“Why Are You Looking to Move?” – How Finance

The Power of Long-Term Relationships in Recruitment

One of our core values at Sharp Consultancy is Relationships, and recently I was reminded exactly why that matters. We recently won a competitive recruitment tender with a key client across the region. Whilst our experience and market knowledge played a huge part, I genuinely believe the deciding factor was something much harder to replicate – trust. I've known the senior finance leader for several years before there was ever a recruitment project to discuss. During that time, we've met regularly for coffee, shared market insights, talked about the finance landscape and discussed the challenges businesses were facing. Most of these conversations didn't lead to a recruitment assignment, and that was never the point. For me, relationship building isn't about waiting for someone to have a vacancy, it's about being present, staying relevant and adding value over time. Sometimes that's sharing insight into the market, offering a different perspective on a hiring challenge or simply taking the time to understand what's happening in someone's business. These conversations build credibility long before there's a commercial opportunity. So, when the recruitment opportunity came around, I wasn't introducing myself or trying to prove we understood the business in a single meeting. We've already built that understanding over years of honest conversations and consistent support. We knew what was important to them, the challenges they faced and how they wanted to approach recruitment. Winning the work was a fantastic result, but more importantly, it reinforced what I believe great recruitment is all about. The best recruitment partnerships aren't built when a role becomes live, they're built in the months and years beforehand. Trust develops through consistency, honesty and a genuine interest in helping people succeed, not through one conversation or one successful placement. That's why Relationship is one of our values at Sharp Consultancy. Because when trust comes first, opportunities tend to follow. The piece of recruitment may have been the outcome, but the relationship was the foundation that made it possible.

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It’s one of the most common interview questions in accountancy and finance—and often one of the most difficult to answer well.

When you’re asked why you’re looking to move on from your current role, it can be tempting to focus on frustrations. Whether it’s limited progression, workload pressures around month-end, or a lack of commercial exposure, most finance professionals have valid reasons for exploring new opportunities.

However, how you communicate those reasons is just as important as the reasons themselves.

Keep it professional and forward-looking

A professional man sitting at a desk, using a laptop while talking on the phone.

In a close-knit finance market—particularly across Yorkshire and the North—reputation matters. Speaking negatively about your current employer, team, or leadership can raise concerns about your professionalism and long-term fit.

Hiring managers are not just assessing your technical ability; they are also considering how you will represent their business. A measured, positive response demonstrates integrity and emotional intelligence—both highly valued in finance roles.

Focus on progression and development

Most career moves within accountancy and finance are driven by a desire to grow. This could include:

Taking on broader responsibilities (e.g. moving from Management Accounts into a more commercial Finance Business Partner role)
Gaining exposure to strategic decision-making or senior stakeholders
Developing technical expertise in areas such as reporting, systems, or compliance
Progressing into leadership roles such as Finance Manager or Financial Controller

Framing your answer around development shows ambition and aligns your goals with the needs of the business.

A wooden block featuring an upward arrow against a green backdrop, representing advancement and progression.

Align your answer to the opportunity

Strong candidates tailor their response to the role they are interviewing for.

Take time to understand the position and highlight how it supports your career direction. For example:

“I’m looking to build on my experience in month-end reporting by moving into a role with greater involvement in budgeting and forecasting.”
“I’m keen to step into a more commercially focused role where I can partner with stakeholders and add value beyond the numbers.”
“This opportunity offers the scale and complexity that will allow me to further develop my technical skillset.”

This approach demonstrates that you’ve thought carefully about your next move and are genuinely interested in the role—not just any move.

Be honest—but balanced

It’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge that your current role may no longer meet your long-term goals. The key is to keep your explanation constructive rather than critical.

For example, instead of focusing on what’s missing, position your move as a natural next step in your career.

A collection of Scrabble tiles spelling "Success favours the prepared," highlighting the value of being well-prepared.

Prepare and practise

As with any interview question, preparation is essential.

Think about your key motivations, structure your answer clearly, and ensure you can confidently link your experience to the requirements of the role. A well-prepared response will help you come across as focused, self-aware, and motivated—qualities that are highly sought after across finance teams.

At Sharp Consultancy, we support finance and accountancy professionals across temporary, interim and permanent opportunities, from transactional roles through to senior leadership appointments. Our team has a deep understanding of the market across Yorkshire and beyond, and we work closely with candidates to help them position themselves effectively at every stage of the recruitment process.

If you’re considering your next move or would like tailored interview advice, get in touch with our team today.