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Trainee Accountant to Senior: How to Progress in Practice (Quickly!)

​Throughout my career as a specialist recruiter in professional practice, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented, ambitious accountants, and some have progressed faster than others. While every journey is unique, there are clear patterns in what helps people move from trainee roles into more senior finance jobs within professional practice. Drawing from this experience, I’ve put together a set of strategies any accountant can adopt to accelerate their career up the professional practice ladder. These tactics have proven to be highly effective for those aiming to achieve their professional goals efficiently and successfully. ​​Embrace Increasing Responsibility​As you begin your career in accountancy, the scope of your duties often starts with basic tasks such as data entry, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports. While these tasks are important for building a foundation, taking on more responsibility is key to developing the skills and experience needed for progression in practice.Start by volunteering for more complex tasks that stretch your skillset, such as handling larger client accounts, managing financial forecasting, or (if possible) participating in audits. These challenges will expose you to new aspects of accountancy and allow you to learn beyond the day-to-day duties. Another way to progress quickly is by taking on leadership roles within a team or department. Taking on the responsibility of overseeing junior staff, delegating tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met can significantly enhance your development and provide you with the invaluable ‘management experience’ which is essential for trainee accountants looking to advance to the next step in their professional practice careers. ​Continuous Learning and Self-Development​As you challenge yourself with new responsibilities, actively pursuing knowledge and development goes hand in hand with completing further qualifications. Traditionally, most accountants I work with are newly or nearly AAT qualified which is a fantastic accomplishment in itself but for those with aspirations of climbing the ladder the next step should be further studies. Qualifications such as the ACA, ACCA or CTA (depending on your chosen specialism) will allow you to strengthen your technical expertise. It’s worth mentioning here that a good training contract and mentor are invaluable for the next step in your journey and should be a big factor when deciding to look for a new role after completing your AAT. ​Finding a Mentor Another important aspect of progressing quickly in accountancy is developing relationships with more experienced colleagues, supervisors, and managers. By seeking mentorship from more experienced professionals, you can gain insights into how they managed their career progression. Also, they can guide you in taking on appropriate challenges and responsibilities and help you navigate the complexities of the profession. Many of the most successful finance professionals credit their career growth to strong mentorship relationships established early in their journey. ​Networking​Networking is one of the most underutilised tools for career progression in finance. While it might feel intimidating at first, networking allows you to connect with and learn from likeminded individuals, stay informed about trends in professional practice, and discover new opportunities. One of the primary reasons networking is important is that it helps build valuable relationships that can last your career. By connecting with colleagues, senior professionals, and other stakeholders, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, insights, and opportunities that can propel your career forward. Ultimately, networking is not just about what you can gain but also about what you can offer to others. By fostering meaningful relationships, you contribute to a collaborative and supportive community that benefits everyone involved. Here at Sharp Consultancy, we host events across the year and have a long-standing relationship with various institutions and training groups including S&DCASS (Sheffield and District Chartered Accountants Student Society), LCASS (Leeds Chartered Accountants Students Society) and First Intuition to host events that bring studiers together from various firms throughout Yorkshire. It really is a brilliant first step in your networking journey. ​Whether you're just starting out or already on your way up, accelerating your career in professional practice comes down to a mix of mindset, opportunity, and action. By embracing responsibility, committing to continuous learning, building genuine relationships, and tapping into the right support networks, you’ll put yourself in the best possible position to thrive. If you’d like to explore how to take that next step—or just want to chat through your options—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s connect and start shaping your future together. Charlie Marper, Business Manager, charliemarper@sharpconsultancy.com – 0114 261 1700 ​Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together. ​

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​RETURNING TO WORK AFTER MATERNITY LEAVE

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Returning to work after maternity leave can be a huge adjustment what with juggling work and home life, making childcare arrangements and getting to grips with being back in the work place. We offer some of our top tips and suggestions on how you can make your return to work as smooth as possible.

No matter whether you are itching to return to work or the thought of leaving your precious child fills you with dread, it will take time to adjust to working life again – the key is to plan and prepare and accept that this is a big change for everyone, and things might not fall into place straight away.

Your rights on returning to work

If you are returning to work after 26 weeks or less you are entitled to return to exactly the same job as you were doing before the start of your leave. If you have taken additional maternity leave and are returning after more than 26 weeks, you still have the right to return to the same job on the same terms, however if this is not possible because there have been significant changes to your workplace, your employer can offer you a suitable alternative job.

This role must have at least the same terms and conditions as your previous position including pay, benefits, holiday entitlement, level of seniority and place of work.

What is considered ‘good business reasons’?

Your employer many have made significant changes in the organisation whilst you have been away which may have affected the roles and responsibilities for you and your colleagues. Your employer cannot however, keep your maternity cover in place in your role and offer you an alternative role - there must be a good reason why you cannot return to your old job.

Can I request changes to my working hours when I return from maternity leave?

All employees are entitled to request changes to their hours of work, days or work or place of work provided they have been with the company for at least 26 weeks. After returning from maternity leave you may wish to consider working part-time, term-time only, working from home, job share (or a combination of more than one of these options).

It is important to remember that you have the right to request flexible working however this does not mean that you have a right to work flexibly; your employer has to consider your request properly, but it can be refused for business reasons such as additional costs, being unable to rearrange workloads between existing colleagues or a detrimental impact on customer demands or performance.

For more information see:

https://maternityaction.org.uk/

https://www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/maternity-leave-your-options-when-it-ends/

Tips on returning to work after maternity leave

  • If you want to keep your hand in, consider Keeping In Touch days (KIT) whilst you are on maternity leave. You can work up to 10 days during your maternity leave however these need to be agreed with your employer as neither party can insist on them being taken

  • A phased return may help you return to work in the first few months – you could use some of your annual leave to work a shorter week for the first month or reduce your hours on a temporary basis.

  • Calendar regular reviews with your line manager. Make sure you catch up on a weekly basis during the first few weeks so you can identify what is or isn’t working well and discuss potential solutions – this is particularly important if you have had a flexible working request approved and you and your team are adjusting to the new arrangements.

  • Ask for help. It is very easy for those you work with to assume everything is OK if you don’t say anything.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today for expert advice on your next career move.