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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!

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As we gradually move towards the ‘new normal’, many accountancy and financial professionals across the Yorkshire region are reflecting upon their future career options. These are some of the most
commonly asked questions from candidates to our experienced team of consultants when it comes to their next role.

I was considering looking for a new role - should I now put this on hold?

Nobody knows when things will get back to ‘normal’ so it is worth continuing to look for new roles. We are seeing demand for top talent from a number of sectors including storage and warehousing, food manufacture and retail, energy suppliers and healthcare to name but a few. Discuss your career goals with a recruitment specialist who can guide you towards opportunities that are right for you.

I’ve got an interview via video conference – I’m not sure how to approach it?

Prepare as you would for any interview; review your CV and job description, prepare key points of interest and compile a few interesting questions that show you have considered the role. Before the interview, check that you have login details and passwords and that you are familiar with the technology and platform you will be using. Dress like you would for a face-to-face interview and set up somewhere that’s comfortable – yet professional – and you won’t be disturbed. For more tips on delivering a successful interview take a look at our Interview Guide

I’m starting a new role and my first day will be working from home – what should I do?

Imagine it like a normal first day – dress smartly, have a neat and tidy work area set up in advance and be at your desk ready to work on time. Review any reading material that has been provided and prepare a list of questions before your initial conversation with your line manager. Read more about starting a new role remotely here

I’ve been offered a new role - normally I would be keen to take but I’m not sure now is the right time to move?

Think about why you wanted to change roles originally; is it an opportunity that interests you, are you ready for the next challenge, will the pay and benefits be better? This period will pass and those reasons will still be relevant so don’t miss out on the right chance to move your career forward.

What can I do now to improve my future employment prospects?

Now is a great time to consider your next career move. Refresh your CV and LinkedIn profile, update your roles and achievements, review job adverts for similar roles to see what skills and experience is in demand and identify online courses, webinars or tutorials that you can participate in. Speak to an experienced recruitment consultant who specialises in your area – start those conversations early and you will have a head start on opportunities that arise over the competition.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.