​TOP SECRET SANTA GIFTS

FRS 102 Revised Seminar Brings South Yorkshire Finance Leaders Together

In collaboration with Shorts Chartered Accountants, we recently hosted a seminar for senior finance professionals from across the region.The event brought together a number of Finance Directors, Financial Controllers and senior leaders from across the region for a morning of insight, discussion and networking over breakfast. It was a pleasure to welcome so many familiar faces, alongside new contacts, reflecting the strength and depth of the Yorkshire finance community. The seminar was presented by Howard Freeman, Audit & Accounts Partner, and Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Partner at Shorts. We are extremely grateful to both speakers for sharing their time and expertise, and for delivering a clear, practical overview of the forthcoming changes to FRS 102, which came into effect on 1 January 2026 and are expected to impact a significant number of UK businesses. The session explored what is changing and why, particularly in relation to lease accounting and revenue recognition, and considered what the updates mean in practice for finance teams and business leaders. The speakers also addressed the new reporting requirements under FRS 102, the potential impact on EBITDA and valuation methodologies, and the key considerations for organisations as they prepare for implementation. Rather than focusing purely on technical detail, the seminar encouraged broader discussion around readiness, communication with stakeholders and the commercial implications of the changes. This led to a highly engaged Q&A session, with attendees sharing perspectives and experiences from their own organisations. At Sharp Consultancy, we are committed to supporting the finance community beyond recruitment alone. Events such as this form part of our ongoing effort to create opportunities for connection, knowledge-sharing and professional development among senior finance professionals. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Shorts for partnering with us on this event, and in particular to Howard and Andy for delivering such an informative and thought-provoking session. We are also grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to hosting further events in the coming months and continuing to work closely with our network of finance leaders across the region.If you would like to discuss how these changes may impact your finance team, or if you are considering strengthening your leadership function, please contact us for a confidential conversation.

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It’s that time of the year – the annual office Secret Santa! Whether you look forward to the popular event with joy or fear, choosing the ideal gift – on a strict budget - for the person you pull out of the hat can be tricky. We asked our team of consultants to tell us their perfect present ideas. And remember, if you are organising or taking part in a workplace Secret Santa this year, please check the latest guidelines ensure its COVID-safe.

Karen Pitchforth

I love an office gadget and I’m a bit of a neat freak; something like a funky cable tidy or desktop vacuum would be ideal for me to keep my workspace in tip top condition.

Alex Law

A mug is always a smart choice. It can be funny, stylish, colourful or personalised. Perfect for knowing which mug is yours when it comes to the office tea round!

Liam O'Flaherty

Some people might think this is a bit of a cop out, but I tend to buy a nice bottle of wine – it’s what I would like to receive! It’s worth making sure that you don’t offend anyone though by checking that they enjoy a glass or two beforehand – especially you’ve picked out someone from a different team that you don’t know so well.

Stuart Douglass

If you are lucky to have drawn someone that you know quite well or sit near to, try and pick up hints on what they enjoy doing outside of work to give you inspiration. One year, a colleague had a weekend away planned so I gave them a guide book of their destination.

Lee Sweeney

I try and avoid anything that’s too gimmicky and unless you are sure of a person’s sense of humour, it’s best not to get anything where the joke may backfire! That said, I tend to try and get something with a festive twist like an after dinner game which can be played with friends or family.

Sarah-Jane Keay

You can’t go wrong with chocolate! Who doesn’t like chocolate!

Jack Curtis

If I’m really struggling for ideas – which can be the case if you work in a large office and you don’t necessarily know the person you are buying for – my go-to option is a lottery ticket or scratchcard. You never know, someone might win the jackpot!

Charlotte Lupton

I tend to buy a food related gift such as festive fudge, some fancy biscuits or a special coffee blend – something that will feel like a bit of a treat.

Caitlin Davidson

One of the best gifts that I received – and one which I now give most often – is a plant or a mini grow your own garden set. A great way to brighten up someone’s desk and it lasts right through the year.

Liam Connolly

I try and get useful gifts so would opt for something like a personalised notebook for a nice change from the usual office stationary selection.

Philippa Groves

I like a bit of pampering so something like a nice, soothing hand cream - especially with all the sanitizer gel being used - would be my idea of the perfect Secret Santa gift this year.

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 US today to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.