SHARP CONSULTANCY SLEEP OUT FOR ROUNDABOUT!

Sharp Consultancy's Salary Survey 2025/26: Resetting the Landscape: Strategic Shifts in Finance Recruitment

It would be remiss not to start by addressing the elephant in the room — 2024 was a challenging year.While there were many reasons for this and numerous industries were affected, recruitment likely bore the brunt of it, particularly in the 6 months post-election(s).Whilst key roles and critical hires remained unaffected, certain head counts and processes were scrutinised and investment paused with internal restructures and automation utilised to reduce costs, in some instances, at the expense of employees. We subsequently saw an increase in candidate activity, with the talent pool strengthening. As those pressures eased in Quarter 4, recruitment processes saw improvement and green shoots have emerged. Optimism is on the rise in key hiring processes, albeit with a caveat. The cloud of additional cost increases in April, which is still dissipating. The senior finance and C-Suite market remains relatively unaffected, both regarding opportunities and candidates, it is the levels below that we have seen more change. In the evolving landscape of working dynamics, the volume of hybrid working is gradually waning despite sustained interest from candidates, presenting fewer job opportunities. While the blend of office and remote work remains desirable, it is no longer the predominant factor, indicating a notable shift in priorities for clients and candidates’ acceptance alike. Conversations with candidates underscore a growing desire around the importance of having a supportive mentor or manager and many professionals are increasingly open to a full-time return to the office if it guarantees enhanced guidance and avenues for professional advancement. "The salaries throughout transactional finance have stabilised across the region."Throughout the professional practice market, some similar trends have been observed but there have been noticeable differences in the past year. Salaries across the range of candidates in professional practice, from AAT to fully Qualified (ACA/ACCA) individuals are still rising and those firm’s able to offer competitive salaries alongside stronger training contracts are beating out the competition in a candidate market with a growing focus on study support packages and career advancement opportunities for Part-Qualified candidates, indicating an increase in demand from employers and the volume of available job seekers. The salaries throughout transactional finance have stabilised across the region, in what feels like the longest period of stability seen since Q4 2020 and we expect transactional finance salaries to remain stable throughout 2025/26, with anticipated salary increments to be moderate compared to the significant increases observed throughout the last 2 years. AI & Systems (process automation) continues to impact accountancy and finance, in particular, across larger functions but this has increased the need for wider interim support to assist with the transition and implementation especially with large, automated processes. Whilst 2025-26 will not be the same marketplace for recruitment as seen in previous years, there is certainly a growing level of optimism and whilst a more settled market may be seen as a negative in some areas, for those that have weathered the peaks and troughs over a longer period of time, it will feel very normal and a strong setting for both employees and employers to take advantage and thrive, with an increasing emphasis on growth and development.Download the full Salary Survey here!

Read article

After weeks of build-up, Friday finally saw Sharp Consultancy take on the cold for Roundabout’s Sleep Out 2019. Despite concerns surrounding the weather following the heavy floods, the event went ahead in the heart of Kelham Island, and saw 8 of the Sheffield office join 80 hardy souls who braved the near freezing temperatures.

The night kicked off with a motivating presentation that included inspirational accounts by Keisha and Aaron – 2 young people whose lives have been dramatically improved by the services and support offered by the Sheffield based charity.

A lively workshop by Sheffield percussion group Unbeatable Energy (www.unbeatable-energy.co.uk) got the blood pumping, and the kind folks at 92 Burton Road kept people fed and watered with a selection of drinks and jacket potatoes. The Sharp team kept in good spirits, but at midnight the real challenge began as people attempted to settle down in their sleeping bags on the cold hard warehouse floor, with half of the Sharp team attempting the ultimate challenge of sleeping in the open courtyard.

Following a long, tough night, the team headed back to their homes with a renewed sense of perspective and a sense of pride at raising over £2,000 – smashing the original £700 target.

Ben Graney, Business Director had this to say.“I am really proud of our team for the way they took on the challenge. I’d like to thank all of our clients, family and friends who donated and supported us. Roundabout are a charity that everyone should know and care about. No young person should ever have to contemplate not having a warm bed to sleep in – yet Roundabout are needed to provide services to over 250 young people every day in Sheffield alone – and are just one of many local homeless charities.

It is staggering to me that the amount of homeless people in the UK continues to rise. For over 325,000 people to be homeless in a country as wealthy as ours is incredibly sad, and unfortunately this is an issue that continues to not receive the publicity or support that it so desperately needs.

I slept outside and made it through the evening by thinking of home, but knowing so many people don’t have that light at the end of the tunnel was a stark realisation that more needs to be done – and the earlier the cycle of homelessness can be broken the better. We look forward to working with Roundabout again in the future.”

If you would like to know more about supporting Roundabout, please visit their websitehttp://www.roundabouthomeless.org/. Alternatively you can contact Ben onbengraney@sharpconsultancy.comor 07943 577 233. If you would like to make a donation, please follow the link to the Sharp Just Giving pagehttps://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sharp-consultancy-sleep-out-2019.