TOP TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY AT WORK

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 well as initiatives designed to aid employees’ health and happiness, increase productivity and reduce absence and workplace stress, there are some simple day to day things that employers can do to encourage their teams to look after themselves at work.

Take a lunch break

Don’t allow staff to skip their lunch break and discourage eating at their desk whilst continuing to work.Getting outside and taking a walk will help clear the head and enable people to come back refreshed and ready to tackle what lies. Consider setting up a lunchtime walking club a couple of times a week which will not only make people more active but is a great way for individuals to get to know others in different departments.

Make exercise part of the daily routine

Do you have the space to be able to host a lunchtime or after work exercise class or a local gym which will offer a staff discount? Perhaps you can encourage staff to cycle to work or challenge them to get off public transport a stop early and walk part of the way. Discourage use of lifts unless it’s absolutely necessary and suggest people visit colleagues in person if they are based elsewhere in the building to ask questions rather than rely on phones and email.

Eliminate unhealthy snacks

Stay away from the cakes and biscuits!It can be easy to sneak in calorie-laden snacks during the work day – keep sweet treats for special occasions and encourage healthy snacking by placing bowls of fresh fruit around the office and communal areas to help people get their five a day.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Regularly check office equipment and lighting and make sure that employees have well supporting chairs, sit with good posture and have their computer screen is at the right level. Encourage people to take regular breaks so they are not looking at their screens for long periods of time – make available details on how often people should have eye tests and nearby places where they
can go.

Reduce stress

Put in place measures for line managers and supervisors to spot signs of stress in employees and ensure that systems are in place to allocate and manage workloads and monitor performance. Encourage managers to have good communication with their teams to help identify any issues – either inside or outside the workplace – which may contribute to an employee’s well-being.

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.