estimate the fair value of each of its reporting units. The discounted cash flow approach is dependent on a number of factors, including estimates of future market growth and trends, forecasted revenue and costs, capital investments, appropriate discount rates, certain assumptions to allocate shared costs, assets and liabilities, historical and projected performance of the reporting unit, and the macroeconomic conditions affecting each of the Company’s reporting units. The assumptions used in the determination of fair value were (1) a forecast of growth in the near and long term; (2) the discount rate; (3) working capital investments; (4) macroeconomic conditions; and (5) other factors.

Based on the results of the impairment evaluation, the Company determined that the goodwill within the Heidrick Consulting reporting unit was impaired, which resulted in an impairment charge of $7.2 million to write-off all of the associated goodwill. The impairment charge is recorded within Impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2023. The impairment was non-cash in nature and did not affect the Company's current liquidity, cash flows, borrowing capability or operations; nor did it impact the debt covenants under the Company's credit agreement.
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring Charges

The Company accounts for restructuring charges by recognizing a liability at fair value when the costs are incurred.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition

See Note 3, Revenue.
Cost of Service
Cost of Services

Cost of services consists of third-party contractor costs related to the delivery of various services in the Company's On-Demand Talent and Heidrick Consulting operating segments.
Research and Development
Research and Development
Research and development consists of payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, other employee expenses and third-party professional fees associated with new product development.
Reimbursements
Reimbursements

The Company incurs certain out-of-pocket expenses that are reimbursed by its clients, which are accounted for as revenue and expense in its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Salaries and Benefits
Salaries and Benefits

Salaries and benefits consist of compensation and benefits paid to consultants, executive officers, and administrative and support personnel, of which the most significant elements are salaries and annual performance-related bonuses. Other items in this category are expenses related to sign-on bonuses, forgivable employee loans and minimum guaranteed bonuses (often incurred in connection with the hiring of new consultants), restricted stock unit, phantom stock unit and performance share unit amortization, payroll taxes, profit sharing and retirement benefits, and employee insurance benefits.

Salaries and benefits are recognized on an accrual basis. Certain sign-on bonuses, retention awards, and minimum guaranteed compensation are capitalized and amortized in accordance with the terms of the respective agreements.
Historically, a portion of the Company’s consultants’ and management cash bonuses were deferred and paid over a three-year vesting period. The portion of the bonus was approximately 15% depending on the employee’s level or position. The compensation expense related to the amounts being deferred was recognized on a graded vesting attribution method over the requisite service period. This service period began on January 1 of the respective fiscal year and continued through the deferral date, which coincided with the Company’s bonus payments in the first half of the following year and for an additional three-year vesting period. The deferrals are recorded in Accrued salaries and benefits within both Current liabilities and Non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In 2020, the Company terminated the cash bonus deferral for consultants and, in 2021, terminated the cash bonus deferral for management. The Company now pays 100% of the cash bonuses earned by consultants and management in the first half of the following year. Consultant and management cash bonuses earned prior to 2020 and 2021, respectively, were paid under the terms of the cash bonus deferral program. The deferrals are recorded in Accrued salaries and benefits within both Current liabilities and Non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The final cash bonus deferrals were paid during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, applying enacted statutory tax rates in effect for the year in which the tax differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.
Earnings per Common Share
Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by weighted average common shares outstanding for the year. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted. Common equivalent shares are excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per share in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
December 31,
202320222021
Net income$54,410 $79,486 $72,572 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic20,029 19,758 19,515 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock units580 644 587 
Performance stock units157 216 194 
Diluted20,766 20,618 20,296 
Basic earnings per share$2.72 $4.02 $3.72 
Diluted earnings per share$2.62 $3.86 $3.58 
Translation of Foreign Currencies
Translation of Foreign Currencies

The Company generally designates the local currency for all its subsidiaries as the functional currency. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at a monthly average exchange rate for the period. Translation adjustments are reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Restricted Cash
Restricted Cash

Periodically, the Company is party to agreements with terms that require the Company to restrict cash through the termination dates of the agreements. Current and non-current restricted cash is included in Other current assets and Other non-current assets, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the cash and cash equivalents between the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
December 31,
202320222021
Cash and cash equivalents$412,618 $355,447 $545,225 
Restricted cash included within other non-current assets— 42 34 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$412,618 $355,489 $545,259 
Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards
Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU) No. 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." The standard is intended to expand the disclosure requirements for income taxes, specifically related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statement disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The standard is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements for public business entities primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit (referred to as the “significant expense principle”). This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statement disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 280): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The guidance was intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance is effective March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2024. The new guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.