IT’S NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER!

Meet our Transactional Temps and Interim Specialists

Why is it that so many people and businesses in Yorkshire trust and rely on Sharp Consultancy to support their temporary and interim financial recruitment strategies? Sharp Consultancy is Yorkshire’s largest, most experienced and best-connected independent company committed exclusively to financial recruitment. We’re the true specialists. Unlike so many other firms, financial recruitment is all we do - so we’re probably the most focused and knowledgeable company in the region. And in Yorkshire, no other specialist Temporary and Interim Finance Recruitment team enjoy as many years of combined finance sector experience. Therefore, both our Transactional Temps and Interim Specialists divisions are the most knowledgeable in the region. Karen PitchforthKaren Pitchforth has over two decades of recruitment experience, dedicating more than half of that to Sharp Consultancy and is pivotal to our Interim Specialist division. Dedicated to South Yorkshire businesses, Karen has a vast network of part-qualified, fully qualified, or qualified by experience interim finance specialists in the region.Karen's Company ProfileKaren's LinkedIn ProfileColin MolyneuxColin Molyneux’s career spans almost 25 years and now in his second stint with Sharp Consultancy has been a key component in our Interim Specialist division. His expert focus on sourcing and placing Qualified Interim professionals across West Yorkshire and has a concrete commitment: whether it’s days or hours, he’ll meet your deadlines. Colin's Company ProfileColin's LinkedIn ProfileStuart DouglassStuart Douglass has been an integral part of our Interim Specialist division since 2016, building on a career spanning over 25 years. He focuses exclusively on senior interim roles within West and North Yorkshire and covers Part Qualified, Qualified by Experience and Qualified requirements. His deep understanding of the finance market means he is a trusted advisor to many clients. Stuart's Company ProfileStuart's LinkedIn ProfileDeanna CrosbyDeanna Crosby has established herself as a leading Transactional Temps expert in South Yorkshire. She focuses predominantly on the Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham areas supplying variety of Transactional Temps including, Finance/Accounts Assistants, Credit Controllers, Sales and Purchase Ledger Clerks and Payroll. Dee provides a rapid response to meet her clients’ needs. Deanna's Company Profile Deanna's LinkedIn ProfileLiam O'FlahertyLiam O'Flaherty has over 20 years of finance recruitment experience. Now in his fifth year with us, Liam specialises in Transactional Temp recruitment throughout West Yorkshire. His deep understanding of the local market, combined with his consultative approach, ensures that both clients and candidates receive unparalleled service and support. Liam's Company ProfileLiam's LinkedIn ProfileTom TurnerTom Turner is now in his sixth year in recruitment, and entering his 3rd year with Sharp Consultancy, where he has quickly established himself as the go-to transactional temp specialist in the Sheffield market. Covering all aspects of transactional finance, Tom is the person to find the right fit when it comes to temp Finance Assistants, Accounts Payable Clerks, Accounts Receivable staff and payrollers. With shrewd judgement, he makes precise recommendations.Tom's Company Profile Tom's LinkedIn ProfileSo, with circa 100 years of combined Transactional Temps and Interim Specialist recruitment experience, and more than a third of that within Sharp Consultancy itself, the real question is not why is it that so many people and businesses in Yorkshire trust and rely on Sharp Consultancy to support their temporary and interim financial recruitment strategies? But more why would you choose to go anywhere else? Our aim is to earn your trust by providing a superior experience. To discuss how Sharp Consultancy assist you and your business speak to one of these leading experts in their field on 0113 236 6300 or 0114 261 1700.

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Those of you who have known me for some time might be surprised to read that this is my first comment piece of 2021. Normally, I would be out of the trap like a rabbit during the first days of January with uplifting and inspiring words to share on how ‘new year brings new opportunities in your career’ and there’s ‘no better time to look ahead and shape the team around you for success’.

This year, however, has got off to somewhat of a different start.

I began 2021 much like I do every year. Phone calls to clients and candidates, exchanging pleasantries about the festive break, sending best wishes for the coming year and then moving on to discuss business. But during those early days of January, each conversation followed what was to become a very familiar path.

“So how are things?” I’d ask, to which I was met with, “We’re not really sure.”

I’d had comparable conversations with many of these same people pre-Christmas and the contrast in responses and mood could not be more stark. Then, there was a collective feeling that, let’s face it, 2020 had been – to put it politely – pretty rubbish all round; but as the end of the year approached there was a sense of optimism, the mood was decidedly upbeat, and you felt that a corner was very much about to be turned – “we just need to get through these next few weeks and 2021 will be a new start” (or words in a similar vein).

But then the hammer blow came – tucked into that week between Christmas and New Year when you are never quite sure what day of the week it is – that we were to be plunged back into a national lockdown.

Now you might say that this was not completely unexpected. In fact, you might argue that after the introduction of the tier system, the four week lockdown in November and the last-minute changes to relaxing the rules over the festive period, it was very much on the cards and was, by the majority of people, entirely expected. But despite all of signs that it was coming, it certainly knocked the wind out of a lot of peoples’ sails.

So why was that when we have effectively been living and working under enforced restrictions in some form or another for well over nine months now? The more people that I engaged with, the more apparent the answer became.

It was clear that nobody expected that this would all be done and dusted, as if the chimes from Big Ben would signal the time for COVID-19 to leave the party. But there was something about the shift from 2020 to 2021 that had given people something to hold onto as the end of the year approached, and that, come the new year, things could be and would be different. It was what had driven them on through those final weeks – possibly why for some the November lockdown was close to, as things currently stand, business as usual – as they drew on their last reserves of resilience to see out 2020 and be ready to face 2021 with renewed focus and determination.

And whilst for many, little changed from one day to the next following the lockdown announcement as they were already operating under some degree of restrictions, the collective psyche that we were leaving the rollercoaster of 2020 behind and turning a new page/making a fresh start/opening a new chapter (insert your own favourite cliché as you wish) which had helped people get through the final few weeks of the year had been whipped away overnight.

For many, the news that 2021 was starting with more of the same, took several weeks of mental adjustment whilst they got to grips with the situation, regrouped and reset their priorities. However the last week or so has seen the tide start to turn and my most recent conversations with those that I spoke with at the beginning of the year have been peppered with much more of the resolve and fight that will ensure that we emerge from this.

Any runners amongst you will have no doubt said at some point that the final miles of any race can be the hardest. It seems that there are still a few more miles of this particular race to be run – but we should all remind ourselves that we are now much closer to the end than we were at the beginning.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment and executive search of finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for temporary, interim and permanent roles across the full spectrum of positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today and speak to a member of our team about your recruitment needs or next career move.