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Trainee Accountant to Senior: How to Progress in Practice (Quickly!)

​Throughout my career as a specialist recruiter in professional practice, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented, ambitious accountants, and some have progressed faster than others. While every journey is unique, there are clear patterns in what helps people move from trainee roles into more senior finance jobs within professional practice. Drawing from this experience, I’ve put together a set of strategies any accountant can adopt to accelerate their career up the professional practice ladder. These tactics have proven to be highly effective for those aiming to achieve their professional goals efficiently and successfully. ​​Embrace Increasing Responsibility​As you begin your career in accountancy, the scope of your duties often starts with basic tasks such as data entry, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports. While these tasks are important for building a foundation, taking on more responsibility is key to developing the skills and experience needed for progression in practice.Start by volunteering for more complex tasks that stretch your skillset, such as handling larger client accounts, managing financial forecasting, or (if possible) participating in audits. These challenges will expose you to new aspects of accountancy and allow you to learn beyond the day-to-day duties. Another way to progress quickly is by taking on leadership roles within a team or department. Taking on the responsibility of overseeing junior staff, delegating tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met can significantly enhance your development and provide you with the invaluable ‘management experience’ which is essential for trainee accountants looking to advance to the next step in their professional practice careers. ​Continuous Learning and Self-Development​As you challenge yourself with new responsibilities, actively pursuing knowledge and development goes hand in hand with completing further qualifications. Traditionally, most accountants I work with are newly or nearly AAT qualified which is a fantastic accomplishment in itself but for those with aspirations of climbing the ladder the next step should be further studies. Qualifications such as the ACA, ACCA or CTA (depending on your chosen specialism) will allow you to strengthen your technical expertise. It’s worth mentioning here that a good training contract and mentor are invaluable for the next step in your journey and should be a big factor when deciding to look for a new role after completing your AAT. ​Finding a Mentor Another important aspect of progressing quickly in accountancy is developing relationships with more experienced colleagues, supervisors, and managers. By seeking mentorship from more experienced professionals, you can gain insights into how they managed their career progression. Also, they can guide you in taking on appropriate challenges and responsibilities and help you navigate the complexities of the profession. Many of the most successful finance professionals credit their career growth to strong mentorship relationships established early in their journey. ​Networking​Networking is one of the most underutilised tools for career progression in finance. While it might feel intimidating at first, networking allows you to connect with and learn from likeminded individuals, stay informed about trends in professional practice, and discover new opportunities. One of the primary reasons networking is important is that it helps build valuable relationships that can last your career. By connecting with colleagues, senior professionals, and other stakeholders, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, insights, and opportunities that can propel your career forward. Ultimately, networking is not just about what you can gain but also about what you can offer to others. By fostering meaningful relationships, you contribute to a collaborative and supportive community that benefits everyone involved. Here at Sharp Consultancy, we host events across the year and have a long-standing relationship with various institutions and training groups including S&DCASS (Sheffield and District Chartered Accountants Student Society), LCASS (Leeds Chartered Accountants Students Society) and First Intuition to host events that bring studiers together from various firms throughout Yorkshire. It really is a brilliant first step in your networking journey. ​Whether you're just starting out or already on your way up, accelerating your career in professional practice comes down to a mix of mindset, opportunity, and action. By embracing responsibility, committing to continuous learning, building genuine relationships, and tapping into the right support networks, you’ll put yourself in the best possible position to thrive. If you’d like to explore how to take that next step—or just want to chat through your options—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s connect and start shaping your future together. Charlie Marper, Business Manager, charliemarper@sharpconsultancy.com – 0114 261 1700 ​Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together. ​

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How to Retain Top Finance Talent in a Competitive Market

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Retaining your most talented individuals is a major challenge for businesses across all sectors, especially in today’s competitive finance and accountancy market. High-calibre professionals are in high demand, and losing key team members can significantly disrupt your operations and growth plans.

At Sharp Consultancy, we support businesses across Yorkshire and the North of England in recruiting and retaining the best finance professionals. Below are our expert strategies to help you hold on to your most valuable team members.

Two colleagues discussing staff appraisals at a table, surrounded by papers and laptops.

1. Start with the Right Hire

Retention begins at recruitment. Ensure you're not just hiring someone with the right technical skills and qualifications, but also someone who aligns with your company culture and long-term goals.

At Sharp Consultancy, we work closely with clients to identify candidates who are the right cultural and strategic fit—reducing the risk of early turnover and improving long-term performance.

2. Align Roles with Business Goals

Have a clear understanding of your organisational objectives and the skills you’ll need to reach them. This enables you to:

  • Build the right finance structure

  • Hire strategically

  • Offer clear career pathways

  • Whether you're recruiting for a Financial Controller, Management Accountant, or Finance Director, aligning their role with your vision boosts engagement and retention.

3. Communicate Vision and Direction

Employees stay where they feel involved and valued. Regularly share your business vision, growth plans, and how each team member contributes to success.

Creating this shared purpose helps finance professionals feel connected to the bigger picture—whether they’re based in Sheffield, Leeds, or working remotely.

4. Support Career Ambitions

Top finance professionals are often ambitious. Show them a clear path for progression by:

  • Understanding their career goals

  • Offering development opportunities

  • Restructuring teams where needed to create advancement potential

  • Don’t let talent stagnate. Promote from within when possible and encourage continued professional development.

5. Implement Structured Performance Reviews

Introduce a robust performance review process with:

  • Clear personal objectives

  • Measurable outcomes

  • Transparent reward systems tied to business performance

  • This provides accountability and gives employees a clear view of how they can progress.

6. Maintain Open Communication

Regular, two-way communication is key to a strong employer-employee relationship. Create an environment where team members feel heard and respected.

Address any concerns early before they develop into reasons to leave.

7. Benchmark Salaries and Rewards

Regularly review your salary and benefits packages against industry standards and similar job roles. At Sharp Consultancy, we offer a detailed salary survey tailored to finance and accountancy roles in Yorkshire to help our clients stay competitive.

Avoid promising salary increases or promotions that can’t be fulfilled—this damages trust and morale.

8. Offer Meaningful Benefits

While salary is important, it's not everything. Consider tailored, meaningful incentives such as:

  • Flexible working hours

  • Remote or hybrid work options

  • Extra annual leave

  • Childcare support or health & wellbeing initiatives

  • Understand what matters most to your team and tailor your rewards accordingly.

9. Recognise and Reward Effort

Don’t underestimate the power of simple, sincere recognition. Acknowledging hard work and achievements boosts morale and builds loyalty.

Make recognition part of your team culture—through regular feedback, team awards, or small gestures of appreciation.

10. Embrace Constructive Turnover

While retaining your top performers should be a priority, some level of staff turnover is natural and healthy. When someone does leave, conduct an exit interview to identify any underlying issues and use this feedback to improve the employee experience for others.

Sharp Consultancy: Experts in Finance & Accountancy Recruitment

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim, and permanent finance professionals across Yorkshire and the North of England. From Part-Qualified Accountants to CFOs, we support businesses in building strong, high-performing finance teams.

Sharp Consultancy is a specialist finance and accountancy recruitment partner for businesses across Yorkshire and the North East Midlands. With a deep understanding of the local market and access to a network of high-calibre professionals, we help organisations secure the talent they need to succeed. If you're looking to strengthen your finance team, FILL OUT THIS FORM or give us a call (0113 236 6300 / 0114 261 1700) speak to one of our expert consultants today and find out how we can help.