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Behind the Desk: Getting to Know Daniel Williams

Behind the Desk: Getting to Know DanWelcome to the first instalment of Behind the Desk—a new series designed to help you get to know the consultants behind our business. First up is our Business Manager, Dan Williams. From his journey into the world of finance and accountancy recruitment to his thoughts on the future of the industry in Yorkshire, Dan shares personal insights, professional lessons, and even a few light-hearted confessions (including his go-to karaoke song!). Whether you’re a client, candidate, or colleague, this Q&A offers a great chance to get to know Dan a little better—both in and out of the office.Understanding the Journey: Personal Insights and InspirationsCan you tell us a bit about your career journey so far? How did you end up in finance and accountancy recruitment?I’ve always had a keen interest in people-focused roles, which naturally led me to a career in recruitment. I started my journey in Sales where I developed strong relationship-building and analytical skills. Over time, I realised that finance and accountancy recruitment was the perfect fit—it allows me to connect talented professionals with the right opportunities while staying engaged with the ever-evolving financial landscape. It’s been a rewarding journey, and I enjoy making a real impact on businesses and candidates alike.When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time? Any hobbies or interests?Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife and two young daughters who keep me on my toes! I also enjoy watching football and supporting the Might Reds! (Liverpool). I also try to hit the gym and stay fit and healthy, which helps me unwind and stay balanced. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is "Listen more than you speak—which is key to understanding people is key in any industry". This has stuck with me throughout my career, especially in recruitment, where building relationships and maintaining trust is crucial. It’s a reminder that persistence, adaptability, and a genuine approach always pay off in the long run.Industry Perspective: Lessons and Approaches in RecruitmentWhat do you enjoy most about working in recruitment, especially in the finance and accountancy sector?The most rewarding part of recruitment, especially in finance and accountancy, is being able to connect talented professionals with opportunities that genuinely align with their skills and career goals. The finance sector is always evolving, and I enjoy staying up to date with industry trends while building long-term relationships with both candidates and clients. Seeing the positive impact a great hire can have on a business—and knowing I played a part in that—is incredibly fulfilling.What’s one thing you wish more people knew about working in recruitment?I wish more people understood that recruitment is much more than just matching CVs to job descriptions. It’s about understanding people, businesses, and industries at a deep level. A good recruiter is a consultant, advisor, and problem-solver, working behind the scenes to create the right fit for both clients and candidates. There’s a lot of strategy, relationship-building, and market insight involved, making it a dynamic and rewarding career.What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting in this industry?One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of resilience and adaptability. Recruitment is a fast-paced industry where things don’t always go as planned—candidates decline offers, roles get put on hold, and market conditions shift. Learning to navigate these challenges while staying focused on long-term success has been invaluable. It’s all about persistence, building trust, and staying proactive in an ever-changing environment.Lunch Laughs and Career WisdomWhat’s your favorite lunch to have at the office?A Meatball sub from the deli!What’s your go-to karaoke song (or the one you secretly love to sing)?My singing voice is best appreciated by the hard of hearing! And for those brave enough to endure my rendition of Livin’ On A Prayer, you might want to reconsider your life choices!If you could turn back time and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your career, what would it be?I’d tell myself to focus on building genuine relationships and not stress too much about immediate results. Recruitment—and career success in general—is a long game, and the connections you build today can open doors in ways you don’t always expect. Also, don’t be afraid to take risks and step out of your comfort zone—it’s where the best opportunities are!The Future in Focus: Aspirations and Industry OutlookWhat excites you the most in your career right now?Right now, I’m excited by the fast-paced evolution of the finance and accountancy sector and how recruitment is adapting to it. There’s a real demand for top talent, and it’s rewarding to help businesses find the right professionals while supporting candidates in securing roles that align with their career goals. The industry is always changing, and staying ahead of trends—whether it’s new regulations, digital transformation, or shifting job market dynamics—keeps things fresh and challenging.What do you think the future holds for finance and accountancy recruitment in Yorkshire?Yorkshire’s finance and accountancy sector continues to grow, with more businesses investing in specialist roles and embracing hybrid working models. I see a strong demand for skilled professionals, particularly in areas like financial analysis, risk management, and digital finance. As companies focus more on automation and data-driven decision-making, the need for top-tier talent will only increase. Recruitment will need to stay agile, building deeper partnerships with businesses to help them attract and retain the best people in an increasingly competitive market.If you could change one thing about the industry to improve it for candidates or clients, what would it be?I’d love to see even greater transparency and communication throughout the recruitment process. Sometimes candidates feel left in the dark after an interview, or clients don’t always have clear insights into candidate expectations. Improving communication and setting better expectations on both sides would make the process smoother and more efficient. Recruitment works best when it’s a true partnership, and fostering trust and openness benefits everyone involved.We hope you enjoyed getting to know Dan and gaining a glimpse into his journey, insights, and personality. Behind the Desk is all about celebrating the people who make our team special, and we’re excited to continue the series with more of our brilliant consultants. Keep an eye out for the next feature—you might just discover something new about the person on the other end of the phone (or email)!Thinking About Joining the Team?If Dan’s story has inspired you and you’re interested in building a career in recruitment with a supportive, people-focused team—we’d love to hear from you. We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who want to make a real impact. Get in touch for a confidential chat about life at our company and the opportunities we have available.Check our our Careers Page

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Here’s the first in a new regular series where we look to offer help and advice to candidates, employees and employers on a range of career progression and recruitment topics. Our highly experienced team of consultants will utilise their skills and knowledge to share insights in how to best to handle today’s burning workplace issues.

My workload is becoming too much for me to handle; I need some help but I don’t know how to ask as I’m worried it will look like I can’t cope and could affect my career prospects. What should I do?

Firstly, well done for recognising that you have become overloaded; it’s not always easy to admit and many people will try to hide the fact because, as you say, they are concerned that if they seem to be unable to cope it could affect their chances for promotion.

It is important to understand that feeling overwhelmed is not a sign of failure or that you are unable to do your job. Try to establish why you are overworked – is it because it is a busy time at work, there’s an important deadline looming or you are covering for a colleague who is absent, in which case your increased workload may be a temporary issue or is this an ongoing situation as too much is being expected of you because more tasks have been added to your remit.

Whatever the cause, it is important to address the matter in the right way; you don’t want to come across as complaining – even if your concerns are genuine – but instead you should demonstrate that you want to do the best possible job and that you don’t feel you can currently perform to the best of your ability.

Before speaking to your line manager, give some consideration to what tasks you are currently working on, what time will need to be allocated to them and any deadlines that have been set so you can look at how they can be prioritised. It is possible that after doing this exercise you may find that you can manage your workload better than you initially thought.

If however, you find that there is too much that needs to be done in too short a time frame, arrange to speak to your boss to agree the most appropriate way forward. Demonstrate that you have given the matter some thought by going into the discussion armed with possible solutions such as where another member of the team could provide assistance, a deadline that could be rearranged or a task that could be allocated to a colleague.

Your manager should appreciate your honesty and that you have identified not only that there is issue but have taken the initiative to come up with possible solutions before it’s too late to resolve the matter. In doing so, you will have demonstrated to your manager that you are prepared to take responsibility for your workload and can think through a situation and are not simply wanting someone else to sort out the problem for you.

Good luck!

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.